Human migration refers to the process of human migration , whether forced or
voluntary, consisting of the permanent or semi-permanent change of city, region or
country of residence . 1 Humans have migrated since the very origins of humanity ,
[ ]
starting from a point located in Africa to populate all continents. In practical terms, all
people are migrants or descendants of migrants. 2 ] [
Large human migrations are related to phenomena such as hunger , unemployment ,
wars , political , ethnic and religious persecution , climate change and catastrophes ,
human trafficking , the decline or rise of certain regions, etc. More recently, migration
for tourism reasons has appeared . 3 ][
In the current era of globalization , the high mobility of capital and advances in
transportation, work and communication have driven migration processes . At the
same time, restrictive migration policies and manifestations of xenophobia ,
combined with the massive documentation of people's identities and technological
means of border control , have sought to limit migration processes, giving rise to the
social phenomenon of so-called " illegal persons " or "undocumented persons". 4 ] [
Since the consolidation of nation-states (early modern period ), a distinction has
been made between internal and international migration. Internal migration has been
and continues to be linked to the processes of agricultural mechanization and the
consequent displacement of the rural population to cities, giving rise to the
phenomenon of urbanization . International migration poses challenges that the
United Nations urges to be resolved within the framework of human rights, equality,
and sustainability. 5 ]
[
On the other hand, migration also faces obstacles or facilities determined by factors
specific to each country that sends or expels migrants. This control is usually based
on the policies that each immigration office proposes. This is done in order to keep a
record of the stay of each foreigner or national with migrant status. 6 ] [
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has proposed that four freedoms and
their corresponding rights are at stake in the processes : the right not to emigrate,
the right to emigrate, the right to immigrate and the right to return. 4 ]
[
Emigration and immigration[ edit ]
Modern international migration processes involve two main moments:
● Emigration is the departure of people from one country , place, or region to
settle in another country, place, or region. Emigration implies a negative
assessment of a person's standard of living and their family environment,
as well as a perception that settling elsewhere will improve their economic,
social, or other prospects, or at least that their hopes for a better life will be
fulfilled in the future.
● Immigration is the arrival in a country or place of people from another
country or place.
The entire migration process also involves people's right and desire to live in their
homeland, to return freely, to preserve their cultures, and to reunite their families.
