THE UNITED STATE IMMIGRATION VISA LOTTERY AND ITS SOCIO-POLITICAL IMPLICATION ON NIGERIA
THE UNITED STATE IMMIGRATION VISA LOTTERY AND ITS SOCIO-POLITICAL IMPLICATION ON NIGERIA
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Date
2004-09
Authors
OMONEYI, PATRICK
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
In recent years, the world has seen an increased mobility in people, products,
and capital; countries have more interaction with one another than ever
before. The United States of America plays a large role in the global
economy, it becomes more important to understand the chain reaction that
goes along with this situation especially with regard to the movement of
people towards the United States.
The severe economic difficulties, increase poverty and political instability
have plagued many African Countries in the last two decades resulting in
the large scale migration of Africans to Europe and the united States. Unlike
their counterparts in the 1960s and 70s who were anxious to return home
after acquiring an American education in order to contribute in the task of
nation building, an overwhelming majority of recent immigrants are more
interested in establishing permanent residency in the United States.
Although these immigrants continue to be attracted to major cities like New
York, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles, they can also be found in
increasing numbers in small and mid-size cities in Ohio, Nebraska, Iowa and
maim.
Britain’s American Colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and
were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America
following the treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries 34
new states were added to the original 13, as the nation expanded across the
north American continent and acquired a number of oversees possessions.
Haven emerged victories after both the first and second World War and the
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end of the cold War in 1991, the united states remains the world’s most
powerful nation – state. The economy is marked by steady growth with a per
capital GDP of $ 36,200, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid
advance in technology. America today is a federal state, a union of 50 states.
It occupies an area of 3,717,522 square mile and a coastline of 12,373 miles,
its population as at July 2001 estimate was 278, 0548, 881, and Christianity
is the major religion.
Immigration, which was American’s historic raison d’ e’tre, has been the
most persistent and the most pervasive influence in her development. The
whole history of the Unites States during the past three and half century has
been molded by successive waves of immigrants who responded to the lure
of the new world and whose labours together with those of their
descendants, have transformed an almost empty continent into the world’s
most powerful nation. The population of the United States today excepts the
Indians, consists entirely of immigrants and of the descendants of
immigrants. American society, economic life, politics, religion, and thought
all bear witness to the fact that United States has been the principal
beneficiary of the greatest folk migration in human history. American
culture is thus a blend of the cultures of millions of immigrants of different
languages, religion and mores.
With the new phenomenon of Globalization the world had been turned into a
small village and capitalism seem to be more accepted by many nations as
an economic system controlled by the west.
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The immigration to the United States is given some legal backing when the
United State congress enacted the first version of the Visa lottery in the 80s,
this lottery also know as Diversity immigrant visa, make available fifty
thousand (50,000.00) permanent resident visa annually to persons from
countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
Thousands of Nigerians have been lured by this lottery into the United
States, which was why Dr. Emeagwali in his presentation of “why Nigerians
are not returning home” pointed out that the widely held myth is that Africa
is only exporting raw materials to the west. Africa is also exporting talented
human resources to Europe and America. One million African are working
outside Africa.
The United State Diversity immigration Visa lottery had become a major
ritual exercise in Nigeria, the government is silent about this issue and some
Nigerians have capitalized on the business aspect of it, thereby assisting
interested candidates with information and actually sending entries on their
behalf for a fee which range between N1000 to N3000 per entery.
This research therefore seek to find out the impact, effect and implications of
this American policy on economic socio political system of Nigeria. The
research will also address the issue of immigration and how to reverse the
current trend.
Description
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERISTY, ZARIA
Keywords
UNITED,, STATE,, IMMIGRATION,, VISA,, LOTTERY,, SOCIO-POLITICAL,, IMPLICATION,, NIGERIA