Mail-Order Brides and Marriage Migration: A Comparative Study of the Problems in the U.S., Great Britain and Ireland

Abstract

Mail-order brides are not a new concept to society, and unfortunately, it is still an issue that persists today. The trafficking of women illegally through the mail-order bride system is a well-known and documented phenomenon across the world. This paper will look specifically at the mail-order bride phenomena in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, as well as the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005 and the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act of 2000. By analyzing these nations’ mail-order bride laws and systems, as well as the international laws governing mail-order brides, it is clear that although measures have been taken to protect trafficked women, more could be and should be done to protect women from falling into the hands of the abusive and dangerous mail-order bride ecosystem. By reforming laws, strengthening punishments, and placing more accountability on nations to actively prevent women from being mistreated as mail-order brides, we may one day be able to live in a world in which mail-order brides do not exist. The author presents the historical development of the mail-order bride phenomena and its current implications on women and family life. Moreover, the paper analyzes the problem in a broader, comparative perspective which gives a greater understanding of the occurrence within the realm of common law countries.