This Web Page is Yemen Variability and immigration to the US
Yemenis
Immigration
Yemenis are the sixth largest group of Arab immigrants to come to the US since
1965. Yemeni migration to the US shows a rather stable pattern, with a rise in
1973, and again after 1990, the Yemen unification. While the 1973 rise does not
appear to have an explanation, the reason for the rise after 1990 is clear.
Like other Arabs, Yemenis suffered greatly from the 1990-91 Gulf War. In fact,
more Yemenis lost their jobs permanently as a result of this war than any other
group, followed by Palestinians.
Yemenis
are a rather unique group among modern Arab immigrants. Some 90% of Yemeni
immigrants are unaccompanied men, who come to the US to work, save money, and
support their families in Yemen. Few intend to stay permanently in the US. Most
Yemeni immigrants come as relatives of earlier immigrants and all of them are
Muslims. Since the mid-1970s there has been a small migration of Yemeni
families, but this has not grown into a large movement. Yemenis largely migrate
to the same places they did during the years of the Great Migration and take on
the same hard labor jobs, although recently some Yemenis have gone into business
as urban shopkeepers.
Recent field studies in Yemen by
UNICEF and the World Bank identified several reasons for the lack of
immigration to the US. Given the rather low and weakened point of the education
system compounded with intense population pressures and chronic financial
constraints, the expansion of the Yemeni family in the last two decades has
been impeded. Moving to the untied States is taxing on the family structure and
the financial aspect as well. The other reason, post September 11, 2001 is the
fear of traveling to this country. According to news
reports many Yemeni passengers were being profiled and unjustly persecuted.
Ethnic groups include:
ARABIC, HADRAMI
*300,000 in Yemen (1995). Population 410,000. Alternate
names: HADROMI, HADRAMI. Classification: Afro-Asiatic,
Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.
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information.
ARABIC, JUDEO-YEMENI
*1,000 in Yemen (1995 H. Mutzafi). Alternate
names: JUDEO-YEMENI, YEMENITE JUDEO-ARABIC. Dialects:
SAN<A, <ADEN, BE:DA, HABBAN. Classification: Afro-Asiatic,
Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.
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information.
ARABIC, SANAANI
*7,600,000
(1996). Extends as far south as Dhamar, about 14.4 degrees north. Alternate
names: NORTHERN YEMENI ARABIC. Classification: Afro-Asiatic,
Semitic, Central, South, Arabic.
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information.
ARABIC, TA'IZZI-ADENI
*6,760,000 in
Yemen (1996). Population total all countries 6,840,000. Alternate
names: SOUTHERN YEMENI SPOKEN ARABIC. Dialects: TA'IZZI,
ADENI. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South,
Arabic.
More
information.