Transcript Slide 1

Immigration and Community
Development
Max J. Pfeffer
Development Sociology Department
Cornell University
Foreign-Born Population, New York State, 1900-2006
Source: Kevin Jack, New York State Data Center
Growth in Foreign-Born Population, 2000-2006
Source: Kevin Jack, New York State Data Center
Foreign-Born Population, by State, 2006
Most Foreign-Born
Number (millions)
Rank
California
9.90
1
New York
4.08
2
Texas
3.74
3
Florida
3.43
4
Illinois
1.77
5
Percent
Rank
California
27.2%
1
New York
21.6
2
New Jersey
20.1
3
Nevada
19.1
4
Florida
18.9
5
Largest Share
Source: Kevin Jack, New York State Data Center
Foreign-Born Population, New York State, 2006
Location
Number
Percent
NewYork City
3,000,000
37%
Downstate Suburbs
740,000
18
Upstate
340,000
5
4,080,000
21
Total New York State
Source: Fiscal Policy Institute, A Profile of Immigrants in the
New York State Economy,2008
The Foreign-Born Population Is Concentrated in the NYC Area
and Is Increasing, But it Is Also Important and Increasing in
the Rural Periphery
Paul Eberts, Department of Development Sociology, Cornell University
Source: New York State Association of Counties. 2007. The Population Shuffle:
The Latest Census Population Estimates and How They Impact Our Counties. June.
http://www.nysac.org/Policy_and_Research/Reports.php (accessed June 20, 2008).
Source: Mize, Ronald L. et al., “Latino In-Migration among Counties in Decline.”
Rural New York Minute, 31/2009, Community and Rural Development Institute,
Cornell University.
I want to stay here
because of my son; he has more
opportunities here to study, to learn
another language, to make a career
much better than in Mexico
(woman with 2 year old son).
Foreign Born Children by Year of Entry to the U.S. and
Children Born to Foreign Born Parents by Year of Birth,
Upstate NY
American Community Survey, 2006
Immigrant Children
U.S., New York and Upstate
How many immigrant children are there?
 73+ million children living in households
 70+ million are native born
 13+ are native born to a foreign born parent

(9.7 million are native born with both parents foreign born)
 3+ million are foreign born
 16+ million immigrant children in the U.S. (22% of all children
 1.5 million immigrant children in New York (32% of all
children)
 138K immigrant children Upstate (9% of all children)
Source: American Community Survey, 2006
Educational Attainment of Parents with Children,
United States, New York and Upstate
Source: American Community Survey, 2006
Top Occupations of Foreign-Born Residents, Upstate, 2004
Occupation
Number
Share of Occupation
Physical Scientists
2,200
41%
Physicians and Surgeons
6,300
35
Computer Software Engineers
3,200
20
College and University Professors
10,000
20
Other Engineers
2,000
13
227,400
--
Total Immigrants Reporting an Occupation
Source: Fiscal Policy Institute, A Profile of Immigrants in the New York State Economy,2008
Are Immigrants an Asset or Burden?
New York and Upstate, 2008
Source: Max J. Pfeffer and Pilar A. Parra, Empire State Poll 2008, Cornell University
New Yorkers’ Perceptions of Immigrants
The language barriers are a major
problem
…some newcomers can’t read English
nor Spanish
…this new population that comes in
is very different, ..they have the
reputation as hard working, family
folks
Source: Max J. Pfeffer and Pilar A. Parra, “Immigrants and the Community: Community Perspectives”,
Department of Development Sociology, Cornell University, October 2005.
English Language Ability of Foreign-Born Children and
Parents, New York
Source: American Community Survey, 2006
What can be done?
 Nongovernmental civic organizations, employers, schools,
and churches can support English language training for
immigrants
 English language training should be integrated with efforts to
introduce immigrants to other community members
 Communities can encourage civic engagement that includes
immigrants
 Create opportunities for immigrants to develop social ties to
other community residents
A Community Model of Immigrant Integration
English Ability
Friendship
→→→→
Social and Economic
↑
Success
↑
↑
←------→ Civic Engagement
Thank you
Max J. Pfeffer
Cornell University
Department of Development Sociology
and
Community and Rural Development Institute
[email protected]
http://devsoc.cals.cornell.edu
Community Support for English Language Training, New York
and Upstate
Source: Max J. Pfeffer and Pilar A. Parra, Empire State Poll 2008, Cornell University
Legal Status of the Foreign-Born Population in 2005
Source: Jeffrey Passel, Pew Hispanic Center, 2006
States Enacting Immigration Related Legislation in 2007
(N=46)
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures 2008
State Immigration-Related Legislation, 2007
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures 2008
Proposed Ordinances Specifically Regulating Immigrants or
Relations with Immigrants Since 2006
Content of Ordinance
Ordinance
Restrictive
Supportive
Employer Sanctions
45
--
Sanctions Against Landlords
31
--
English as Official Language
28
--
Police Support Immigration Authorities
25
5
Restrictions on Day Labor
9
--
Other
7
18
Total
145
23
Source: Web Search by Pilar A. Parra and Michelle Leveillee, April 2008
Language Other Than English Spoken at Home by Immigrant
Children, United States, New York and Upstate
1.
2.





United States
Spanish (72%)
Chinese (2.3%)
Vietnamese (2.0%)
French (1.7%)
Korean Arabic (1.5%)
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
American Community Survey, 2006
New York
Spanish (56%)
Yiddish (5%)
Chinese (5%)
Russian (3%)
Hebrew, French (2%)
Upstate
Spanish (48%)
French (7%)
Yiddish (4%)
Russian (4%)
German (3%)