Migration

Human migration involves movement from one country or region to another. Migration is an umbrella term. People are motivated to migrate for many reasons such as safety, human rights, poverty, and even climate change. Two distinct terms key to the discussion of migration are ‘immigrant’ and ‘refugee.’ An immigrant moves from their country of origin for various reasons. In comparison, war or other very challenging circumstances force a refugee to flee their country. Since its founding in 2003, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has become infamous for how it has handled undocumented immigrants and their families entering the US. In 2015, Europe experienced a refugee crisis in part because of the civil war in Syria. Migration has become increasingly politicized in Europe and the United States. As calls for further human rights protections for immigrants continue to emerge in reaction to man-made crisis, natural disaster and / or discrimination, students can educate themselves about migration’s global impact.