Definition

1. Noun:
   • The process of moving to a foreign country to live there permanently: "Immigration" refers to the act of entering and settling in a country of which one is not a native.
   • The total number of immigrants arriving in a country over a specific period: "Immigration" can also refer to the collective body of people who immigrate during a given time interval.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The country has a long history of immigration from all over the world.
  • The government is debating new policies to manage immigration.
  • A wave of immigration in the late 19th century changed the nation's demographics.

Advanced Usage

• "Chain immigration": a process by which immigrants are allowed to bring certain family members to the country.
  • The policy debate focused on limiting chain immigration.
• "Illegal/undocumented immigration": the act of entering or residing in a country without official authorization.
  • The border crisis has heightened concerns about illegal immigration.

Variants and Related Words

• Immigrate (verb): to come to live permanently in a foreign country.
  • My grandparents immigrated to the United States in 1920.
• Immigrant (noun): a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.
  • She is an immigrant who has successfully started her own business.

Synonyms

• Migration (specifically, in-migration): movement into a place to settle.
• Settlement: the process of establishing a permanent residence in a new area.

Related Phrases

• "Immigration law": the area of law governing who may enter, reside in, and become a citizen of a country.
  • He specializes in practicing immigration law.
• "Immigration status": an individual's legal standing regarding their right to be in a country.
  • She applied to change her immigration status from a student visa to permanent residency.

Related Idioms

• "A nation of immigrants": a phrase describing a country whose population is largely composed of immigrants and their descendants.
  • The United States is often described as a nation of immigrants.

Noun

1. the body of immigrants arriving during a specified interval
   • the increased immigration strengthened the colony
2. migration into a place (especially migration to a country of which you are not a native in order to settle there)