Ethnicity, Race and Ethnicity, Race and Immigration in the USImmigration in the US

Changing ethnic composition of new Changing ethnic composition of new immigrant populations immigrant populations

The Classic era: 1901-1930The Classic era: 1901-1930– Shifting from Northern Shifting from Northern

Europeans to Southern and Europeans to Southern and Eastern EuropeansEastern Europeans

– 1924 National Origins Act1924 National Origins Act– Total immigration Total immigration

18,638,000 79.6% from 18,638,000 79.6% from Europe, 16.2% from Europe, 16.2% from Americas Americas

New Regime beginning in 1971New Regime beginning in 1971– Dramatic shift away from Dramatic shift away from

European immigration and European immigration and toward America’s toward America’s

End of European Immigration and End of European Immigration and Beginning of New RegimeBeginning of New Regime

Tools for understanding Tools for understanding immigration: Push/Pull immigration: Push/Pull factorsfactors

End of classical era and End of classical era and the end of World War IIthe end of World War II– Marshall Plan Marshall Plan – Cold WarCold War– Economic growth in EuropeEconomic growth in Europe

Beginning of new regime: Beginning of new regime: growth of Asian growth of Asian ImmigrationImmigration– Aftermath of Vietnam War Aftermath of Vietnam War

and Asian Immigration and Asian Immigration

Economic growth in the US and Economic growth in the US and labor demandslabor demands

Post War boom in US required a large labor Post War boom in US required a large labor pool.pool.– No quotas on Latin American immigration until No quotas on Latin American immigration until

19651965 Amendments to Immigration and Nationality ActAmendments to Immigration and Nationality Act

– Most of US labor demands following World War Most of US labor demands following World War II met by Latin Americans.II met by Latin Americans.

Factors Affecting AssimilationFactors Affecting Assimilation

Stratified EconomyStratified Economy Limited upward Limited upward

mobility mobility No generation hiatus No generation hiatus Language similarities Language similarities

of new immigrants of new immigrants – Enclaves of immigration Enclaves of immigration – Chain migration Chain migration

Race and EthnicityRace and Ethnicity

Race: a socially constructed marker of Race: a socially constructed marker of differencedifference– Race in the US: a form of group identification Race in the US: a form of group identification – Why do we think in terms of race and not class? Why do we think in terms of race and not class?

Ethnicity: Cultural counterpart to race. Ethnicity: Cultural counterpart to race. Group identification in terms of language, Group identification in terms of language, religion, family structure, diet….religion, family structure, diet….

Break Time!!!! Be back in 5 minutesBreak Time!!!! Be back in 5 minutes

Current Debates about Immigration Current Debates about Immigration

Blaming social problems on immigrates, Blaming social problems on immigrates, particularly illegal immigrants, has become a particularly illegal immigrants, has become a powerful political tool.powerful political tool.– Tom Tancredo, representation from Colorado Tom Tancredo, representation from Colorado

SpringsSprings

What are the common complaints against What are the common complaints against illegal immigrants?illegal immigrants?

Complaints refutedComplaints refuted

Drive down wages of Native born Americans? Drive down wages of Native born Americans? – Minimum wage is set by government, this level is political not Minimum wage is set by government, this level is political not

economiceconomic– Illegal immigrants do not complete with Native born Americans for Illegal immigrants do not complete with Native born Americans for

jobs. jobs. Costing Taxpayers money?Costing Taxpayers money?

– Illegal immigrants pay taxes and use few government servicesIllegal immigrants pay taxes and use few government services– they pay social security that they can never use: extremely they pay social security that they can never use: extremely

important as baby boomer generation ages.important as baby boomer generation ages. Terrorism?Terrorism?

– Illegal immigrants have not been responsible for a terrorist attack in Illegal immigrants have not been responsible for a terrorist attack in America America

If commonly cited complaints are unfounded, If commonly cited complaints are unfounded, why is there so much resistance to why is there so much resistance to

immigration?immigration? Immigration has become deeply Immigration has become deeply

political in USpolitical in US Politicians can use immigration as a Politicians can use immigration as a

way of diverting attention away from way of diverting attention away from growing class differences in the US.growing class differences in the US.

– Play on entrenched racist and Play on entrenched racist and xenophobic tendencies among xenophobic tendencies among Americans.Americans.

Rarely is immigration looked at in Rarely is immigration looked at in the context of US policies creating the context of US policies creating push factors in Latin America: push factors in Latin America: NAFTA and agriculture NAFTA and agriculture

Economics of Undocumented Labor Economics of Undocumented Labor ForceForce

Labeling and PowerLabeling and Power– Okies and illegals Okies and illegals

Keeping people in Keeping people in undocumented status undocumented status allows American allows American businesses to lower businesses to lower costs of productioncosts of production– Keep wages downKeep wages down– Deny benefitsDeny benefits– Job insecurity and a Job insecurity and a

highly compliant highly compliant workforce workforce

ConclusionConclusion

Though common complaints against immigration Though common complaints against immigration are not supported with evidence, immigration has are not supported with evidence, immigration has become a deeply political issue.become a deeply political issue.

This benefits politicians and business ownersThis benefits politicians and business owners Reinforces ethnic and racial differences in the USReinforces ethnic and racial differences in the US Prevents the rise of a collective class Prevents the rise of a collective class

consciousness consciousness