these are the main obstacles
to fuller integration of hispanics today:
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political participation. 18
To reap the benefits that the current wave of Hispanic immigration represents to U. S. society, and avoid
damaging social conflicts, the federal government must
tackle the main obstacles to fuller integration for Hispanics today: their low levels of education compared
to the mainstream population and limited English
proficiency among the first generation, both of which
determine access to certain types of jobs and wages
and opportunities for upward mobility. Although
education trends among the Hispanic population are
changing positively in the second and third generations, children of Latin American immigrants still have
the lowest GPAs and the highest dropout rates among
immigrant groups, a significant limitation on their
opportunities for socioeconomic advancement.
While the evidence shows an upward curve of
integration among immigrants of Hispanic origin,
particularly among the second and third generations,
the majority face language, skill and educational challenges. That is why help from the communities where
they have settled, as well as from Washington, will be
crucial in the years ahead. Otherwise, they are at risk of
remaining a vulnerable population with limited opportunities to succeed and achieve their potential.
Bringing a fresh and unifying perspective into
the immigration debate by setting integration as a
priority in the political agenda is imperative. This
year’s election can represent one turning point.
Courage and reward
on the Campaign trail
The current focus of the presidential campaigns on change and a new era of politics makes this a unique opportunity to
reframe the discussion and bring in an
issue that touches upon the values, the
history and the future of the country.
Addressing integration is the key to getting it right.
A comprehensive reform of existing immigration laws
at the federal level is undeniably urgent. But integration should be considered an instrumental factor in
facing the long-term challenge and opportunity of
immigration. Politically, there is much to gain by
offering a constructive view of immigration without
necessarily getting into the murky arena of regularization, guest worker programs or border control. A
balanced approach that shows an understanding of
the complexity of the issue can gain the support of
all the different groups involved, from businesses and
unions to Hispanics, other minorities and the native-born, all of whom are at odds with respect to the perceived costs and benefits of immigration.
Politicians willing to propose and support healthy
integration policies may find they have tapped a wellspring of popular support. Studies suggest that most
voters are discouraged by the extreme discourse that
has accompanied immigration until now. Republican candidates with the most extreme positions on
immigration alienated even the most conservative
voters. 19 Furthermore, in the 2006 midterm elections,
Republicans lost the large number of Hispanic voters
that they fought to gain in 2000 and 2004, partly as
a result of their “talk tough and crack down” strategy
on immigration. 20
Developing a constructive, positive, political
agenda requires that the presidential candidates talk
about immigration in candid terms and propose a
new approach to integration. Even if they—for political reasons—prefer to shy away from the specifics
of immigration reform, broaching the topic of integration will give them an opportunity to address
the larger issues at stake: the need to help Hispanics
and other immigrant groups become fully integrated
