The History of Immigration to the EU and the US

Part 1. The United States: A Nation Built by Immigrants

The US is frequently called a “nation of immigrants,” and this is not just a catchy political slogan—it is a foundational historical fact. Unlike the nations of the Old World, America was built from the ground up by those who crossed the ocean looking for a better life.

From Open Doors to Strict Quotas: Early History

In the 19th century, America’s doors were wide open to almost everyone. The rapidly expanding nation desperately needed manual labor to build railways and cities. The Great Famine in Ireland, political upheavals in Europe, and extreme poverty drove millions across the Atlantic. During this era, the general rule of thumb was simple: if you were healthy and willing to work hard, you were welcome to settle down.

The ultimate symbol of this era is Ellis Island in New York Harbor. Between 1892 and 1954, over 12 million people passed through its inspection halls, hoping to find their feet in the New World.

However, this golden age of unrestricted entry could not last forever. As the number of arrivals surged, so did xenophobic sentiments. The government eventually decided to crack down on the uncontrolled influx of newcomers:

The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): The first significant law restricting immigration into the United States based solely on ethnic background.
The National Origins Formula (1920s): A system of strict quotas that heavily favored immigrants from Northern and Western Europe while severely limiting arrivals from Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as Asia.

The 1965 Revolution and Modern Challenges

A major turning point came in 1965 with the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act (the Hart-Celler Act). This legislation scrapped the discriminatory national origins quota system. In its place, a new policy emerged, focusing on two main pillars:

Reuniting immigrant families.
Attracting skilled labor (which eventually sparked a massive brain drain from developing nations).

Fast forward to today, and the US faces a new set of challenges. Programs like the H-1B visa for highly skilled professionals and the Diversity Visa (Green Card) Lottery remain immensely popular, but the bureaucratic machine is struggling to keep up with demand. Moreover, unauthorized immigration at the southern border with Mexico remains a hard nut to crack for every presidential administration, regardless of whether Democrats or Republicans hold office.

Part 2. Europe: From Exporter of People to Global Magnet

The history of European migration is an entirely different story. For centuries, Europeans were the ones leaving their homes en masse, setting off for the Americas, Australia, and Africa. Europe only transitioned into a continent of mass immigration relatively recently—primarily in the second half of the 20th century.

Post-War Reconstruction and the Guest Workers

After the devastation of World War II, Europe lay in ruins. To rebuild their shattered economies, countries desperately needed able-bodied workers. Nations like West Germany, France, and the UK began to actively bring in temporary labor from abroad.

In Germany, they were known as “Gastarbeiter” (guest workers), primarily from Turkey, Italy, and Greece. The original assumption was that these young men would work for a few years, save up, and eventually go back home. However, reality took a different turn. As the famous Swiss author Max Frisch once aptly noted: “We asked for workers, but human beings came.” Many decided to stay, brought their families over, and managed to put down roots.

Schengen and the Expansion of the EU

With the formation of the European Union, the migration landscape shifted dramatically. The signing of the Schengen Agreement (1985) effectively erased internal borders, allowing EU citizens to live, work, and study anywhere within the bloc.

This policy paved the way for massive intra-European mobility. Following the 2004 and 2007 EU enlargements, thousands of Poles and Lithuanians moved to the UK (prior to Brexit) and Ireland, while Romanians and Bulgarians often relocated to Italy and Spain to fill labor shortages.

The 2015 Migration Crisis

While the US primarily deals with economic migration, the EU recently faced a severe humanitarian test. In 2015, Europe experienced an unprecedented influx of asylum seekers. Over a million people, mostly fleeing from brutal wars and persecution in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, arrived on European shores.

This crisis caused a deep political rift within the EU. While then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared “Wir schaffen das” (We can manage this), several Eastern European countries flat-out refused to accept refugee quotas. The crisis highlighted that the EU is still trying to figure out how to balance its moral, humanitarian obligations with national security concerns.

Part 3. Comparative Analysis: Two Approaches to One Problem

To better understand the nuances of these two massive systems, let us compare how the US and the EU handle integration, bureaucracy, and the very concept of migration.

Criterion	United States	European Union
Historical Foundation	A nation intentionally built by immigrants. Driven by the “American Dream.”	Traditional nation-states with centuries of mono-ethnic and distinct cultural history.
Primary Type of Migration	Economic (labor) migration and family reunification.	Mixed: Internal EU mobility, humanitarian (asylum), and labor migration from third countries.
Integration Model	Melting pot — Assimilation and adopting core American values is highly encouraged.	Salad bowl (Multiculturalism) — Immigrants are often encouraged to preserve their cultural identity while integrating.
Bureaucracy (Red tape)	A slow, highly complex, and expensive system to get a Green Card or citizenship.	Varies by country. The EU Blue Card for skilled workers is often faster to obtain than the US H-1B.
Unauthorized Migration	Focus on the Southern land border (Mexico). Millions of undocumented people live in the shadows.	Focus on the Mediterranean Sea (boats from Africa/Middle East). Deportation policies are a major political issue.

The Inside Perspective: Pros and Cons

The Economic Aspect:

In the US, the social safety net is relatively thin, so new arrivals must immediately take the bull by the horns. You have to work hard to survive and pay your bills, which leads to rapid economic integration.

In Europe, the strong welfare state can sometimes be a double-edged sword. While it prevents extreme poverty, generous benefits can inadvertently disincentivize some newcomers (particularly refugees) from entering the labor market quickly, which can spark resentment among the local population.

The Cultural Aspect:

In America, it is arguably easier to blend in and be accepted as a “local.” Once you speak the language, pay your taxes, and obey the law, you are considered an American.

In Europe, however, the cultural barriers are much higher. Even after securing a German, French, or Swedish passport, first-generation immigrants (and sometimes their children) might still experience culture shock and be viewed as foreigners by the native-born population due to deep-seated historical identities.

Essential Idioms in Migration and Society

Idiom	Definition	Example in Context
Start from scratch	To begin doing something from the very beginning, without any prior advantage, money, or foundation.	Many refugees arrive with nothing and have to start from scratch.
Rule of thumb	A general, practical principle or guideline based on experience rather than strict theory.	Historically, the rule of thumb was simple: healthy workers were always welcome.
Melting pot	A place where different peoples, styles, theories, etc., are mixed together to create one homogeneous culture.	The US integration system is traditionally viewed as a melting pot.
Salad bowl	A concept where different cultural groups live together but maintain their distinct identities, rather than merging into one.	Europe often resembles a salad bowl, promoting multiculturalism.
Brain drain	The emigration of highly trained or intelligent people from a particular country, often searching for better pay or conditions.	Developing nations often suffer from a severe brain drain.
A hard nut to crack	A problem that is very difficult to solve or a person who is very difficult to understand.	Border security remains a hard nut to crack for politicians.
Take the bull by the horns	To face a difficult or dangerous situation directly and with courage.	Without state support, migrants must take the bull by the horns to survive.
Fall between the cracks	To be missed, ignored, or overlooked by a system that is supposed to provide help or protection.	Undocumented workers often fall between the cracks of the healthcare system.
Land of opportunity	A place where people have many chances to succeed, achieve their goals, or become wealthy.	For over a century, America has been known as the ultimate land of opportunity.
A two-way street	A situation or relationship requiring give-and-take, where both sides have obligations and receive benefits.	Immigration is a two-way street: the host country gets labor, and the migrant gets safety.
Double-edged sword	Something that has or can have both favorable and unfavorable consequences.	A strong welfare state can be a double-edged sword for new arrivals.

🏃‍♂️ Key Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb	Definition	Example in Context
Settle down	To start living in a place where you intend to stay for a long time, usually with a job and a permanent home.	After moving around Europe, she finally decided to settle down in Germany.
Find one’s feet	To become familiar with and confident in a new situation or environment.	It takes most immigrants a couple of years to find their feet in a new society.
Crack down on	To take severe measures against someone or something, often to enforce rules or laws.	The government is planning to crack down on illegal immigration.
Put down roots	To feel established and at home in a new place, often by buying property or starting a family.	The guest workers eventually put down roots and never returned to their home countries.
Bring in	To attract or recruit someone (such as workers) to a specific place or company.	European countries had to bring in foreign labor to rebuild their economies.
Set off	To begin a journey.	In the 19th century, millions set off for the Americas.
Flee from	To run away from a place or situation of danger.	During the 2015 crisis, millions were fleeing from war-torn regions.
Figure out	To solve a problem or discover the answer to a question through thought.	The EU is still trying to figure out a unified migration policy.
Blend in	To look or seem the same as surrounding people or things, avoiding drawing attention.	He learned the local slang so he could easily blend in with the native speakers.
Fall behind	To fail to keep pace with others; to lag.	Countries that reject highly skilled immigrants risk falling behind in global technology.