The standard account of American immigration focuses on assimilation and acculturation. However, this narrative neglects the significant contributions of immigrants to American culture. They have been instrumental in advancing the arts, sciences, and other cultural pursuits. Although immigrants did not necessarily have more creativity or artistic talent, the experience of being a newcomer in a foreign land can often help them to adapt and flourish in the new country.
Legal Mexican immigrants rose to 621,000 in the 1970s
The number of Mexican immigrants in the United States has increased substantially over the past several decades. In the 1970s, there were about 550,000 of them. Today, there are more than 621,000 of them. Although they have been around for a long time, there is still many misconceptions about them. Some people still think that they are a threat and are taking jobs from American citizens. This view is largely unfounded and serves to obscure the reality of the immigrants’ lives.
The number of undocumented Mexicans in the United States has risen dramatically. Between 1970 and 1980, the number of undocumented Mexicans grew by nearly three-fourths. In the early 2000s, this number increased to nearly 1.5 million.
Legal Mexican immigrants reached 1 million in the 1980s
The number of Mexican immigrants living in the United States has steadily increased since the 1970s. In the 1980s, there were less than a quarter million, but by the 1990s, the population had grown to about 300,000, and in the early 2000s, it was close to half a million. Demographers consider this figure too high, and they believe that it should be closer to 400,000 or less.
The increase in legal immigration from Mexico was partly due to economic reasons. For years, nominal wage differentials between the U.S. and Mexico were roughly 10 to one. This led to strong demand for Mexican workers at the lower end of the labor market. Historically, these migrants came from rural areas in central Mexico and were largely employed in the agricultural sector in the U.S. until the 1980s.
Legal Mexican immigrants dropped back to 1.7 million in the first decade of the new century
The number of legal Mexican immigrants increased to almost 3 million in the early 1990s but dropped back to 1.7 million by the first decade of the new century. In part, this decrease was due to the Patriot Act, which was passed in response to perceived vulnerabilities after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The Trump Administration has been attempting to circumvent Flores by holding migrants in detention indefinitely. This creates a humanitarian crisis along the border. In addition, many people are being exploited by organized criminal organizations. Human Rights First has documented nearly 10,000 cases of abuse in Mexico, but many cases go unreported.
The undocumented population grew to an unprecedented size
The unauthorized immigrant population of America grew rapidly in the 1990s, reaching a peak of 12.2 million in 2007. After declining sharply for the next two years, the population stabilized at 10.5 million in 2017, according to Pew Research Center’s latest estimate. This figure includes those with temporary permission to stay in the country and those awaiting an asylum decision. The vast majority of these people, however, face the possibility of deportation if government policy changes.
Undocumented immigrants have long been integral to the economy and society. They work in hospitals, support our health care system, and educate future generations of American citizens. The recent economic crisis, however, has shown the volatility of the population. Putting undocumented immigrants on a path to citizenship could result in enormous gains for the economy and all workers. The estimated economic value of these undocumented immigrants in America is $1.7 trillion over the next decade. This fact alone should prompt Congress to include legalization in immigration reform discussions.