Denial, Deterrence, and Disenchantment: Why Many Never Immigrate

Based on survey data from over 2,500 potential immigrants and nearly 200 in-depth oral history interviews in mainland China, this book complements the abundant research about immigrants by contributing new data, knowledge, and theories about potential immigrants – those who might have immigrated but did not because of how social forces and immigration laws/policies interact. The book examines three mechanisms: governments denying visas, policies and social forces deterring many from applying for visas, and potential immigrants becoming disenchanted with immigration. Thomas expands the push-pull model to a push-retain-pull-repel model that helps explain why many do not immigrate. Potential immigrants confront an (im)mobility paradox: factors facilitating migration – socioeconomic resources and social ties – also hinder it. Finally, the book shows how those who successfully migrate and potential immigrants affected by the three mechanisms are socioeconomically stratified in migrant-origin societies, mirroring the inequalities that segmented assimilation theory predicts among immigrants in migrant-destination societies.