Caribbean Migration to Caribbean Migration to the United Statesthe United States

AS/HUMA 1300 9.0Faculty of ArtsApril 22, 2009

Caribbean Migration to USA Caribbean Migration to USA

1. Caribbean and the Migration Imperative

2. US Immigration Policy (1900-post 1965)

3. Caribbean Immigrants’ Economic and Political Contributions to the United States

4. The Case of Haiti

Caribbean and the Migration Caribbean and the Migration ImperativeImperative

1.The Caribbean as a Diaspora2.Post-slavery migration and the the US

dollar - Panama Canal (approx. 130, 000 workers: 1904-14);- agricultural labor (Cuba, DR, Costa Rica, Honduras);

3.Caribbean migration to Britain (230,000-280,000: 1951-1961);

Patrick Buchanan on US Patrick Buchanan on US Immigration Policy (1991)Immigration Policy (1991)

“I think God made all people good, but if wehad to take a million immigrants in, say Zulusnext year, or Englishmen, and put them inVirginia, what group would be easier toassimilate and would cause less problems forthe people of Virginia?” (This Week with David Brinkley,ABC-TV)

Patrick BuchananPatrick Buchanan

“Integration of blacks and whites . . . is lesslikely to result in accommodation than it is in perpetual friction, as the incapable are placed consciously by government side by side with the capable.”

Caribbean Migration to the US: Caribbean Migration to the US: 1900-19241900-1924

Steady increase in immigrants from less than 1,000 in 1899 to over 12,000 by 1924Motivated by economic reasonsBelonged largely to the Caribbean middle-ClassesMost went to northern cities, like NYCParalleled by movement of African Americans out of the South

US Immigration Policies: Quotas of US Immigration Policies: Quotas of the 1920sthe 1920s

In 1921, a per-country cap was set at 3% of foreign-born persons of a given nationality living in the US as of 1910.This cap also limited the world visa quota to 350,000.In 1924, the National Origins Act reduced cap to 2% of foreign-born persons living in the US in 1890.The revised cap reduced the worldwide quota to 175,000, giving preference to Western European migration.

Caribbean Migration to the US: Caribbean Migration to the US: 1924-19601924-1960

Caribbean immigrants leaving exceeded those arriving during this period.Immigrants were mainly family members(children and spouses) joining families, and students on visas.1952: McCarran-Walter Act introduced a new four-tier preference system .Cuban refugees: 1959-1961 over 100,000.

Caribbean Migration to the US: Caribbean Migration to the US: 1965-present1965-present

1965 Hart Cellar Immigration Reform Acteliminated national quota system and set uniform country quotas of 20,000.Act prioritized family reunification over education and skill.Act still ensured economic and political contributions to the US.

Jean Bertrand AristideJean Bertrand Aristide

Aristide returns to power in 1994Aristide returns to power in 1994

Haitian RefugeesHaitian RefugeesOn January 1, 2000, more than 400 Haitian refugees were intercepted off the Florida coast in a dangerously overcrowded boat. Since the refugees are considered to be fleeing poverty rather than political oppression, they are rigorously returned.

Haitian Migrant Interdictions at Haitian Migrant Interdictions at Sea, October 2003 to March 2004Sea, October 2003 to March 2004