Push, Pull, and Policy: US Immigration in the 1990s

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video provides a comprehensive overview of the surge in immigration to the United States during the 1990s. It distinguishes between the concepts of "immigrants" and "refugees," using the story of a fictional family from El Salvador to illustrate the human side of these statistics. The video breaks down the specific "push factors" (such as economic instability, war, and natural disasters) and "pull factors" (such as family reunification policies, a booming tech economy, and safety) that drove over 13 million people to move to the U.S. during this decade. The content delves into specific historical contexts, including the collapse of the Soviet Union, civil wars in the Balkans and Afghanistan, and Hurricane Mitch in Central America. It explains how these global events directly influenced migration patterns. furthermore, the video analyzes key U.S. legislation from the era, contrasting expansive policies like the Immigration Act of 1990 and the Diversity Visa program with more restrictive measures passed in 1996, such as the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act and the Welfare Reform Act. For educators, this video is an excellent tool for Social Studies, U.S. History, and Civics classrooms. It simplifies complex sociological concepts like push/pull factors and asylum into accessible definitions. The built-in pause points and references to a graphic organizer make it ready-made for interactive note-taking. It helps students connect abstract policy decisions to real-world humanitarian crises and understand the roots of modern American multiculturalism.