Immigrant Gateways and Hispanic Migration to New Destinations

Abstract

Our understanding of the underlying demographic components of population change in new Hispanic destinations is limited. In this paper, we (1) compare Hispanic migration patterns in traditional settlement areas with new growth in emerging Hispanic destinations; (2) examine the role of immigration vis‐à‐vis domestic migration in spurring Hispanic population redistribution; and (3) document patterns of migrant selectivity, distinguishing between in‐migrants and non‐migrant Hispanics at both the origin and destination. We use several recent datasets, including the 1990 and 2000 Public Use Microdata Samples (which include new regional geocodes), and the 2005 and 2006 files of the American Community Survey. Our results document the widespread dispersion of the Hispanic population over the 1990–2006 period from established Hispanic gateways into new Hispanic areas and other parts of the country. Nearly one‐half of Hispanic net migration in new destinations comes from domestic gains. In contrast, both established and other Hispanic areas depend entirely on immigration, with each losing domestic migrants to high growth areas. Migrant flows also are highly differentiated by education, citizenship, and nativity. To fully understand the spatial diffusion of Hispanics requires a new appreciation of the complex interplay among immigration, internal domestic migration, and fertility.

Diverging fortunes? Economic well-being of Latinos and African Americans in new rural destinations

“…The geographic dispersion of Latinos throughout the United States, including its rural spaces, has been unprecedented (Massey, 2008;Lichter and Johnson, 2009). Many small towns in the Midwest and South are facing, perhaps for the first time, new challenges associated with accommodating boomtown growth and a new immigrant population (e.g., ESL in schools, culturally-sensitive pediatrics and obstetrics, and ethnic conflicts).…”

“…However, surprisingly few studies have investigated whether Latinos are actually faring better in new destinations relative to their counterparts in traditional settlement areas. Many Latinos in new destinations, especially immigrants, are economically vulnerable (Lichter and Johnson, 2009). On average, they have less education, fewer job skills, and more limited knowledge of English than native-born Latinos.…”

Enclaves of opportunity or “ghettos of last resort?” Assessing the effects of immigrant segregation on violent crime rates

“…First, there is mounting evidence that immigration is shifting away from the types of concentrated ethnic neighborhoods described by the revitalization perspectives. Instead, foreignborn populations (particularly from Latin America) have become more spatially dispersed within urban areas and are increasingly settling in neighborhoods that are more integrated with the U.S.-born and which may not have the concentrated, protective immigrant communities described in prior research (Durand et al, 2000;Frey, 2006;Lichter and Johnson, 2009;McConnell, 2008;Singer, 2004;Shihadeh and Barranco, 2010b). Second, in contrast to the insulating effects of immigrant enclaves described by revitalization perspectives, other research suggests that the segregation of immigrants may not always be advantageous.…”

Pioneer settlement of U.S. immigrants

“…Several studies document the spread of immigrants to new destinations as well as the determinants and consequences of this settlement shift (Goździak and Martin 2005;Iceland 2009;Kandel and Parrado 2005;Lichter and Johnson 2009;Marrow 2011;Massey 2008;Odem and Lacy 2009;Singer 2004;Zúñíga and Hernández-León 2005). Most of what we know about the dispersion process stems from analyses of the total foreign-born population or Hispanics to macro-geographic units such as states and metropolitan areas that have relatively large foreign-born populations.…”