Root Causes of Migration

This Area of Focus, "Root Causes of Migration," aims to get beyond rhetoric in the immigration debate and study why 200 million people in the world today are "on the move." For years, the debate on immigration has centered on prevention policies and deportation, on prejudice and fear. Yet this mainstream debate does not engage the root causes of migration or the systems and structures causing "the forced movement of the poor," as Mexican priest and human rights leader Alejandro Solalinde defines current human migration patterns.

CUSLAR's "Root Causes of Migration" initiative sponsors events and produces study materials to educate ourselves and others about:

• The history of immigration in the United States, connecting it to today’s realities in the “border state” of New York, where over 40,000 migrants work in agriculture and immigrants account for 43 percent of New York City’s workforce.
• Past and present immigration policy in the United States, and current anti-immigrant legislation.
• Economics and immigration: Why do people leave their homes and families? Who is leaving? Who is staying? What are the effects on sending and receiving communities? Who are the winners and losers?
• Dangers of the migrant route and human rights violations against migrants: who takes advantage of migrants and who defends them?