North America

Leveraging Remittances for Development

Remittances to developing countries finance education, health, and small business while reducing poverty. Policies seeking to reduce transfer costs would promote these outcomes.

The Recently Arrived Foreign Born in the United States in 2005

In 2005, recent arrivals made up most of the U.S. foreign born and were largely working age, with varied education and English skills.

Selecting Economic Stream Immigrants through Points Systems

By 2007, points systems were spreading worldwide as a way to select skilled immigrants for long-term economic goals, often alongside employer input.

After Long Negotiations, Senate Takes Up Immigration Reform Again

In May 2007, the U.S. Senate reopened immigration reform talks around legalization, worker programs, enforcement triggers, and unresolved family visa disputes.

After-School Institutions in Chinese and Korean Immigrant Communities: A Model for Others?

Chinese and Korean immigrants in Los Angeles built ethnic after-school systems that boosted achievement.

Annual Immigration to the United States: The Real Numbers

By excluding long-term temporary visa holders and others likely to settle in the United States indefinitely, official reporting of lawful permanent residence undercounts true annual immigration.

Examining Point Systems as a Method for Selecting Immigrants

Proposed Points System and Its Likely Impact on Prospective Immigrants

According to 2005 survey data, Asian immigrants would fare best under a proposed U.S. points-based admission system, while Latin American immigrants face greater barriers.

Secondary Migration: Who Re-Migrates and Why These Migrants Matter

Secondary migrants made up about 15 percent of those admitted to the United States in 2003 and tended to have more education than one-step arrivals.

Congress and White House Release Competing Proposals for Immigration Reform

In early 2007, U.S. congressional and White House immigration proposals clashed over unauthorized immigrants, temporary workers, and the weight of family ties versus merit.