Initial results from a recent survey show that a majority of Los Angeles area residents --- 60 percent --- support a path to citizenship policy as the approach to U.S. immigration reform.
Loyola Marymount University's Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles announced initial results from its 2007 Los Angeles Riots 15th Year Follow-Up Resident Survey that provides clear support for "path to citizenship" as the immigration policy of choice, regardless of citizenship status or ethnic background, said Fernando Guerra, Ph.D., director of the Leavey Center, and associate professor, political science and Chicana/o studies.
Only 20 percent of Angelinos favor a guest worker program that would give temporary visas to non-citizens who want to legally work in the United States, with an even smaller percentage - 16 percent - who support fencing the border reform policy.
"What's most affirming is that overall, Angelinos strongly support the path to citizenship immigration reform policy, as opposed to guest worker program or fencing in the border policies, regardless of citizenship status or ethnicity, and despite some variations among different ethnic groups," said Guerra.
The four ethnic groups surveyed all overwhelmingly support a path to citizenship policy for immigrants who have been living and working in the United States for a number of years with no criminal record. The breakdown:
"Path to citizenship": Supported by 77 percent of Latinos, 52 percent of Koreans, 49 percent of African Americans and 47 percent of Whites.
"Fencing the border": Supported by 37 percent of African Americans, 24 percent of Whites, 12 percent of Koreans and 4 percent of Latinos.
"Guest worker program": Supported by 31 percent of Koreans, 22 percent of Whites, 16 percent of Latinos and 12 percent of African Americans.
Among Asian ethnic groups, the Leavey Center has been surveying Koreans because they were the most affected by the Los Angeles Riots of 1992.
Support for a path to citizenship policy also is not tempered by the citizenship status of Angelinos. Here, 78 percent of non-citizens, 64 percent of naturalized citizens and 50 percent of U.S.-born citizens support this policy, in contrast to 26 percent of U.S.-born citizens, 10 percent of naturalized, and 3 percent of non-citizens who support fencing the border, and 23 percent of naturalized citizens, 19 percent U.S.-born citizens and 16 percent of non-citizens who support a guest worker program.
The 'American Dream'
"While there are many factors that can help explain why Angelinos support the path to citizenship policy, our data shows that Angelinos are very optimistic about achieving the "American Dream," said Guerra. "An overwhelming majority, or 80 percent, of Angelinos think they have reached the American Dream or will reach it, in their lifetime. Immigrants, Spanish-speaking and Latino groups are most optimistic about this."
Angelinos seem prepared to offer immigrants a solid chance to realize their dream through a path to citizenship policy, said Guerra. "The rest of the country should emulate Los Angeles' immigration policy reform choice," he added, "so that we all can benefit from a comprehensive policy that integrates immigrants into American life."
The survey did not specifically define "the American Dream." Respondents answered the questions based on what they felt the American Dream meant to them, said Jennifer Magnabosco, Ph.D., Leavey Center associate director and senior research associate.
While at least 20 percent of each ethnic group indicated they had already reached the American Dream in their lifetime (48 percent of Whites, 30 percent of Koreans, 25 percent of Latinos and 22 percent of African Americans), an even greater percentage of each group (62 percent of Latinos, 48 percent of Whites, 47 percent of African Americans and 43 percent of Koreans) think they will reach it in their lifetime.
A larger percentage of naturalized citizens - 41 percent - indicated they have achieved the American Dream, versus 39 percent of United States born citizens and 15 percent of non-citizens. In contrast, 69 percent of non-citizens think they will reach the American Dream in their lifetime, versus 43 percent of naturalized citizens and 38 percent of United States born citizens.
While only 23 percent of Spanish-speaking residents indicated they have reached the American Dream, a strong majority of this group, or 65 percent, is optimistic about reaching it in their lifetime. Similarly, while 27 percent of Korean-speaking and 40 percent of English-speaking residents have achieved the American Dream, 43 percent of the former and 40 percent of the latter groups think this will happen in their lifetimes.
How closely Angelinos followed the news about immigration, and their views on Mexican immigration, also may help to explain their immigration reform policy choices.
Most Angelinos, or 73 percent, closely followed the news about the immigration rallies that took place in March-April 2006. This trend also was consistent regardless of Angelinos' ethnicity or citizenship status: 75 percent of African Americans, 74 percent of Whites, 64 percent of Latinos and 63 percent of Koreans closely followed the news about these events, as well as 78 percent of non-citizens, 75 percent of U.S.-born citizens and 66 percent of naturalized citizens.
Almost half, or 49 percent, of Angelinos maintain a positive view and 34 percent maintain a negative view of Mexican immigrants in the United States as a result of the 2006 immigration rallies. With regards to citizenship status, 61 percent of non-citizens, 53 percent of naturalized citizens and 41 percent of U.S.-born citizens maintain a positive view of Mexican immigrants, versus 38 percent of United States born, 33 percent of naturalized born and 25 percent of non-citizens who hold a negative view.
As of April 9, 2007, 1,388 of 1,600 randomly and ethnically represented residents in the city of Los Angeles were surveyed (with a margin of error plus-minus 3 percent) by telephone.
LMU's Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles was established in 1996 to assist students, the university, and the community at large to become agents for change that leads to social justice. This survey is part of The Leavey Center's longitudinal effort to study the impact of the LA riots, and the relationships between ethnic relations, community attitudes, government and community action, and quality of life in urban cities.
The Leavey Center conducted similar surveys on the LA riots in 1997 and 2002. This year's survey focused on immigration because of its prominence as a national issue. Questions about immigration reform "are a natural extension to what is going on in L.A. with regards to ethnic issues that are important to the city of Los Angeles," said Magnabosco. |