Max J. Pfeffer
Development Sociology Department
Cornell University
Immigration and Community Development
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
Largest Share Percent Rank
California 27.2% 1
New York 21.6 2
New Jersey 20.1 3
Nevada 19.1 4
Florida 18.9 5
Source: Kevin Jack, New York State Data Center
Foreign-Born Population, New York State, 2006
Location Number Percent
New York City 3,000,000 37%
Downstate Suburbs 740,000 18
Upstate 340,000 5
Total New York State 4,080,000 21
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 ChildrenU.S., New York and Upstate
How many immigrant children are there?73+ million children living in households
70+ million are native born13+ are native born to a foreign born parent
(9.7 million are native born with both parents foreign born)
3+ million are foreign born16+ million immigrant children in the U.S.
(22% of all children1.5 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
Total Immigrants Reporting an Occupation
227,400 --
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 folksSource: 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 →→→→ Social and Economic
↑ Success
↑↑
Friendship ←------→ Civic Engagement
Max J. PfefferCornell University
Department of Development Sociology and
Community and Rural Development Institute
[email protected]://devsoc.cals.cornell.edu
Thank you
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
United States Spanish (72%) Chinese (2.3%) Vietnamese (2.0%) French (1.7%) Korean Arabic (1.5%)
New York1. Spanish (56%)2. Yiddish (5%)3. Chinese (5%)4. Russian (3%)5. Hebrew, French (2%)
Upstate1. Spanish (48%)2. French (7%)3. Yiddish (4%)4. Russian (4%)5. German (3%)
American Community Survey, 2006