By: Daniel Nardini
With all of the Republican candidates talking at one time or another about certain aspects on immigration (Mitt Romney talking about voting against the Dream Act. Newt Gingrich calling for giving legal status to the undocumented), here is a surprising change. There is no question that the number of undocumented, especially from Mexico, is down. One might even say way down. There are a number of reasons, but the biggest remains the lack of jobs for unskilled workers. Such jobs have been disappearing from the American job market, and those unskilled jobs that are available have been and are being filled by people in the United States already. Interestingly enough, immigrants are beginning to fill more and more skilled, highly specialized jobs. Because of the drug war in Mexico, many skilled workers like doctors, dentists, architects, writers, business people, etc., are making their way to the United States. Because of the shift in the economy we are seeing most if not almost all immigrants coming to this country legally. Skilled professionals are coming to try and fill jobs that do not always have enough Americans being able to fill them.
Another thing is that as many people from Asia are coming to the United States as from Latin America. A bare majority of all those who are coming legally into the United States come from Mexico. The second largest number of immigrants are coming from (as of 2010) China. Yes, Chinese are coming to this country to help fill skilled, highly specialized jobs. The third largest number of immigrants are coming from India. As in the case of the Chinese, the Indians are coming to this country for much the same reasons. In fact, the top ten countries of immigration to the United States, with one exception, are in Asia and Latin America. These countries are Mexico, China, India, Philippines, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, El Salvador, Cuba, Canada (that one was surprising), and the Republic of (South) Korea. And many of these people are not poor, downtrodden peasants. Many are business people and professionals who bring in money for investments and creating businesses—thus employing Americans in the process. Many are also expatriates who come and stay for a short time and then return to their countries of origin.
Yet when we hear the Republican candidates it sounds almost as if too many immigrants are only “Mexican” who come over here “illegally.” These stereotypes do not stand up to the immigration data, nor are most immigrants the same no matter where they come from. Having worked in this job for 18 years, I can safely say that there are many types of immigrants from all walks of life as there are Americans. I resent the politicians resorting to Americans’ base prejudice to try and get votes. Sadly, we will probably be hearing more such viral anti-immigrant talk in the coming months. One thing is for sure, and that is immigration in the 2010’s will most probably take on a different character.
Immigration in Flux
By: Daniel Nardini
With all of the Republican candidates talking at one time or another about certain aspects on immigration (Mitt Romney talking about voting against the Dream Act. Newt Gingrich calling for giving legal status to the undocumented), here is a surprising change. There is no question that the number of undocumented, especially from Mexico, is down. One might even say way down. There are a number of reasons, but the biggest remains the lack of jobs for unskilled workers. Such jobs have been disappearing from the American job market, and those unskilled jobs that are available have been and are being filled by people in the United States already. Interestingly enough, immigrants are beginning to fill more and more skilled, highly specialized jobs. Because of the drug war in Mexico, many skilled workers like doctors, dentists, architects, writers, business people, etc., are making their way to the United States. Because of the shift in the economy we are seeing most if not almost all immigrants coming to this country legally. Skilled professionals are coming to try and fill jobs that do not always have enough Americans being able to fill them.
Another thing is that as many people from Asia are coming to the United States as from Latin America. A bare majority of all those who are coming legally into the United States come from Mexico. The second largest number of immigrants are coming from (as of 2010) China. Yes, Chinese are coming to this country to help fill skilled, highly specialized jobs. The third largest number of immigrants are coming from India. As in the case of the Chinese, the Indians are coming to this country for much the same reasons. In fact, the top ten countries of immigration to the United States, with one exception, are in Asia and Latin America. These countries are Mexico, China, India, Philippines, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, El Salvador, Cuba, Canada (that one was surprising), and the Republic of (South) Korea. And many of these people are not poor, downtrodden peasants. Many are business people and professionals who bring in money for investments and creating businesses—thus employing Americans in the process. Many are also expatriates who come and stay for a short time and then return to their countries of origin.
Yet when we hear the Republican candidates it sounds almost as if too many immigrants are only “Mexican” who come over here “illegally.” These stereotypes do not stand up to the immigration data, nor are most immigrants the same no matter where they come from. Having worked in this job for 18 years, I can safely say that there are many types of immigrants from all walks of life as there are Americans. I resent the politicians resorting to Americans’ base prejudice to try and get votes. Sadly, we will probably be hearing more such viral anti-immigrant talk in the coming months. One thing is for sure, and that is immigration in the 2010’s will most probably take on a different character.