LA Times: Mexican American Mobility

Thank you to Nan for sharing this with us:

(article link at the bottom of this post)

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"I really liked this op-ed in today’s LA Times.  Written by Tufts and Stanford professors, it cites recent studies that show that Mexican immigrants and their descendants follow the same pattern in educational aspiration and economic attainment as did previous waves of immigrants. At the same time they faced/face greater discrimination than Europeans did.  It seems to me this is one of the great myths we are up against – that the current wave of immigrants is somehow “different.” "                                _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Some quotes I pulled out (statements for which documentation is provided):

§  “Each passing generation of Mexican Americans does better than the one before at making economic gains and progressing toward full integration into U.S. society.”

§  “…[G]enerational improvements also were seen in wages earned, rates of homeownership and percent living above the poverty line. The gaps between Mexican immigrants and non-Latino whites declined from the first to second generation in all areas (except for homeownership, where no gap exists)." 

§  “…[I]t is important to highlight the progress of many Mexican Americans [who] have made this uphill climb in spite of greater challenges than those faced by earlier, European immigrants.”

§  “For contemporary Mexican immigrants and their U.S.-born children, the biggest challenge to assimilation is illegal status… [L]legalizing the status of Mexican newcomers — a central tenet of the Senate bill — is one of the best ways to encourage and accelerate their progress..”

§  Last paragraph/conclusion:So whatever the rhetoric, the House needs to realize this: When Mexicans have the opportunity to live and work legally in the United States, the new arrivals and their descendants are more likely to overcome disadvantages and, as immigrants have always done, become strong and constructive contributors to our diverse society. Don't stand in the way. 

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-marrow-mexican-immigrants-20130702,0,2688136.story