The past tense of immigrate, meaning to come to a country to live there permanently, usually to find better opportunities. It describes the action of moving into a new country to settle.
From Latin 'immigrare,' combining 'in-' (into) and 'migrare' (to move or migrate). The term entered English in the 1600s as European exploration and colonization increased global movement. It distinguishes the action of arriving in a new country from 'emigrate' (leaving one's country), though both derive from the same root word for movement.
The words 'immigrate' and 'emigrate' are tricky because they describe the same movement from different perspectives—your immigration is someone else's emigration! This linguistic split reflects how languages prioritize perspective, and it's a perfect example of why English speakers find these verbs confusing.
Immigration narratives have historically centered male workers and marginalized women's roles, often erasing women migrants' labor, autonomy, and hardship. Legal frameworks frequently treated women as dependents rather than independent immigrants.
Use 'immigrated' neutrally, but when telling migration stories, actively include women's experiences: their economic contributions, family separation, workplace exploitation, and agency in migration decisions.
Women immigrants have been key to nation-building through domestic work, agriculture, healthcare, and community formation—contributions often rendered invisible in historical records.
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