Why does immigration to the U.S. remain popular despite tougher policies?

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Fact 1: Immigration to the United States

Immigrants make up more than 15% of the total population of the United States. The proportion of people born outside the country has reached a record high. Today, 329.1 million people live in the United States, of which 48.2 million are immigrants, representing 15.1%. Compared to developed European nations, the United States has a higher percentage of immigrants than countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and France. The United States is second only to countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Canada.

Reasons for America's attractiveness

What determines such an attraction of the USA for foreign citizens? The main reason can be considered a steadily developing economy. In 2019, the gross domestic product (GDP) of the United States amounted to an impressive $21.3 trillion, which ensures the country's leading position on the international stage. At the same time, the GDP per capita is $58,380 and the average annual salary is $48,670, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Income distribution in the US is also more evenly distributed compared to Russia. According to a 2019 report by the Swiss bank Credit Suisse, the distribution of income among Americans is as follows:

• 27%Have an income of less than $10,000;
• 31%make between $10,000 and $100,000;
• 35%have incomes between $100,000 and $1 million dollars;
• 8%make over $1 million dollars.

For comparison, in Russia79%of the population earns less than $10,000, only18%receive between $10,000 and $100,000, and the wealthy account for only a little more than3%.

Investment climate and business

Consequently, a stable economy is considered important for people who plan to invest. Moody's and Fitch have assigned the United States the highest investment grade credit ratings (AAA) with a consistently positive outlook. Moreover, the U.S. is on the World Bank's list of the top ten best countries for doing business (Ease of Doing Business). In 2020, the U.S. ranked8-еplace in this ranking, and in categories such as “Getting Credit” and “Solvency Resolution,” they rankedthirdlocation.

Education as a factor in immigration

An integral part of the U.S. immigration process is the desire to obtain a quality education. Many foreigners come to study and, after completing their studies, decide to stay in the country. Studying in American universities has become a symbol of prestige, and diplomas from universities such as Stanford and Harvard offer great opportunities for career growth. This is confirmed by authoritative world rankings of educational institutions. According to QS World University Rankings for 2020, the top three universities are located in the United States.

Medical tourism topics

In addition, the United States government has a strong focus on medical development, making the country one of the leaders in medical tourism. In 2018, the federal government invested almost1.1 trillion dollarsin health care. Not surprisingly, Americans are far ahead of the Russian population in terms of life expectancy.

Fact 2

The Trump government's tough immigration policies

From the first days of his presidency, Donald Trump's government has been actively pursuing a tough policy on immigration. One of the central themes of his election program was to draw attention to the need to tighten immigration laws. Immediately after the inauguration, steps were taken to implement this idea.

Entry ban for certain countries

One of the first significant decisions was a measure introduced in February 2017 that restricted entry for citizens of six Muslim countries, including Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.

Green Card Reform

In August of the same year, President Trump unveiled a new strategy that involved changes to the rules for issuing green cards. The main emphasis of this reform was on attracting only highly qualified professionals to the United States.

Financial responsibility of sponsors

May 2019 was memorable for the introduction of a presidential memorandum that imposed obligations on immigrant sponsors. The sponsor now had to certify their financial ability to support an immigrant when needed. This move meant that the sponsor was responsible for the financial needs of the person they offered to help.

Fighting maternity tourism

As of January 2020, Trump announced new regulations that were aimed at combating the phenomenon known as “birth tourism.” As such, visas for pregnant women coming for tourist or medical reasons became unavailable for many Russians who were looking to give birth in the United States. This was an important step to reduce the number of foreigners seeking to give birth in America in order to obtain citizenship for their children.

Reduction of quotas for refugees

It is also worth paying attention to initiatives to reduce the number of refugees. New, lower quotas for persons wishing to apply for asylum were set for 2020. On February 24, 2020, strict requirements began to apply to those applicants who, in the opinion of the authorities, could use state social programs to their advantage. This has resulted in many immigrants seeking asylum being subjected to more thorough checks of their application forms.

Threats to the DACA program

In addition, it is worth mentioning the looming consequences for the DACA program, which at the time provided protection from deportation for immigrants who arrived in the country at a young age. By June 2020, the Secretary of the Interior announced his intention to suspend the program, causing panic among its participants.

Changes in investment immigration

Tough policies affecting immigration have also affected the field of investment immigration. In November 2019, new legislation went into effect, tightening the minimum investment requirements for participation in the EB-5 program, which allows foreigners to obtain a green card in exchange for investments in the U.S. economy. The minimum investment increased from $500,000 to $900,000, and for projects outside of targeted employment areas, the amount increased to $1.8 million.

Conclusions about the EB-5 program

Although officials justified the increase in the threshold as “inflation”, in reality it has significantly reduced the chances for many potential immigrants, even those with sufficient financial wealth. Nevertheless, it can be seen that the U.S. is not going to cancel the EB-5 program. On the contrary, investment immigration as well as business immigration is becoming the centerpiece of the Trump administration's immigration policy.

Useful information on investment and immigration

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Demographics of immigrants in the U.S.

In 2018, according to the statistics collected, among all foreigners who obtained citizenship in the United States of America, the bulk were women between the ages of 35 and 44, who made up 55% of the total number of new citizens. This fact shows trends in migration and changes in the structure of future U.S. citizens, which indicates diversity and changes in different population groups.

The situation with Chinese immigrants

A similarly interesting point concerns the situation of Chinese immigrants in the context of the EB-5 program since 2017. Previously, from 2012 to 2017, Chinese nationals dominated the applicants for this program, representing up to 90% of the total. However, the introduction of quotas for EB-5 visas and other types of immigrant visas led to a slowdown in the visa application process, which in turn reduced interest in the program. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in EB-5 from fellow countrymen from:

• India
• Vietnam
• Brazil
• Nigeria
• Republic of South Africa

This serves as an indicator of changing migration flows.

Russian-speaking immigrants

As for Russian-speaking immigrants, the largest share of them are citizens of Russia and Ukraine. If we analyze the issuance of immigrant visas for residents of CIS countries, Russians and Ukrainians traditionally occupy the leading positions. Against this background, migrants from Kazakhstan are significantly behind in the number of visas issued to the United States, and citizens of other CIS countries have not demonstrated outstanding results on this front.

Number of naturalized citizens

For example, in 2019, 120,000 Mexicans and only 9,000 Russians naturalized, which is just over 1% of the total number of new citizens of the United States. Despite the existing political friction between Russia and America, the number of Russians who have become American citizens has increased over the past three years and has remained stable compared to a decade ago. In 2019, 9,108 Russian citizens were issued American passports, up from 9,490 in 2009.

Immigrant visas in 2019

It is impossible not to mention that in 2019, the U.S. Consulate issued 4,618 immigrant visas for Russian citizens, which is the highest number in the last decade. The EB-5 program continues to be popular among Russian businessmen. Since 2017, regional centers have begun to attract investors from Russia more actively, and new firms offering professional advice and information about the characteristics of this program are becoming available on the market.

EB-5 visa application dynamics

Only 71 Russians received EB-5 visas in 2019, down from 134 individuals in 2018. This decrease is likely due to a decrease in the number of EB-5 visa applications processed during this period. However, there is a possibility that the number of applicants from Russia will exceed 200 in 2020 and 2021. Citizens of other CIS countries receive only a limited number of EB-5 visas at this time.

Conditions of participation in the EB-5 program

The EB-5 program provides participants with two main ways to participate in immigration processes - direct investment or participation through regional centers. More than 90% of all applicants choose the second route, which highlights the high concentration of investments in specific projects that the regional centers offer, creating new opportunities for potential investors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, one gets the impression that U.S. immigration policy is at a crossroads between historical achievements and new challenges facing the country. The increase in the share of immigrants in the population, which is reaching15,1%The income structure of Americans is much more equal than in other countries, such as Russia, making the United States attractive to people seeking better economic conditions. The income structure of Americans is much more equal than in other countries, such as Russia, making the United States attractive to people seeking better economic conditions.

Despite the strict measures imposed by Donald Trump's government, immigration, especially through investment and education, remains a relevant pathway for those seeking opportunities for growth and fulfillment within a dynamic and diverse economy.

Factors contributing to immigration

• Stable economywith high GDP per capita.
• A reliable education systemproviding top-notch credentials.
• Diversity of culturesThe organization of the workshop promotes the integration and sharing of experiences.

However, a stable economy and high educational standards are certainly not the only factors determining the desire to immigrate. Personal experience and the desire for a better quality of life also play a crucial role. As the author of this article, I emphasize that while the U.S. remains a center of attraction for many foreign nationals, changes in immigration policy underscore the need to consider not only dreams and hopes, but also the demands placed on new residents.

The future of immigration to the U.S.

In light of the above, it is safe to say that the issue of immigration to the United States remains multifaceted and requires careful consideration. The clash of different cultures, economic realities, and legal norms forms the unique context in which we live. The future of immigration to the U.S. remains in question, but amidst the current changes, it is important to recognize that immigrant workers, students, and investors continue to have a significant impact on the development of the country's economy and society.

They not only contribute to economic growth, but also enrich the cultural landscape that makes America so unique and diverse.