I just received the Public Policy Institute of CA PPIC April 2007 report entitled “Immigrants in California.”
While we focus on “illegal” immigration it might be of interest to analyze this new report. For example: “One in four Californians is an immigrant.” 4.3 million came from Mexico, 739,000 the Philippines, 469,000 from China and 451,000 from Vietnam.
“Fewer than half of California’s foreign-born residents are citizens.”
“Millions of California immigrants are not eligible to naturalize because they are not legal U.S. residents. The I.N.S. estimated that 40 percent of the nation’s unauthorized immigrants in 1996 resided in California (2 million out of 5 million in the nation.”)
Let’s compare two groups, those from India, one of the largest immigrant groups in California, to those from Mexico. “Two-thirds of those from India have college degrees” while “63 percent of those from Mexico have not completed high school.”
On a personal note. It becomes frustrating when writers ignore those, like my father, who came into this country “legally” through Ellis Island. We currently have people from every corner of the globe standing in line for five to ten years waiting to get a green card. They do care about this nation and come here with empty pockets with every intent to become productive members of our society.
A year ago several of us were protesting against the CRA of LA in support of a property owner in Hollywood. On our drive to this business location we passed hundreds of Latino’s standing shoulder to shoulder on the overpasses of the 101 freeway waving hand made banners and Mexican flags. Hanging the Mexican flag above an upside down U.S. flag at Montebello High School was despicable. From that demonstration these protesters let us know that they have no desire to enter a path to U.S. citizenship.
You can find the entire two page report at the PPIC web site. www.ppic.org
OK readers.
Yes, I am mixing issues but they are related. Legal and illegal immigration and education.
How do we explain the difference in education achievement between those here from Asia with those from Latin America and Mexico?
What suggestions can you offer to repair this education shortcoming?
Why are half of the students in the LAUSD dropping out of school?
Perhaps the answer can be found in the book entitled “Kill Your Teacher” written by Rabbi Nachum Shifren, a former L.A. City school teacher, whose life was threatened and his High School classroom burned to the ground.
I have been home sick this week, and of course have had the chance to watch a lot of baseball. Funny how our country finds a way to import Latinos who play ball without worrying about how long they waited in line to get in…
Art,
You are obviously still with a temperature.
FYI commissioner, we have laws on importing qualified labor which cannot be found domestically.
I bet you that none of these players are draining our resources.
Take your medications and go sleep.
I hope that you are obeying laws in your commission.
-Stan
Let’s see Stan, one of us has been in jail – and it’s not me! So maybe you ought to worry about whether or not you are obeying our laws?
And you’re right, these players are wonderfully talented, but so are many of the other immigrants who don’t get the star treatment…
For educational achievement, just look at the numbers – relatively few people from Asia – mostly middle & uppler classes escaping communism – while droves of poor Mexicans are just seeking work – compare the Cubans in Florida to the Asians and see how they stackup.
Also, what about the 50% drop-out rate in the SAUSD – maybe the seniors are getting prep school scholarships – I suspect a lot leave for jobs to help their families.
Poster 4,
I think it is safe to say that the Irish farmers that came here when famine struck their country most likely did not have college degrees. The Polish people who fled Eastern European oppression likewise were mostly working people. Even the Pilgrims were mostly religious fanatics and indentured servants.
Studies show that many immigrants get rich in the US, the old-fashioned way. They outwork the rest of us.
However, I do believe that higher education is a must for the majority of these people and their children to move up in the world. How sad it is that in Santa Ana we have only one library and a very corrupt school system. Way to keep the people down!
Good morning Art. Hope you are feeling better today.
You raise an interesting point on professional ballplayers, many of whom come from Latin America.
I checked on the criteria of H1B Visa’s. Of the five classifications perhaps EB-3 is where we will find the answer. In my view a major league baseball player meets the criteria of being a “skilled or professional worker.”
Do the math. Total the number of teams and the number of players on their roster. We presntly have 30 major league baseball teams with active rosters of 25 suited up at any given time. Even if all 750 were from the Dominican Republic the number is miniscule in relationship to the total number of immigrants in our country.
Furthermore, of the 300 million Americans only 750 are in the majors. I would called that being a “skilled worker.”
Note: I may shortly post a report on the “No Child Left Behind” underfunded federal mandate which may address the issue of education.
Larry,
Thanks for asking. Still sick, but able to blog.
Here is the ultimate irony – the Latino baseball players come, for the most part, from poor, uneducated families. The very same type of people who come here illegally trying to find work.
Maybe we ought to get all our domestic immigrants involved in baseball so they can prove their worth?
Art, you just might be on to a solution to this debate.