POVERTY, unemployment and lack of livelihood often drive people to make perilous and sometimes fatal decisions in search of a better life.
While migration for improved living conditions is not new, the primary motivation remains the same: the pursuit of a decent life.
Historically, migration was driven by fear of persecution and poor law and order situations, but today, economic reasons dominate.
A lack of employment opportunities and poor quality of life compel people to leave small villages, move to cities and then to foreign countries, often seeking better prospects in developed nations.
The United States and Europe are prime destinations for migrants, offering better opportunities despite the challenges.
The US has attracted skilled professionals globally due to better opportunities and a more affordable cost of living compared to Europe, where living expenses are higher and job opportunities more limited.
The migration trend continues to rise, with many risking dangerous journeys for a chance at a better life.
While some succeed in their quest, others face tragic consequences, leaving families to bear the emotional toll of these risky migrations.
While people from Asia accounted for just 6 percent of the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States, which the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) estimated stood at 13.7 million as of mid-2023, the number is on the rise.
In fiscal year (FY) 2024, close to 236,000 migrants from China, India, Myanmar (also known as Burma), the Philippines and Turkey were encountered by the US Border Patrol, nearly 40 percent more than in FY 2022 and placing these five countries among the top 21 origins for migrants encountered at the border.
US immigration from Asia has a long and complex history.
Starting in the mid-19th century, immigrants from Asia came primarily from China, Japan, Korea and the Philippines for agricultural and construction work.
The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act removal of national-origin quotas saw a rebound in migration to USA.
Unlike those who immigrated in the 19th and early 20th centuries, post-1965 arrivals from Asia have been more diverse in terms of their reasons for moving, as well as their skills, education, origin countries and languages.
Generally speaking, immigrants from Asia tend to have larger incomes and higher educational attainment than either the US born or the overall foreign-born population and are more likely than other immigrants to have arrived since 2010.
On average, immigrants from Asia have significantly higher incomes than the overall foreign- and native-born populations.
Households headed by immigrants from Asia had a median annual income of $105,200 in 2023, compared to $78,700 for all foreign-born-headed households and $77,600 for those headed by the native born.
Households headed by immigrants from India ($166,200) and Taiwan ($124,600) had the highest median incomes among all groups from Asia, while Iraqi ($59,700) and Yemeni ($40,400) households had the lowest median incomes.
Immigrants from Asia were also less likely to be in poverty (11 percent) than the overall foreign-born population (14 percent) and slightly less likely than the native born (12 percent).
Immigrants from Afghanistan (39 percent), Yemen (36 percent) and Syria (27 percent) were the most likely to be in poverty.
The nature and origin of illegal migration to USA is different than that of illegal migration to Europe.
While illegal migration to USA is mostly from Mexico and South American countries, illegal migration in to Europe is mostly from African countries and Asia.
The reason for migration though remains the same-lack of job opportunities in host country and living conditions.
As regards the illegal migration in Europe, those using perilous routes to reach there, the facts are scary.
Many people die crossing high seas on dingy boats and lose their lives.
In 2024, there were 36,816 people who crossed the English Channel in small boats.
This is an increase from the previous year but not as many as in 2022.
Additionally, at least 78 migrants are estimated to have died attempting the crossing in 2024, making it the deadliest year on record.
The UK home office reported 36,816 people arriving in the UK by small boats in 2024.
This is a 25% increase compared to the previous year, according to the BBC.
However, it is still below the 45,774 arrivals in 2022, which was the highest year on record.
More than 23,000 of these arrivals occurred after the July 2024 general election, which was won by the Labour party.
The B.B.C reported that at least 78 migrants died attempting the crossing in 2024, making it the deadliest year on record.
The most common routes used by these migrants are from France to the UK.
The Atlantic migration route that connects West African nations with the Spanish Canary Islands set a new record in 2024, with at least 46,843 arrivals to the Spanish archipelago, according to yearly figures released by Spain’s Interior Ministry.
The number surpassed last year’s previous record and represents a 17% increase.
The number, released recently in a report from Spain’s Interior Ministry, comes despite continued efforts by the Spanish government and the European Union to address the migration crisis.
Spain and the EU have sought to provide aid to countries of origin to help spur development and control the departure of migrants.
Migrants often travel more than 1,000 miles by sea to reach the Canary Islands.
Senegal and Mauritania are two of the most common launching points for migrants, who come from a number of countries in the African continent to escape armed conflict, poverty, or lack of opportunity.
In 2024, a small number of migrants from Southeast Asian countries also reached the Spanish archipelago, raising concerns that the deadly route, far from deterring them, could be attracting migrants from other continents.
The Atlantic migration route is one of the deadliest in the world.
The Spanish aid organization Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders) assessed on a recent report that over 10,000 migrants died last year trying to reach the Canary Islands by sea.
—The writer is Former Civil Servant and Consultant (ILO) & International Organisation for Migration and author of seven books. (mughal_rashid@hotmail.com)
