When I taught human security and peacebuilding, I used to introduce learners to the ‘money’ question in international development by showing them Dilip Ratha’s powerful TED Talk on remittances. It always surprised them to learn that remittances – the money sent home by migrants working in another country – was at least three times as large as official development assistance – the money contributed by one country to another – or private investment flows.

It changes your perspective on immigration considerably when you realize that people come to countries like the USA in order to earn money to support their families back home, and that the money they send home – in addition to supporting US companies like Western Union – improves the lives of their families far more effectively than any international aid. The children of such families are healthier, better educated, and live in better homes.