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Societies
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Society and Immigration: Reducing Inequalities
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Society and Immigration: Reducing Inequalities

A special issue of Societies (ISSN 2075-4698).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2024 | Viewed by 19898

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ernesto Castañeda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Immigration Lab, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA
Interests: international migration; border regions; comparative studies; mixed methods; health disparities; social movements
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Maria De Jesus

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
School of International Service, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA
Interests: health inequalities; interstate and transnational relations; cross-cultural health communication; health communication strategies and technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Internal and international migration often results from inequalities in resources and opportunities across geographic regions. The newly arrived are often stigmatized, disadvantaged, and discriminated against, and these effects often vary depending on positionality. Immigrant inclusion and the feeling of belonging are beneficial for both the locals and the recently arrived, yet different places succeed to different degrees. How much do national and international inequality fuel migration and subsequent inequality in immigrant-receiving countries and towns? How do the legacies of colonialism, annexation, and war affect population moves and their exclusion in the places where they relocate? How do border walls, patrolling at land and sea, and state-actor violence contribute to the politics of exclusion? What processes create durable inequalities between immigrants and non-immigrants, and which do not? How does the racial and religious framing of groups of immigrants affect their welcome and integration? How can we decrease categorical inequalities in cities and small towns? What are some of the gains and obstacles of the immigrant rights movement? How can activists and politicians guarantee immigrant rights? Empirical studies showing the real effects of economic and forced immigration; the decrease of avenues to ask for asylum; and the effects of COVID-19 on migration, inequality, and economic growth are all welcome.

Prof. Dr. Ernesto Castañeda
Dr. Maria De Jesus
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as conceptual papers are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Societies is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • immigration
  • refugees
  • borders
  • family separation
  • unequal development

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 300 KiB  
Article
“My Father Put Me in a Patera So I Could Study”: Key Aspects of Socio-Educational Support for Minors Who Migrate Alone
by María Ángeles Olivares-García, Sonia García-Segura, María del Mar García-Cabrera, Gemma Fernández-Caminero, Belén María Martínez Romero and Blanca Arcos Aguilar
Societies 2023, 13(11), 228; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13110228 - 24 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1206
Abstract
The migration process for minors who migrate alone represents a complex reality, one entailing exciting life projects but which often clashes with a host society that at times responds in a way shaped by stereotypes and prejudices. In this regard, the role of [...] Read more.
The migration process for minors who migrate alone represents a complex reality, one entailing exciting life projects but which often clashes with a host society that at times responds in a way shaped by stereotypes and prejudices. In this regard, the role of public and private institutions responsible for the care and custody of these minors is of the utmost importance. This is the point of departure of this study: to explore the multicultural and inclusive practices that are implemented in the process of socio-educational support for minors who migrate alone. Taking as a reference the closest context, as a case study, and employing a qualitative methodological approach, 16 semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals from Centers for the Protection of Minors, Institutes of Compulsory Secondary Education (secondary schools), and third-sector entities involved in socio-educational intervention with minors who migrate alone in the province of Cordoba (Spain). The results show, firstly, the complexity of the process behind the socio-educational inclusion of these minors, mainly due to their backgrounds; and, furthermore, the role of the different expectations of the professionals involved with regards to this group’s educational and labor-oriented development, along with the importance of the diversity of socio-educational intervention strategies used, focused on individualized attention and with a comprehensive approach. In conclusion, the findings of this study highlight the importance of tackling the task of socio-educational care in a coordinated manner, without forgetting the cultural backgrounds and previous experiences that these minors have when they join these protection and educational systems. It is, therefore, necessary to continue to implement these inclusive practices that promote the comprehensive development of minors and facilitate their transition to adult life, as should be done with any other minor facing situations of social vulnerability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Society and Immigration: Reducing Inequalities)
18 pages, 2001 KiB  
Article
Keeping in Motion or Staying Put: Internal Migration in the United States and China
by Joshua Dietz, Bulin Li and Ernesto Castañeda
Societies 2023, 13(7), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13070162 - 08 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2531
Abstract
The rate of people moving within the United States is at one of its lowest points in U.S. history, while China has experienced unprecedented levels of domestic migration. While both are world-leading economies, these countries demonstrate stark contrasts in geographic mobility, urbanization, and [...] Read more.
The rate of people moving within the United States is at one of its lowest points in U.S. history, while China has experienced unprecedented levels of domestic migration. While both are world-leading economies, these countries demonstrate stark contrasts in geographic mobility, urbanization, and economic growth. Despite these differences, social factors affect migration capabilities in both places, with some people more mobile than others. This study assesses internal migration and highlights the structural and social determinants of mobility in both countries. This article’s analysis reveals an accentuated downturn and the longest annual decline recorded in the U.S. Evidence shows declining internal migration in the U.S. primarily occurring at the local level and amongst renters. Large and expensive American cities have had significant losses of residents in recent years. By contrast, China’s “floating population” has increased as migrants move to cities. This study examines trends from 2010 to 2020 to compare the two countries regarding internal migration, urbanization, housing, social mobility, and economic growth. However, rather than simply comparing them, the paper argues that the internal migration dynamics in both countries are, to a degree, connected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Society and Immigration: Reducing Inequalities)
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15 pages, 308 KiB  
Article
Glitches in the Digitization of Asylum: How CBP One Turns Migrants’ Smartphones into Mobile Borders
by Austin Kocher
Societies 2023, 13(6), 149; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13060149 - 20 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 11204
Abstract
As the emerging literature on migration studies has demonstrated, migrants who are seeking asylum around the world are increasingly finding that the process is mediated by a variety of new technologies. While the process of digitizing various aspects of migrant protection may promise [...] Read more.
As the emerging literature on migration studies has demonstrated, migrants who are seeking asylum around the world are increasingly finding that the process is mediated by a variety of new technologies. While the process of digitizing various aspects of migrant protection may promise improvements, new technologies also risk limiting access to asylum for migrants who are unable to overcome these new digital barriers to entry. This article explores the digitization of asylum by examining the context and consequences of the U.S. government’s deployment of a smartphone app called CBP One in early 2023 which suddenly became one of the main pathways for migrants to seek asylum along the U.S.–Mexico border. In doing so, this article makes two contributions to the literature on the digitization of asylum. First, the article shows how CBP One, which was not initially designed for asylum seekers, morphed into a tool that took center stage in border enforcement statecraft during a period of exceptional migration policies. Second, this article examines the range of what have been referred to as “glitches” with CBP One, to demonstrate how the app created new digital barriers to asylum. Rather than accepting glitches as mere accidents, this article argues that these glitches are the result of a political decision to force already vulnerable migrants to rely upon experimental technologies that hinder rather than facilitate their asylum-seeking process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Society and Immigration: Reducing Inequalities)
28 pages, 619 KiB  
Article
Serious Mortgage Arrears among Immigrant Descendant and Native Participants in a Low-Income Public Starter Mortgage Program: Evidence from Norway
by Kristin Aarland and Anna Maria Santiago
Societies 2023, 13(5), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13050121 - 08 May 2023
Viewed by 2335
Abstract
Although low-income homeownership programs serving vulnerable families at the lower end of the income distribution have been the focus of housing policy in many countries over the past 50 years, little is known about the post-origination experiences of immigrant families participating in these [...] Read more.
Although low-income homeownership programs serving vulnerable families at the lower end of the income distribution have been the focus of housing policy in many countries over the past 50 years, little is known about the post-origination experiences of immigrant families participating in these programs. Notably absent from the extant literature are studies examining the sustainability of homeownership among immigrant homebuyers and their susceptibility to falling behind on payments and experiencing mortgage defaults, evictions, or short sales. Utilizing data from 8263 families participating in Norway’s Starter Mortgage Program (Startlån) during the first three calendar years after mortgage origination, we examine the extent to which serious mortgage arrears varies by immigrant background. Two primary questions shape our research: (1) What is the incidence of serious mortgage arrears among Western, Eastern European, and non-Western immigrant homeowners relative to ethnic Norwegians participating in a public low-income homeownership program? and (2) What pre- and post-origination characteristics of applicants and households, mortgage terms at the time of origination, and experiences of household financial vulnerability or economic shocks predict heterogeneity in serious mortgage arrears by immigrant backgrounds? We found that 6.1% of ethnic Norwegian, 6.2% of Western, 4.9% of non-Western, and 3.2% of Eastern European immigrant homeowners participating in the Starter Mortgage Program were in serious mortgage arrears at least once during the first three calendar years after mortgage origination. Results from our negative binomial regression analyses suggest that program participants who were sole owners, with larger families, and higher debt were more likely to experience serious mortgage arrears; these effects were accentuated for ethnic Norwegians. Additionally, mortgage terms at the time of origination produced differential effects by immigrant background. Compared to Western and Eastern European immigrant homeowners, ethnic Norwegians were more likely to have experienced serious mortgage arrears if they purchased a single-family home, had larger LTV and DTI ratios, or if the Startlån share of their mortgages was higher. Non-Western immigrant mortgagors were more likely to make late mortgage payments if they had larger LTV ratios, interest-only mortgage servicing, or if they were more reliant on Startlån funds to finance their mortgages; however, this risk was reduced if they had fixed-rate mortgages. Financial vulnerability in terms of higher debt or fewer assets also increased the risk of serious mortgage arrears for ethnic Norwegians and non-Western immigrant homeowners, while increases in real wealth reduced that risk for all immigrant mortgagor groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Society and Immigration: Reducing Inequalities)
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11 pages, 223 KiB  
Article
Refugee Students’ Psychosocial Well-Being: The Case of a Refugee Hospitality Centre in Greece
by Nektaria Palaiologou and Viktoria Prekate
Societies 2023, 13(3), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13030078 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1348
Abstract
Education can be important for assisting the psychosocial well-being of marginalized communities such as refugees and contributes to the effective processing of feelings and isolation prevention by mitigating the long-term effects of trauma and developing strategies to manage life changes. A small-scale study [...] Read more.
Education can be important for assisting the psychosocial well-being of marginalized communities such as refugees and contributes to the effective processing of feelings and isolation prevention by mitigating the long-term effects of trauma and developing strategies to manage life changes. A small-scale study was conducted on 21 students from a Refugee Hospitality Center in Greece to investigate their psychosocial well-being through questions about their life, daily activities, former and current school life, family relations, feelings about their past and present, and expectations from their new country of residence. The research was conducted through semi-constructed interviews by a specialist research team and certain sociological factors, such as gender, country of origin, and prior school experience, were examined. The results highlight the presence of severe traumatic histories in the lives of many refugee children, the need to escape from their countries of origin, missed school years, the impact of current schooling on their psychological well-being, and the limitations of camp life. Most children reported school experiences to be among their happiest moments, affirming the importance of schooling in helping children build mental health resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Society and Immigration: Reducing Inequalities)
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