MPI's Migration Information Source Newsletter

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August 15, 2019

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Policy Beat
Democrats Under Pressure: Political Calendar Exposes Ideological Differences on Immigration
www.migrationpolicy.org/article/democrats-under-pressure-political-calendar-exposes-ideological-differences-immigration
Ideological differences in the Democratic Party over immigration that were once masked by unity against President Trump's border wall and immigration agenda are now being exposed as Democratic presidential candidates seek to stand out in a crowded field and amid controversy over an emergency border spending bill. As the 2020 electoral calendar accelerates, how the party navigates the gulf between its most liberal and conservative wings will become a greater challenge for its leaders.

Feature
African Countries Relax Short-Term Visa Policies for Chinese in Sign of Increased Openness to China
www.migrationpolicy.org/article/african-countries-relax-short-term-visa-policies-chinese
China has been Africa's largest trading partner since 2009, and as commerce and investment have increased, so have flows of people in both directions. With an estimated 1 million to 2 million Chinese migrants across Africa, some countries have relaxed their short-term visa requirements in hopes of facilitating cultural and business exchanges. High levels of Chinese investment do not, however, correlate with more liberal visa policies, as this article explores.

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EDITOR'S NOTE

Globally, support for refugees is higher than support for migrants, according to a study released by the Pew Research Center last week. The study, which analyzed public opinion data from 18 countries, found that a median of 71 percent supported people "fleeing violence and war" moving to their country, while a median of 50 percent wanted "more" or "about the same" number of migrants. This difference highlights the importance perception plays in people's attitudes about migrants or refugees.

According to a 2018 article in the journal Social Media and Society, the sentiments associated with the word "refugee" can steer public opinion by eliciting sympathy, while those associated with "migrant" can produce dissatisfaction and create a feelings of tension or "us versus them."

Overall, peoples' views of migrants and refugees are divided, but growing acceptance to refugees bucks a rising trend witnessed in many countries of rhetoric directed against migrants and refugees. The Pew study found that acceptance toward newcomers was related to attitudes about diversity: in countries where diversity is viewed as beneficial, respondents tended to welcome both refugees and migrants. Of course, opinions on diversity varied widely across countries. For example, a separate study from the Migration Data Portal found that people in Europe tended to have a more negative view of diversity and the benefits of immigration, while people in the United States held more positive views. Opinions on diversity also appear to be connected to age and educational attainment, as research from Gallup shows.

However, the Pew study notes that even in countries where diversity is less favored and support for migrants is limited, publics still support taking in refugees -- in both Germany and Spain, for example, 69 percent of diversity opponents said they would welcome refugees.

In the United States, an August poll from Gallup showed that 57 percent of Americans would support taking in "Central American refugees" arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, up from 51 percent in December, and higher than opinion polling on admittance of past refugee populations. Interestingly, the Gallup poll named those fleeing Central America "refugees," yet few are defined and protected as such, and one could speculate that these polling numbers would be somewhat lower if Central Americans were referred to as "migrants." Again, it appears that perception of who is a refugee or migrant matters a great deal in whether they will find support or be welcomed in their new country of residence.

Best regards,

Alexandra Vranas-Carita

Editor, Migration Information Source

[email protected]

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NEW FROM MPI

Immigration and the U.S. Labor Market: A Look Ahead
www.migrationpolicy.org/research/immigration-us-labor-market-look-ahead
By Harry J. Holzer

Millions Will Feel Chilling Effects of U.S. Public-Charge Rule That Is Also Likely to Reshape Legal Immigration
www.migrationpolicy.org/news/chilling-effects-us-public-charge-rule-commentary
By Jeanne Batalova, Michael Fix, and Mark Greenberg

Rethinking U.S. Immigration Policy: New Realities Call for New Answers
www.migrationpolicy.org/research/rethinking-us-immigration-policy-new-realities-call-new-answers
By Doris Meissner

From Control to Crisis: Changing Trends and Policies Reshaping U.S.-Mexico Border Enforcement
www.migrationpolicy.org/research/changing-trends-policies-reshaping-us-mexico-border-enforcement
By Randy Capps, Doris Meissner, Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, Jessica Bolter, and Sarah Pierce

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HAVE YOU READ

"Silent" Refugee Crises Get Limited International Attention
www.migrationpolicy.org/article/top-10-2018-issue-10-silent-refugee-crises

Migration in Brazil: The Making of a Multicultural Society
www.migrationpolicy.org/article/migration-brazil-making-multicultural-society

Strife Abroad, Responses at Home: Muslims in the West and Conflict Spillover
www.migrationpolicy.org/article/strife-abroad-responses-home-muslims-west-and-conflict-spillover

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