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

mjp5@cornell.eduhttp://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