Migration, Race, and Ethnicity

Research under the Migration, Race, and Ethnicity area is coordinated by Professor Erika Arenas.

Over the past three decades, the global number of international migrants has grown from 153 million to 281 million, making international migration a key focus for understanding population change. Migration profoundly impacts the well-being of migrants and their families, whether they accompany the migrant or remain in their communities of origin. A comprehensive research agenda on human mobility must explore both the causes of migration and its consequences—both in migrants’ destination countries and in their communities of origin.

In destination countries, the integration of immigrants depends on the context of reception, shaped by factors such as immigration policies, residential segregation, and levels of xenophobia. Immigrants’ integration has implications for their well-being, influencing access to education, health, wages, and resources. Since migration alters the racial and ethnic composition of populations, an important focus in migration studies is understanding how it affects socioeconomic and health inequalities among ethno-racial groups, as well as social mobility within and across generations. In communities of origin, migration has significant effects on family well-being and, on a broader scale, on economic development. These dynamics make it essential to examine the causes and consequences of international migration as part of the broader study of social inequality.

The Center’s research on Migration, Race, and Ethnicity, led by Professor Erika Arenas, explores international migration in the U.S. and globally through a multidisciplinary lens, using quantitative and mixed methods.