History of Immigration in Timeline

Immigration involves the movement of people to a new country with the intention of settling permanently, distinguishing it from tourism or short-term stays. This excludes commuters and tourists, but may include seasonal labor. The key element is the establishment of permanent residency in a country where the individual doesn't possess nationality.

1940: Immigration in the United States in the Period 1940–2010

A 2016 study found that immigration in the United States in the period 1940–2010 increased the high school completion of natives.

1948: Universal Declaration of Human Rights

In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognized freedom of movement, but only within national borders and the right to return to one's home state.

1966: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

In 1966, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recognized freedom of movement, but only within national borders and the right to return to one's home state.

1986: Immigration and Social Capital Decreases

Research suggested that larger increases in US states' Mexican population shares correspond to larger decreases in social capital over the period 1986–2004.

1990: Meta-analysis of correspondence tests on hiring discrimination

Between 1990 and 2015, 43 studies were conducted in OECD countries, revealing extensive racial discrimination in hiring decisions in Europe and North America. In 2016, a meta-analysis compiled the results.

1990: Meta-analysis of correspondence tests on hiring discrimination in OECD countries

Between 1990 and 2015, correspondence tests were conducted in OECD countries to test hiring discrimination, which a meta-analysis of 738 tests later compiled in 2016.

1994: Increased Assimilation Rate After 1994

In 2018, it was found that immigrants arriving in the United States after 1994 assimilate more rapidly than immigrants who arrived in previous periods.

1995: Study on car dealer pricing discrimination

In 1995, a study found that car dealers offered significantly lower prices to white males compared to black or female test buyers who used identical bargaining strategies.

2000: Increase in International Migrants

Between 2000 and 2015, Asia experienced the largest increase in international migrants, with an addition of 26 million. Europe followed, adding approximately 20 million migrants during this period. In 2000 the number of international migrants started to increase.

2003: Family Reunification in US Immigration

As of 2003, family reunification accounted for approximately two-thirds of legal immigration to the US every year.

2003: Study on discriminatory practices by housing agents

In 2003, a study found that housing agents showed discriminatory practices, such as interpreting customer preferences based on initial requests, withholding houses in integrated suburban neighborhoods (redlining), and exhibiting differing marketing efforts based on customer race (statistical discrimination).

2004: Immigration and Social Capital Decreases

Research suggested that larger increases in US states' Mexican population shares correspond to larger decreases in social capital over the period 1986–2004.

2005: French riots

The 2005 French riots have been cited by those with security concerns as examples of value conflicts arising from the immigration of Muslims in Western Europe.

2009: Remittances totaled $420 billion

In 2009, The World Bank estimated that remittances totaled $420 billion, with $317 billion going to developing countries.

2010: Immigration in the United States in the Period 1940–2010

A 2016 study found that immigration in the United States in the period 1940–2010 increased the high school completion of natives.

2010: Haitian Immigration to Florida and Educational Outcomes

After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, studies found that the influx of Haitians to Florida public schools had no effects on the educational outcomes of incumbent students.

2010: European Study on Employer and Employee Views on Immigration

In 2010, a European study suggested that employers are generally more pro-immigration than employees if immigrants compete with existing employees. However, the opposite is true if immigrants compete more with employers themselves.

2010: Criticism of UK's immigrant detention policies

Since 2010, the United Kingdom's policies on immigrant detention have faced criticism for not adequately protecting vulnerable groups, and marginalized groups were barred from legal assistance in detention centers.

2011: Study on business and labor views on immigration

In 2011, a study indicated that businesses tend to favor more immigration, while labor movements tend to oppose it.

2012: Gallup Survey on Migration Preferences

In 2012, a Gallup survey revealed that 640 million adults would migrate if given the opportunity. Among these, 23% preferred the United States as their future residence, while 7% (45 million people) would choose the United Kingdom. Canada, France, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates were also popular destinations.

2012: Study on jury composition and conviction rates

In 2012, a study revealed that all-white juries convicted black defendants more often (16 percentage points) than white defendants. This disparity disappeared when the jury included at least one black member.

2013: Study on racial bias in online sales of iPods

In 2013, a study indicated that eBay sellers of iPods received 21% more offers when a white hand was shown holding the iPod in the photo, compared to a black hand.

2014: Meta-analysis on racial discrimination in European housing market

In 2014, a meta-analysis provided substantial evidence of racial and ethnic discrimination in the housing market across multiple European countries.

2014: Meta-analysis on racial discrimination in product markets

In 2014, a meta-analysis revealed that minority applicants were often quoted higher prices for products, indicating racial discrimination in product markets.

2015: French Identity Among Second-Generation Immigrants

A 2015 report by the National Institute of Demographic Studies found that an overwhelming majority of second-generation immigrants of all origins in France feel French, despite the persistent discrimination in education, housing and employment that many of the minorities face.

2015: Immigration and Institutional Quality

A 2015 study found evidence that larger immigrant population shares positively impact institutional quality. The study indicated that more immigration is not associated with any negative impact on economic freedom.

2015: Meta-analysis of correspondence tests on hiring discrimination

2015: Meta-analysis of correspondence tests on hiring discrimination in OECD countries

Between 1990 and 2015, correspondence tests were conducted in OECD countries to test hiring discrimination, which a meta-analysis of 738 tests later compiled in 2016.

2015: Age Distribution of International Migrants

In 2015, 37 million international migrants were under the age of 20, while 177 million were between 20 and 64. The median age of international migrants varied by region: Africa (29 years), Asia (35 years), Latin America/Caribbean (36 years), Northern America (42 years), Europe (43 years), and Oceania (44 years).

2015: Study on faculty responsiveness to student mentoring requests

In 2015, a study using correspondence tests found that faculty were significantly more responsive to mentoring requests from White males compared to all other categories of students, particularly in higher-paying disciplines and private institutions.

2015: International Migrant Statistics

In 2015, the number of international migrants reached 244 million worldwide, marking a 41% increase since 2000. The United States hosted the largest number of international migrants, accounting for 19% of the world's total. One-third of these migrants resided in just 20 countries. Germany and Russia were second and third, hosting 12 million migrants each. Saudi Arabia hosted 10 million, followed by the United Kingdom with 9 million and the United Arab Emirates with 8 million.

2015: Islamophobia in France

University of California, San Diego political scientist Claire Adida, Stanford University political scientist David Laitin and Sorbonne University economist Marie-Anne Valfort argued in 2015 that fear-based policies that target groups of people according to their religion or region of origin are counter-productive. Their research explains the failed integration of Muslim immigrants in France, suggesting that such policies can feed into a vicious cycle that damages national security.

2016: Cultural Differences and Economic Performance of Migrants

A 2016 paper challenges the view that cultural differences are necessarily an obstacle to long-run economic performance of migrants. It finds that first generation migrants seem to be less likely to succeed the more culturally distant they are, but this effect vanishes as time spent in the US increases.

2016: Immigration and High School Completion

A 2016 study found that immigration in the United States between 1940 and 2010 increased high school completion rates among natives. Specifically, a one percentage point increase in the share of immigrants in the population aged 11–64 increased the probability that natives aged 11–17 would complete 12 years of schooling by 0.3 percentage points.

2016: Meta-analysis of correspondence tests on hiring discrimination

In 2016, a meta-analysis of 738 correspondence tests across 43 studies in OECD countries (1990-2015) found extensive racial discrimination in hiring in Europe and North America. Minority candidates needed to send 50% more applications to get an interview.

2016: Meta-analysis of correspondence tests on hiring discrimination in OECD countries

In 2016, a meta-analysis of 738 correspondence tests in 43 OECD countries between 1990 and 2015 showed widespread racial discrimination in hiring. Minority candidates needed to send 50% more applications to get an interview.

2017: Citizenship and Economic Improvement for Immigrant Women

A 2017 study found that faster access to citizenship improves the economic situation of immigrant women, especially their labour market attachment with higher employment rates, longer working hours and more stable jobs. Immigrants also invest more in host country-specific skills like language and vocational training.

2017: Immigration and Democratic Institutions

A 2017 study in the British Journal of Political Science argued that the British American colonies without slavery adopted better democratic institutions to attract migrant workers to their colonies.

2017: Ancestral Autocracy and Trust

A 2017 study in the Journal of Comparative Economics found that individuals whose ancestors migrated from countries with higher autocracy levels are less likely to trust others and to vote in presidential elections in the U.S.

2017: Naturalization and Integration in Switzerland

A 2017 study of Switzerland found that naturalization strongly improves long-term social integration of immigrants and improved the economic integration of immigrants. Winning Swiss citizenship in the referendum increased annual earnings by an average of approximately 5,000 U.S. dollars over the subsequent 15 years.

2018: NBER Paper on Teacher Discrimination Against Children of Immigrants

A 2018 National Bureau of Economic Research paper found that math teachers discriminated against the children of immigrants; informing teachers of negative stereotypes led them to give higher grades to these students.

2018: Immigration and Economic Freedom

A 2018 study failed to find evidence that immigration to the United States weakens economic freedom.

2018: Employment and Earnings Gains for Chinese Nationals

A 2018 study found that Chinese nationals in the United States who received permanent residency permits from the US government amid the Tiananmen Square protests (and subsequent Chinese government clampdown) experienced significant employment and earnings gains relative to similar immigrant groups who did not have the same residency rights.

2018: Immigration and Healthcare Waiting Times in the UK

A 2018 study found that immigration to the United Kingdom reduced waiting times for outpatient referrals and did not have significant effects on waiting times in accident and emergency departments (A&E) and elective care. The study found some evidence that immigration increased waiting times for outpatient referrals in more deprived areas outside of London, but this increase disappeared after 3 to 4 years.

2018: Study casts doubts on the negative relationship between ethnic heterogeneity and public goods provision

A 2018 study in the American Political Science Review questioned the notion that ethnoracial homogeneity leads to greater public goods provision.

2018: Immigrant Assimilation in the United States

A 2018 study in the American Sociological Review found that within racial groups, most immigrants to the United States had fully assimilated within a span of 20 years. Immigrants arriving in the United States after 1994 assimilate more rapidly than immigrants who arrived in previous periods.

2018: Immigrant Political Engagement in Norway

A 2018 study in the British Journal of Political Science found that immigrants in Norway became more politically engaged the earlier that they were given voting rights.

2018: Migrant Health Meta-Analysis

A 2018 systemic review and meta-analysis in The Lancet found that migrants generally have better health than the general population.

2018: Impact of Immigrant Students on Native Students' Test Scores

In 2018, a study found that the presence of immigrant students who have been in the country for some time has no effect on natives' performance. However, there was a small negative effect of recent immigrants on natives' language scores. Another study in 2018 found that the presence of immigrant students in Italy had small negative average effects on maths test scores, particularly for low-ability native students in classes with a high immigrant concentration and linguistic distance.

2018: Study on Reciprocity with Immigrants in the Netherlands

In 2018, a study revealed that native Dutch individuals were less likely to reciprocate in games when interacting with immigrants, suggesting potential discrimination or bias.

2019: Exposure to Foreign-Born Students

A 2019 NBER paper found little evidence that exposure to foreign-born students had an effect on US-born students.

2019: Immigrant Assimilation Review

A 2019 review of existing research in the Annual Review of Sociology on immigrant assimilation in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain concluded that there is an overall pattern of intergenerational assimilation in terms of socioeconomic attainment, social relations, and cultural beliefs.

2019: Reactions to Threats to Homogeneity

A 2019 study found that humans are inclined to react negatively to threats to homogeneity in the short term. However, these negative outcomes are compensated in the long term by the beneficial influence of intergroup contact.

2019: Refugee Resettlement and Economic Integration

A 2019 study found that refugees who resettled in areas with many conationals were more likely to be economically integrated.

2019: Language Training and Immigrant Assimilation in France

A 2019 study in the European Economic Review found that language training improved the economic assimilation of immigrants in France.

2019: Refugee Influx and Economic Institutions in Jordan

A 2019 study of Jordan found that the massive influx of refugees during the Gulf War had long-lasting positive effects on Jordanian economic institutions.

2020: Language Barrier and Survey Participation

A 2020 study using data from large-scale comparative surveys in Germany, France, and United Kingdom found that sampled households with a language barrier tend to have poor living conditions and are migrants. Inferences about their demographic, attitudinal, or behavioral traits cannot be made because the ability to speak the official language(s) of the country is one of the criteria for survey participation.

2020: Illegal Immigrant Students in U.S. Higher Education

As of 2020, 2% of all students enrolled in U.S. higher education are illegal immigrants, which amounts to about 454,000 students. Fewer than half of illegal immigrants are eligible for the DACA program.

2020: Reforms of refugee policy in Denmark

In 2020, a paper examining reforms of refugee policy in Denmark indicated that language training improved refugees' economic and social integration. The paper also found that cuts to welfare benefits had no significant effect, except for a temporary rise in property crimes.

2022: Eurobarometer on Public Support for Immigration in the EU

In 2022, the Eurobarometer surveyed public support for immigration across countries in the European Union.

June 2023: Iran Illegalizes Online Immigration Ads

In June 2023, the Iranian parliament illegalized immigration ads online, amidst a mass exodus of youth and skilled labor from the country.

2023: Immigration Applications in the USA

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice reported 1,197,254 initial immigration application receipts, 523,477 completed immigration cases, and 2,464,021 pending immigration cases in the USA.

2024: Working paper on pro-immigration research teams and public support for welfare

In 2024, a working paper by Borjas and Breznau found that pro-immigration research teams estimated more positive impacts of migration on public support for welfare, while anti-immigration teams reported more negative estimates; the immigration researchers skewed heavily towards a pro-immigration stance.