How does immigration affect the population structure in Los Angeles - Research Paper Example

?How does immigration affect the population structure in Los Angeles? Introduction Recent studies in the field of immigration in the United s show that growing immigrant population contribute social, demographic and economic changes among the people. Studies also show that immigrants have not trim down the opportunities of Native Americans. Huge number of Hispanic and Asian population in Los Angeles County, California has marked their identity in social, demographic and economic fields. Immigrant population in Los Angeles County have strengthened a number of sectors of economics, business, education, job vacancies, construction and manufacturing. Census reports document that after 1990, a remarkable growth took place in immigrant population Los Angeles County, California. The Census Bureau's 2009 American Community Survey documented that the US immigrant population was 38,517,234, or 12.5 percent of the entire US population (Batalova & Terrazas). At this juncture, State and Federal governments made sufficient policy making to ensure proper education and healthcare among the immigrants. Even though, immigration lacks negative effects in the field of job market, it promotes fiscal crisis for both state and federal government. Legal and illegal immigration in Los Angeles changed the population structure of the land those changes paved the way for the establishment of a new life style in the fields of age and sex, housing, education, employment, income, race and ethnicity. Review of literature The census website for 1990 and 2000 gives relevant information about the growth of population and its major sources. Recent studies and researches have mentioned the fact that immigration plays a vital role in the process of increasing population and its effects are many and varied. Women contribute a higher proportion than men in immigrant population. Paul M. Ong and Edna Bonacich made some relevant observation in the field of immigrant population and they remark; ‘Women constitute a far higher proportion than in the past and now make up the majority of immigrants from some countries’ (Ong & Bonacich 4). Higher proportion of women population paved the way for high birth rates and population growth. Consequently, Federal government forced to spend maximum fund for immigrants. Immigrant population in Los Angeles promoted relevant changes in nation’s economic growth. Their taxes, lower-wage goods and services contributed better growth in local and regional economy. Manuel Pastor and Rhonda Ortiz examine the economic effects of immigrant population in Los Angeles. They rightly comment that ‘Finally, immigrants comprise 46 percent of the workforce in Los Angeles, making them integral to the growth of the local and regional economy’ (Pastor & Ortiz 7). Similarly, both Federal and state governments have spent a considerable amount of money for the welfare of immigrant communities through implementing schools and hospitals. Discussion and analysis Social effects of immigration Socio-economic effects of immigration in the United States have been a controversial issue among the policy makers and media in recent years. Analysing the immigrant population of Los Angeles County, California, it is obvious that some changes in the fields of culture, ethnic backgrounds, education, employment, gender perspective, housing and social customs among the Hispanic and Asian immigrants. Immigrants from Hispanic and Asian population contributed considerable amount of capital for the growth of GDP. In social and educational field, immigrant women in Los Angeles played remarkable role. After 1990, Immigrants from higher socio-economic backgrounds concentrated on cities and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds tend to select densely populated areas. Immigrants have occupied in skilled –jobs, lower-wages services, and farmlands. Women were concentrated in agriculture, fishing and weaving. Immigrant children often depend on private schools for education than mainstream education. “Over 40 percent of all students in Los Angeles schools are ELLs. More than 330,000 immigrant students engaged in schools” (Fix et al). It is crystal clear that a dramatic growth is occurred in the field of immigrant education in recent years, especially, during the years 1990 to 2000. In case of age and sex, immigrants were young and female population demonstrated a higher proportion than male. Eventually, higher level of birth-rate marked among the immigrants. James Patrick Smith and Barry Edmonston noticed that “immigrants were young and had more children” (Smith & Edmonston 11). Nothing like native culture, Immigrants have established a new life style which facilitates their ethnic and cultural heritage in Los Angeles. Immigrants in Lose Angeles are younger population and labour force participation rates for those people are high. Therefore, Large number of immigrant men found sufficient income through skilled –jobs and services. Hispanic and Asian immigrants who settled in cities like East Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, the San Gabriel Valley, and South Central concentrated in business programs. Women from Asian immigrants found their income from medical professions. Manuel Pastor and Rhonda Ortiz observe that ‘Finally, immigrants comprise 46 percent of the workforce in Los Angeles, making them integral to the growth of the local and regional economy’ (Pastor & Ortiz 3). Immigrants who concentrate business fields receive higher income while low-wage skilled job workers keep lower income. Asian immigrants who worked in medical and engineering profession keep higher rate of income. Another significant change in social life is that the increasing crime rate among the people in major cities. Increased immigration in Los Angeles coincided with a spectacular increase in violent crimes. As a consequence of this they have some changes happened in the public perception about increased immigration and crimes. Asian Immigrants from China, Korea, and Vietnam used their own native language in their community. Large number of women from Asian countries has engaged in highly skilled professions and majority of them are working as doctors, nurses, engineers and medical officers. Economic effects of immigration In the field of economics, immigrant population produced both positive and negative effects. Federal and state governments have enjoyed a considerable amount of income through practicing taxes, lower-wage goods and services made by immigrant labour, and lower wages of some owners of capital. Majority of males in immigrant community engaged in low- skilled jobs and women attended in factories, farmlands and weaving. Immigrants from Hispanic and Asian population have achieved sufficient growth in economic fields and a large number of immigrants worked in specialized jobs. After the implementation of Rumford Fair Housing Act, it prevented the rent or sells the buildings based on age, sex, marital status, race and ethnicity. Microeconomic changes during the time of 1990s provided new employment vacancies and these low-wages jobs filled by immigrants and other non-native people. “Although Hispanic workers filled a large proportion of the jobs added during the decade, particularly in manufacturing, there is no indication that work opportunities for non-immigrant’s lessened” (The Cato Institute and the National Immigration Forum ). These immigrants concentrated in large cities and they have used costly housing apartments. They have contributed $222 billion in gross revenue for the growth of GDP. Similarly, both Federal and state governments spent a considerable amount of money for employment, education, healthcare and medical insurance among the immigrants. Politicians and administrative officials often reported the issue of illegal immigration. In Los Angeles, government agencies established sufficient medical care and insurance programs for immigrates. Increasing crime rates in Los Angeles County promotes social issues as well as economic crisis among those agencies. Immigrant families in Los Angeles consumed a significant amount of total county service and the government received only 8.7 of tax revenues. “Although these immigrants and their families composed 25 percent of the county population, this group consumed 30.9 percent of total county services while paying only 8.7 percent of tax revenues, most of which flowed to the federal government” (The national academies press). Federal government ensured public education and sufficient healthcare programs for immigrants from Hispanic and Asian population. Analysing the educational status of immigrants in Los Angeles, one can comprehend the fact that a gradual development is visible in the field of higher education among the Hispanic and Asian immigrants since 1990. The federal and state governments have paid a considerable amount for immigrant education. Research professionals rightly remark that one apparent challenge to immigrant integration in Los Angeles County, California is simply is the range of enterprise. “Almost half of the Los Angeles workforce is foreign born (Nationwide, the share is 15 percent.)” (Fix et al 4). Immigrants involved in skilled jobs and low-wage jobs. In addition, over 9.9 million residents which contains one-third (36 percent) of the total population is non- natives. Studies also reveal that the children of immigrants who constitute one-quarter of the total population. Evaluating the last 10 or 15 years of economic growth, one can easily find the fact those immigrants from Hispanic and Asian population contributed a substantial amount of wealth. They have actively engaged in variety of economic activities, labour markets, and consumerism and tax outlays. According to Roger David Waldinger and Mehdi Bozorgmehr, “By establishing roots in Los Angeles and participating in economic activities, including the labour market, consumerism and tax outlays undocumented immigrants have in our opinion, some rightful claim to be a part of this society” (Waldinger 180). Their findings underline the fact that immigration makes a variety of social, cultural, economic and demographic contributions to the United States. Demographic effects Research professionals in the field of sociology remark that many communities in Los Angeles had demonstrated some significant changes in their ethnic culture over the last few years. After 1990s black people or immigrants from Hispanic and Asian population became a predominant group. The Latino community had concentrated to the Eastern side of the city. Recent studies and census reports documented that statistics underlines an obvious increase in the number of foreign- born residents that have settled in the United States. “From the year 1990 to present, the number of foreign-born residents that have settled in America has shown a rapid growth rate of 43%” (Oppapers.com). Majority of immigrants come from Hispanic and Asian population. During the period of 1980 to 2000, Latino population doubled which consisting 40% of the total population of the American population (Oppapers.com). Hispanic and Latino Americans have concentrated in to cities and more densely populated areas. A substantial change in housing composition is visible in cities of Los Angeles County, California. United States Census Bureau, 2000 records that the total population of Lose Angeles County is 9.5 million people and it denotes 7 percentage growths from its 1990 statistics of 8.9 million. The report also mentioned that ‘there is an elegantly curved population increase from 25 to 39 years of age, after which the population begins to taper off’ (Kaneshiro 3). An increased rate of population is visible among the people having the age limit 25 to 39 (see appendix- 1). It is worth noting that the life expectancy of female population among the immigrants reaches 90 years. It is a startling piece of information that immigrants’ higher life expectancy rate promote considerable growth in immigrant population. Effects of illegal immigration and legal immigration in Los Angeles, and how it changes the population? Immigration became the largest source of population growth in the United States in recent years. Census reports indicate that both legal and illegal immigration contribute over 2.5 million people to the American population. Because of increasing immigration, remarkable decrease in the population of non- Hispanics is marked in Los Angeles. Research professionals coined the statistical data that in Los Angeles County, California, the non- Hispanic slithered from 80% of the state’s population in to 4 2% in recent years. In case of immigrants from lower socio-economic backgrounds, many of them have concentrated in to more densely populated areas. “According to figures from the U.S Bureau of the Census (1990), L.A County is 42 %, White, 11% Black, 37% Latino, 10% Asian” (Charles). More immigrants from Hispanic and Asian population have found sufficient residential facilities and income in Los Angeles during the last 10 or 15 years. Increased rate of immigrant population in Los Angeles requires sufficient policy making in the field of immigrant law. Conclusion In the final judgement, it is evident that Immigration had contributed relevant changes in various fields like, social, economic, cultural, and demographic. Immigrants from Hispanic, Latino and Asian population have marked gradual growth in their population in recent years. Immigrant community in Los Angeles contributed a considerable amount of income for the development of GDP. In case of gender proportion, women have marked a higher status than men. Difference in higher socio-economic and lower socio-economic backgrounds of immigrants paved the way for a new social structure in society. Immigrants from higher socio-economic backgrounds largely concentrated to cities. Both Federal and state governments forced to spend a substantial amount of money for welfare services. Immigrant population causes substantial decrease in the population of Native Americans in Los Angeles. Immigrants from Hispanic and Asian population have followed their own language and ethnicity. Immigrants have made their own provision in economic fields and job markets. Increased rate of immigrant population changed the housing composition of Los Angeles in recent years. Works Cited Batalova, Jeanne., Terrazas, Aaron. Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States. Migration information.org. December 2010. Web. 19 Nov, 2011. http://w ww.migrationinformation.org/feature/display.cfm?ID=818. Charles, Camille Zubrinsky. Neighborhood racial composition preferences: Evidence from a multiethnic metropolis. Society for the study of social problems, Inc. 2000. Web. 19 Nov. 2011. http://www.econ.brown.edu/fac/glenn_loury/louryhomepage/teaching/Ec%20137/Ec%20137%20spring07/camille-charles.pdf Fix, Michel., McHugh, Margie., Matteo, Aaron Terrazas and Laglagaron, Laureen. Los Angeles on the leading edge: immigrant integration indicators and their policy implications. Migration policy institute. National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy. April 2008. Web. 19 Nov, 2011. http://www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/NCIIP_Los_Angeles_on_the_Leading_Edge.pdf. Kaneshiro, Matt. The Latino/a Population in Los Angeles County: An Exploratory Demographic Analysis. University of California Riverside: Department of Sociology. Web. 19 Nov. 2011. http://cssd.ucr.edu/Papers/PDFs/Kaneshiro%20LA%20County%20V2%20in%20prog.pdf Oppapers.com. Economic Effects of Illegal Immigration in Los Angeles, California. Oppapers.com. 2011. Web. 19 Nov. 2011. http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Economic-Effects-Illegal-Immigration-Los-Angeles/95594. Ong, Paul M., Bonacich, Edna. The New Asian immigration in Los Angeles and global restructuring. Illustrated edn. Temple University Press, 1994. Print. Pastor, Manuel., Ortiz, Rhonda. Immigrant Integration in Los Angeles: Strategic Directions for Funders. University of Southern California: Program for Environmental and Regional Equity & Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration, Commissioned by the California Community Foundation. Jan 2009. Web. 19 Nov, 2011. http://csii.usc.edu/documents/immigrant_integration.pdf. Smith, James Patrick., Edmonston, Barry. The immigration debate: studies on the economic, demographic, and fiscal effects of immigration. Illustrated edn. National Academies Press, 1998. Print. The Cato Institute and the National Immigration Forum. Immigration: The Demographic and Economic Facts: Effects of Immigration on Native Unemployment. The Cato Institute and the National Immigration Forum. Web. 19 Nov. 2011. http://www.cato.org/pubs/policy_report/pr-imnative.html. The national academies press. The Immigration Debate: Studies on the Economic, Demographic, and Fiscal Effects of Immigration (1998). National Academy of Sciences: Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. 2011. Web. 19 Nov. 2011. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=5985&page=121 Waldinger, Roger David. Ethnic Los Angeles. Russell Sage Foundation, 1996. Print. Appendices: Appendix-1: Total Population for Los Angeles County 2000, by age and sex. Kaneshiro, Matt. The Latino/a Population in Los Angeles County: An Exploratory Demographic Analysis. University of California Riverside: Department of Sociology. Web. 19 Nov. 2011. http://cssd.ucr.edu/Papers/PDFs/Kaneshiro%20LA%20County%20V2%20in%20prog.pdf Read More