Adolescents and Young Adults in the Age of Migration

1. Adolescents and Young Adults in the Age of Migration

2. Immigrants in US • Almost 30 percent of the more than 68 million young adults aged eighteen to thirty-four in the United States today are either foreign born or of foreign parentage • First generation • most-educated (Indians) • least-educated (Mexicans) • lowest poverty rate (Filipinos) • highest poverty rate (Dominicans).

3. Reflect three very different ways of entering this country • through regular immigration channels • Without legal authorization • Blocks mobility • state-sponsored refugees.

4. Young and immigrant • These immigrant flows consist primarily of young adults and their children. • second generation—the U.S.-born children of the immigrants—has been growing rapidly • differ greatly • 90% of Whites and Blacks in US are native born, reverse for Hispanics and Asians. • Lumping together conceals cultural variation

5. Diversity • Of the 19 million first- and second-generation young adults between the ages of eighteen and thirty-four, more than half come from the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America, • 35 percent from Mexico. • Salvadorans and Guatemalans together add 5 percent more, • Puerto Ricans 4 percent • Dominicans and Cubans 2 percent each.

6. Geography • Most live in So. Cal, San Francisco, NYC • Many want to support parents • No pressure to leave home • Sharing rooms • Many provide monthly supplement to parents

7. Legal issues • almost half of immigrant young adults, or nearly 6 million, are estimated to be unauthorized • blocks access to the opportunity structure and paths to social mobility. • failure by Congress to pass comprehensive federal immigration reforms. • Hostility • Unable to get licenses, etc • Do not qualify for financial aid

8. DREAM Act vcxv failure by Congress to pass • comprehensive federal immigration reforms.

14. Immigration Quiz

15. facts • First generation was by far the least likely to live with their parents

16. Trends • In 1970 only 4% of 18-34 year olds in the US were foreign born.

17. Today • Almost 30% are either foreign born or foreign parentage (second generation) and continued growth • Immigrant population growing by 1 milllion a year, primarly from Latin America • Mostly young adults and their children (44%)

18. Ethnic Diversity of Early Adulthood • 150 countries classified as “Hispanic” or “Asian” • Of the 20 million 1st and 2nd generation 18-34 year olds: • More than a 1/3 come from • MEXICO • Salvadorans and Guatemalans 5% • Dominicans 2% Cubans2%

19. Asian Immigrants Filipinos, Chines, and Indians 4% each Vietnamese, Koreans 2% each

20. Immigrant Flow • Undocumented laborers • Professionals • Refugees

21. Geography • Many concentrated in Southern Californian NY, Miami

22. Ethnic Inequalities • Most educated-F.G. Indians • Least educated-F. G. Mexicans • Highest Poverty-F.G. Dominicans • Lowest Poverty F.G.-Filipinos

23. Generational Differences • Prolonged transition (moving out, marriage)

24. 8th graders in 1988