Immigrants lag well behind native-born Americans economically

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
8/13/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

43 percent of U.S. immigrants here at least 20 years were on welfare

A study has shown that immigrants in the U.S. still lag behind native-born Americans economically, even for those who have been in the U.S. the longest. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, full assimilation is a far more complex task than overcoming language barriers or cultural differences.

Based on 2010 and 2011 census data, the study found that 43 percent of immigrants have been in the U.S. at least 20 years were using welfare benefits.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - In a study which examined all U.S. immigrants -- both legal and illegal, in addition to their U.S.-born children younger than 18, immigrants tend to make economic progress the longer they live in the U.S. However - they continue to lag well behind native-born Americans in terms of poverty, health insurance coverage and home ownership.

Based on 2010 and 2011 census data, the study found that 43 percent of immigrants have been in the U.S. at least 20 years were using welfare benefits. This rate is nearly twice as high as native-born Americans and nearly 50 percent higher than recent immigrants.

Both major presidential candidates have backed policies that would make the naturalization of immigrants easier and would boost the numbers of people coming to the U.S.

The center's research director and author of the 96-page study, Steven A. Camarota says the study shows that questions about the pros and cons of immigration extend well beyond figures and statistics, addressing the broader consequences of assimilating a population defined by tougher socioeconomic challenges.

"Look, we know a lot of these folks are going to be poor, we get it. But don't tell the public it's all going great, which is the story line I think a lot of people want to sell," Camarota says. "There is progress over time. Every measure shows improvement over time, but still, the situation does not look like we'd like it to look, particularly for the less-educated. They lag well behind natives even when they've been here for two decades, and that is very disconcerting."

Currently, federal law still requires that the government deny immigrant visas to potential immigrants who appear to be unable to support themselves and thereby become public charges.

A handful of Republican senators last week wrote to the Homeland Security and State departments asking them to explain why they don't consider whether potential immigrants would use many of the nearly 80 federal welfare programs when they evaluate visa applications. Neither department responded to the senators' letter.

Expanding legal immigration remains a highly contentious issue for voters, the vast majority of whom tell pollsters that they want the levels either retained or decreased.

Most politicians say they want legal immigration expanded.

During his time in the U.S. Senate, Barack Obama backed bills that boosted legal immigration. As U.S. president, he has called for the same thing.

"We need to provide our farms a legal way to hire workers that they rely on, and a path for those workers to earn legal status. And our laws should respect families following the rules - reuniting them more quickly instead of splitting them apart," Obama said in a major speech on the subject in El Paso, Texas, in 2011.

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Immigrants, U.S., economic disparity, welfare

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1 - 4 of 4 Comments

Debbie
9 months ago
it is easy to be judgmental on immigrants but you have to look at their disadvantaged situation. There is not a level playing field. Most often their parents are stuck in low paying jobs (with no health insurance), sometimes working 2 jobs just to pay the rent. The kids are left with little support. It leads to a vicious cycle where the kids follow their parents footsteps, not succeeding in school and just doing menial jobs to get by. Lack of confidence is part of it, too. They see their parents situation and cannot imagine themselves doing any better. I would recommend the book Nickel & Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich. It will really open your eyes on what the working poor have to do just to keep a roof over their head.
ErikKengaard
9 months ago
If immigrants (authorized, unauthorized) are heavy users of welfare, why would we not want highly restrictive immigration policies, and zero tolerance for unauthorized entrance? Surely we have more than enough home grown poverty. Why import more?
Larry
9 months ago
I wish they would have teased or factored out the difference between legal and illegal immigrants. I think it would have given a better picture of the effect of illegal immigration to us. I don't think illiegal immigrants want to become citizens for the most part and so they are not invested in wanting to become a part of this country - linguistically, culturally. Yes, I know some do but most that I've met don't and so the carrot of citizenship is not enough for them to work to get it. I don't know the motivation of legal immigrants but they may be a different kind of person, but this study does not tell us that. Whatever, this just points to the need we have to revamp the immigration policies for this country for the good of this country and its citizens and legal participants.
Roger Clegg, Ctr for Equal Opportunity
9 months ago
Re assimilation: Here's my top-ten list of what we should expect from those who want to become Americans (and those who are already Americans, for that matter). The list was first published in a National Review Online column a decade ago [link: http://old.nationalreview.com/comment/comment091200d.shtml ], and it is fleshed out in Congressional testimony [link: http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/May2007/Clegg070523.pdf ]:

1. Don’t disparage anyone else’s race or ethnicity.
2. Respect women.
3. Learn to speak English.
4. Be polite.
5. Don’t break the law.
6. Don’t have children out of wedlock.
7. Don’t demand anything because of your race or ethnicity.
8. Don’t view working and studying hard as “acting white.”
9. Don’t hold historical grudges.
10. Be proud of being an American.

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