Migration is central to the American identity. This includes the early movements of Native Americans, the arrival of Pilgrims, colonization, the slave trade, and numerous immigrants from Europe, Africa, and Asia. It also encompasses shifts related to industrialization, urbanization, and globalization. Advances in communication, technology, and transport have made moving easier, cheaper, and more common. Migration, whether over short or long distances, impacts us deeply and raises significant public policy questions about its effects on individuals, communities, institutions, and society overall.
