First and Second Generation Immigrants

According to a recent analysis conducted by the Pew Research Center, it appears that second generation immigrants fare better than first generation immigrants on a variety of socioeconomic indicators. For one, second generation immigrants earn more than their first generation counterparts. On average, second-generation Americans earn about $12,300 more than immigrants and only $100 less than all U.S. Americans. Fewer second-generation Americans are living in poverty than first-generation immigrants (18% and 11% respectively, compared to a 13% poverty rate for all Americans). Moreover, second-generation Americans are also more likely to hold a bachelor’s degree or higher: Although only 29% of immigrants graduated from college, 36% of second-generation Americans completed college (higher than the national average of 31%). Homeownership rates are also higher among second generation Americans. Among second-generation Americans, 64% are homeowners compared to 51% of immigrants.  

The analysis also found that second generation Americans are more likely to identify themselves as a "typical American", speak English, and are more likely to report positive intergroup relations. About 52% of second-generation Latinos and 64% of Asians report that they get along very well with a variety of other groups in American, such as African Americans and whites. In contrast, only 26% of Latinos immigrants and 49% of Asians reported the same.



U.S. Immigrant Population Continues to Grow

According to Pew Research Center, the immigrant population in the United States was 40.4 million, a record high for the country.  In 2011, the 13% of immigrants living in the United States was slightly lower than the nation's peak at 15%, which occurred between 1890 and 1920.  The 40.4 million immigrants in the United States are distinctly comprised of Latin Americans (50%) and Asians (27%), as opposed to the influx of European immigrants in the period between 1890 and 1920.

The population of unauthorized immigrants, a segment of the 40.4 million immigrants in the United States, were down slightly since 2007, from 12 million to 11.1 in 2011.  Highlighting other trends relating to unauthorized immigration, Pew links to further analysis in other articles, which can be found here.

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