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Classifying Latin American Immigrants In The US Docioeconomic Disparities And Forces Research Paper

Latin Americans in the United States Labor Immigrants

Labor immigrants formed the bulk of foreign workers in search of menial and low paying jobs. Mexicans occurred as the dominant Latin group in this category. The level of the minimum wage, approximately $4.25, about six times higher than that in Mexico lured most of the laborers from their native lands (Portes and Rumbaut 20). Demand for foreign laborers, especially those from Mexico depicts the desired attributes of the laborers that include motivation, reliability, diligence, and willingness to work for low pay. The higher wages in the U.S. enables immigrants to plow back in various investments, and the support of families left back at home. 'Yield' obtained through wages also goes to consumption and upgrade of the social status of the immigrants. After accumulation of enough savings, most of the immigrants return home to gain a position of social respectability.

Professional laborers

Unlike labor immigrants, professional laborers move away from their native countries in search of better pay and working conditions for the expertise they offer. Expertise from China dominates this category in the U.S. Referred to as 'brain drain' by native nations, this group of immigrants depicts significance in the professional services offered such as doctor and nurses.

Entrepreneurial immigrants

The entrepreneurial spirit among immigrants like Korea Town in Los Angeles has depicted the drive in self-employment of the Koreans and Cubans. Businesses such as grocery stores, liquor stores, restaurants, real estate offices, and gasoline stations owned by this group have contributed to economic growth. The avenue of economic mobility created in this scenario depicts the significance of entrepreneurs in the U.S. Native groups also support their own in rising to supervisory levels in the businesses.

Refugees

Refugees occur as the group of individuals with well-founded fear of physical harm or persecution from native lands. The influx of this group of individuals emanates from nations in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. Some of the refugees have participated...

Table 1 depicts the racial composition of the Hispanic population in the U.S. in periods between 1980 and 2000 (Logan 473). In contrast, Table 2 depicts the socioeconomic attributes of the Hispanic groups in the year 2000. Black Hispanics represents a minority group of the Hispanic immigrants into the U.S. Socioeconomic attributes of this group include higher unemployment and poverty rates compared to other Hispanic groups. Non-Hispanic Blacks also depicted higher levels of poverty and unemployment, unlike the other Hispanic groups.
White Hispanics recorded the highest levels of income and employment rates. Additionally, poverty levels were low among this group. Dominicans occurred as the highest share of Black Hispanics, for example, in New York City. Puerto Ricans also have a significant share of the Black Hispanic population (Logan 473). Among the Mexicans, Black Hispanics depicted the least share compared to other races.

The socioeconomic disparities evident in the different Hispanic races portray the different levels of aggressiveness and input from respective races. Notably, white Hispanics carry the lion's share in population inflow to the U.S. Additionally, this group represents the hard working lot evident by the higher employment rates and low poverty rates. Of all Hispanic nations, Mexico carries the largest number of White Hispanics. White Hispanics represents the lion's share, with employees preferring them to other Hispanic groups. The aggressiveness and reliability of this group also explain their demand leading to their populous nature. Disparities present in the different Hispanic groups highlight the significance of race among the Hispanics as a factor in employment.

Intermarriages occur as a significant source of the Black Hispanics in the U.S. Racially mixed children depict a strong likelihood of a black non-Hispanic parent. Socially, Hispanic groups have depicted the ability to intermarry with others,…

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Logan, John. How Race Counts for Hispanic-Americans. pp 471-484

Portes, Alejandro and Rumbaut, Ruben. Chapter 1 "Who they are and why they come" in Legacies: The Story of the Immigrant Second Generation. California: University of California Press, 2001: 1-27
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