Immigrants and the US Population
By Katherine at Legal Language
Posted 03/29/2010
In Immigration
Right now, people all over the United States are filling out and returning their 2010 census forms. Many have noticed that the census is shorter than ever — its aim is to get a clear count of the US population and is not as concerned with specific demographics.
However, the US Census Bureau takes other surveys beyond just the nationwide poll every 10 years — surveys that do focus on demographics. And according to recently released results, immigrants or the children of immigrants make up almost a quarter of the US population.
Immigrant Population Facts and Figures
The United States has always been considered a nation comprised of immigrants, but recent figures underscore how the immigrant experience is truly a part of the fabric of America.
Nearly one out of every four people living in the US in 2008 was an immigrant or the child of an immigrant. Two of every five immigrants surveyed came to the US before 1990.
In addition, the number of immigrants who are naturalized US citizens was around 15.1 million people. This means immigrants who are now US citizens make up five percent of the total US population.
An Increase in Workers and Salaries
The New York Times’ analysis of these figures reported a rise in the number of foreign-born workers in the US.
Nearly one in six US workers are immigrants. One in four workers were immigrants in heavily populated states like California, New Jersey, New York and Nevada.
The median income of immigrant families rose to just over $65,000. Similarly, the number of immigrants living below the poverty level declined.
The survey also indicated that, when reviewing the US population as a whole, immigrants were more likely to be employed or actively looking for work than native-born Americans.
Monica Boyd, a sociology professor at the University of Toronto, told the Times that the higher figures were a personification of “the overachievement model, a tendency for very high achievement that seems to come as a result of immigrant parents’ instilling in these kids an enormous drive. Many try to instill in their kids the phrase, ‘We did this all for you.’”
Immigration Today
It appears that the recent recession did affect the numbers of undocumented immigrant workers in the US.
Figures may fluctuate, but immigration was responsible for the very foundation of the United States. Over two centuries later, the number of immigrants in the population reflects America’s diversity.
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