A Multicultural Perspective
on Immigration
Jill Kerper Mora, Ed.D.
San Diego State University
Rank order these concerns about current
levels of immigration from 1 to 5:
We need border security to prevent terrorism and
other crimes.
Immigrants are taking jobs away from American
citizens & low-paid immigrant workers are pulling
down wages overall for American workers
New immigrants are not assimilating into American
culture as did previous generations of immigrants
Immigrants are clinging to the language and culture
of their country of origin and not shifting their loyalty
to the United States.
Immigrants are a burden to society due to their use
of social services in disproportion to their contribution
in taxes.
Our Greatest Fears
Concerns about cultural assimilation of new
immigrants into the American mainstream outweigh
economic concerns and fears about national security
in the minds of most Americans. Many of these
concerns are based on myths and misunderstandings
about current patterns of assimilation. These cause
us to pursue laws and policies that aggravate the
situations and conditions we fear rather than improve
our lives in a diverse society.
The Classic Melting Pot Model
The Melting Pot Model assumes that ethnic
differences will disappear as immigrants
assimilate and become indistinguishable from
“mainstream” Americans, at least in terms of
speaking English and adopting American
values, customs and traditions. It is based on
an idealized definition of what it means to be
an American.
Cracks in the Melting Pot
Percentages and numbers of documented vs.
undocumented immigrants among the
population
Patterns of border crossings and legal/illegal
entry into the USA
Geographic dispersal of immigrant
populations and formation of ethnic enclaves
Economic impact of immigrant populations
Patterns of economic, cultural and linguistic
integration and social mobility
Immigration Then & Now
How is immigration today different from
immigration at the beginning of the 20th
century? Who were the immigrants then &
now? Were they young or old, families or
single men/women? Where did they come
from? Where did they arrive and settle in the
United States? Did they maintain ties with
their countries of origin? Did immigrants go
back and forth between their native countries
and the USA?
Historical Patterns of Assimilation
Assimilation with upward mobility across
generations or “downward” assimilation into
social & economic underclass
Identification with American dominant
society’s cultural values, customs & traditions
Transitional bilingualism
English monolingualism after second or third
generation
Realities of Current Immigration
Percentages and numbers of documented and
undocumented immigrants among the
population
Geographic dispersal of immigrant
populations and ethnic enclaves
Economic impact of immigrant populations
Patterns of cultural and linguistic integration
Patterns of border crossings and legal/illegal
entry into the USA
Immigration Status as a
Factor in Assimilation
The population of the USA is comprised of 20%
immigrants. 75% are legal residents.
Three types of undocumented or “illegal” immigrants:
Entry without inspection; visa overstayers; or
violators of terms of a legal visa, such as a tourist
who takes a job. Visa overstayers are 40% of illegal
immigrants (OHS, 2007).
There are an estimated 12 million undocumented
immigrants in the USA (Pew Hispanic Center, 2006).
Lack of legal status is a significant obstacle to social,
economic and cultural integration.
Economic Impact of Immigration:
The “Ambivalent Reception”
Globalization, trade, competition for workers,
changing patterns of comsumption
Incorporation of immigrant laborers into U.S.
economy
Overall costs & benefits of immigration and
undocumented workers
Uneven distribution of costs between federal & state
governments
Age demographics: Social security & retirements vs.
demand for young workers
Impact on Workers & Wages
(Borgas, Harvard Univ., 2007)
An increased labor supply between 1980-2000 due to
immigration reduced wages for U.S. born men by
approximately 4% and among non-high school
graduates by 7.4% or $30 per week average wage.
Undocumented workers create demand that leads to
new jobs and economic activity.
Some industries such as agriculture are heavily
dependent on temporary migrant labor.
The economic impact of illegal immigration is far
smaller than other trends in the economy, such as
automation in manufacturing and the growth of
global trade.
Benefit or Burden?
Between 55%-65% of illegal immigrants have income
tax and social security withheld from their paychecks.
These deductions amounted to $7.3 billion in 2005.
Very little of this money is reclaimed in refunds
and/or benefits. This amount kept the social security
fund from running at a deficit (more money going out
than coming in) for that fiscal year.
Economists generally believe that when averaged
over the whole economy, the effect of illegal
immigrations is a small net positive, estimated at a
1% increase in the average American’s wealth.
The New Diaspora
7 major US cities are home to the majority of
immigrants. More than a third of undocumented
immigrants live in 3 cities: New York, Los Angeles
and Chicago.
Until the mid 1990’s, most new immigrants joined
immigrant communities with strong networks for
assisting newcomers in adapting to the new culture.
A number of factors caused the dispersal of
immigrants throughout the USA to states that
previously had not experienced large-scale
immigration.
Factors Driving Geographic Dispersal
Saturation of large immigrant communities
New sources of employment for immigrants
Patterns of seasonal or temporary migration
Restrictions on border crossings preventing
visits and returns of Mexican workers
Increased risks of illegal crossings
Transnationalism & networking between
sending and receiving communities
Impact of Emigration on Mexico:
The Push-Pull Paradigm
Geopolitical realities: We will forever be
neighbors.
De-population factors & impact on present &
future work force
Mexico’s economic growth & development
prospects
Mexico’s social structure & family
desintegration
Impact on sending and receiving communities
Linguistic Assimilation
90% of U.S born Mexican immigrants speak
English well.
In border regions, 70% of households are
Spanish/English bilingual, 30% are English
monolingual.
Further from the border, 60% of Mexican
American children speak only English.
75% of third generation immigrant families in
non-border states speak only English.
Then Why the Rise in
Anti-immigrant Sentiments?
Fear of social and cultural change.
Fear of differences and divisions.
Fear of loss of control over social institutions and
processes.
Increased visibility of the issue because of political &
legislative actions to reform immigration laws.
Lack of understanding of international interrelationships and globalization with the increased
need for cooperation across national boundaries in
dealing with increased migration and expatriate
communities.
Obstacles to Cultural Integration
Lack of economic opportunities from low
levels of education, job skills, language skills,
job-seeking skills and networks
Limitations on civic participation and ability to
benefit from the fruits of one’s labor
Exploitation in the workplace
Ethnic enclaves and social isolation
Racism, prejudice & linguistic discrimination
The Immigration Policy Debate:
Rhetorical Symbols
Discuss with a classmate the ideas & emotions
associated with these symbols or phrases:
Protest marchers waving the Mexican flag
Press one for English
Jobs that Americans won’t do
Rewarding lawbreakers
Cutting off the jobs magnet
Bilingual education
Ideologies of Cultural Integration
Nativism: “Us” versus “Them”
Restrictionism: The Chosen
Assimilation: The Melting Pot
Acculturation: The Mosaic
Nativism
Rights of membership and citizenship in the
nation-state based on birth within its
territorial boundries. (Fourteen Ammendment
to the U.S. Constitution)
Proposals by some factions to limit rights of
citizenship by birth to children of legal
residents and citizens, which would require a
constitutional ammendment
Solution to immigration problem is
criminalization of undocumented status and
deportation
Restrictionism
Objective is to control who becomes a legal resident
or citizen.
Full admission to civic society of a restricted number
of immigrants who qualify, except for the right to
vote.
Under some federal and state laws, limits placed on
social benefits for legal immigrants.
Does not address the traditional and current pushpull factors in migration across the US-Mexico and
the vested interests of business and industry in both
legal and illegal immigration.
Forced Assimilation: The Brutal Bargain”
Demands are placed on immigrants to abandon the
language & cultural practices of their country of
origin
Fails to recognize possibilities & benefits of
transnational, multicultural identities
Results in “reaction formation” among immigrants to
reassert their national and cultural identity
Results in polarization of society on issues of
language, culture and belonging to a nation-state
Acculturation
Based on the belief that multiculturalism and
binational & bicultural identities are positive assets to
the nation-state and to individuals
Recognizes transnational lives of today’s immigrant
communities and individuals
Accepts and promotes bilingualism as a valuable
individual, group & societal resource
Builds on social & cultural resources immigrants bring
to the USA, including strong identification with older
generations’ cultural values and traditions
Cultural Integration Across Generations:
The Social Capital Model
Acceptance by society of cultural and linguistic
diversity
Full civil & legal status with the accompanying rights
& responsibilities
Human capital & strong immigrant community
support networks
Educational, professional & entrepreneurial
opportunities, which sustain achievement drive
Positive interactions with native English speakers and
proficient bilinguals
Our Policy Options:Which Ones Address
the Core Concerns?
Criminalization of illegal immigration
status
Large-scale deportations
A border fence
Increased border security
Increased numbers and types of legal
visas including temporary work visas
Legalization and paths to citizenship
Toward a Multicultural Society
Critical examination of “brutal bargain” policies that
produce negative reactions, isolation and
discrimination against immigrants
Support for immigrant communities and acculturation
networks to build social capital
Avoidance of unintended consequences of misguided
or ineffective laws and policies.
Enacting laws and policies that enhance assimilation
and full integration of immigrants as contributing
members of society.
Implications for Education
Bilingual education as a positive model of
acculturation
Critical examination of equity issues involved
standards & accountability movement
Promoting educational aspirations and opportunities
among and for Latino students
Fostering positive bicultural & multicultural identities
among immigrant students
Outreach to immigrant parents and communities to
build connections between home and school
Further Reading
Alba, R. & Nee, V. (2003). Remaking the American
mainstream: Assimilation & contemporary
immigration. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University
Press
Chomsky, A. (2007). “They take our jobs!” and 20
other myths about immigration. Boston, MA: Beacon
Press.
Jacoby, T. (Ed.) (2004). Reinventing the Melting Pot:
The New Immigrants and what it means to be
American. New York, NY: Perseus Book Group.
Portes, A., & Rumbaut, R.G. (2001). Legacies: The
story of the immigrant second generation. Berkeley,
CA: University of California Press.