A Century of Continuity: Immigrants Still Assimilate in the U.S.

Immigration to the United States continues to follow historical patterns of assimilation, with children of immigrants successfully integrating into American economic and cultural life, according to new research.

Summary: A comprehensive study comparing immigrant assimilation patterns from the late 19th century to the present day reveals striking continuity in economic mobility and cultural integration, challenging popular narratives about modern immigration.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

In an era where immigration policy remains a contentious issue, a groundbreaking study published in PNAS Nexus offers a data-driven perspective on immigrant assimilation in the United States. Researchers Ran Abramitzky and Leah Boustan have conducted an extensive analysis comparing immigrant integration patterns from the late 19th century to the present day, revealing surprising continuities despite significant changes in immigrants’ countries of origin.

The study’s findings challenge popular narratives suggesting that contemporary immigrants assimilate less thoroughly than their historical counterparts. By tracking millions of immigrants and their children across generations using historical census data and modern tax records, the researchers have painted a picture of immigrant success that remains remarkably consistent over time.

The Immigrant Experience: Then and Now

Today, approximately one in seven U.S. residents is foreign-born, a proportion similar to that seen in the late 19th century. However, while past immigrants primarily came from Europe, today’s newcomers largely hail from Asia and the Americas. Despite this shift, the process and rate of assimilation have remained largely unchanged.

The researchers found that immigrants, both past and present, often work low-paying jobs throughout their lives. However, their children typically enter the middle class, achieving significant upward mobility. This pattern holds true across various immigrant groups and time periods, suggesting that the “American Dream” remains alive for immigrant families.

Economic Mobility Across Generations

One of the most striking findings of the study is the remarkable economic mobility achieved by children of immigrants. The researchers compared the income ranks of children raised at the 25th percentile of the income distribution, focusing on those with immigrant parents versus U.S.-born parents.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, sons of U.S.-born parents in this income bracket rose to the 40th percentile on average as adults. In contrast, children of immigrants from most countries performed significantly better, with some groups reaching nearly the 60th percentile.

This pattern persists in modern data. For children born around 1980, those with U.S.-born parents reached just above the 45th percentile for sons and the 40th percentile for daughters. Meanwhile, children of immigrant parents from most countries fared better, with some groups reaching as high as the 65th percentile.

Cultural Integration and Assimilation

The study also examined cultural assimilation, focusing on naming patterns as an indicator of integration efforts. By creating a “name-foreignness index,” the researchers found that immigrants tend to choose less foreign-sounding names for their children as they spend more time in the United States. This trend is consistent across both historical and contemporary eras, suggesting that cultural integration continues to occur at similar rates.

Interestingly, the research also challenges negative perceptions about refugee assimilation. Analysis of historical data from Ellis Island interviews revealed that refugees often attained higher English proficiency than economic migrants from the same countries of origin and religious groups.

Changing Attitudes and Political Polarization

While the study primarily focuses on immigrant outcomes, it also sheds light on changing attitudes towards immigration in the United States. Through an analysis of congressional speeches over the last two centuries, the researchers found that attitudes toward immigration today are more positive than ever before in U.S. history. However, these views have become significantly more polarized along party lines.

Prior to 1945, rhetoric about immigration was largely negative and consistent across political parties. A rapid transition to more positive attitudes occurred between 1945 and 1965, a trend that persists today. However, the researchers note increasing polarization, with Republicans becoming more negative and Democrats more positive in their immigration rhetoric.

Debunking the Immigration-Crime Myth

The study also addresses the persistent myth linking immigration to increased crime rates. By analyzing incarceration data from 1870 to 2020, the researchers found that immigrants have consistently been less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born individuals. This “immigrant incarceration advantage” has been expanding since 1950, with immigrants now 60% less likely to be incarcerated than those born in the United States.

Implications for Policy and Public Discourse

The comprehensive nature of this research provides valuable insights for policymakers and the public alike. As Abramitzky and Boustan note, “Creating immigration policies based on the belief that immigrants do not integrate would be a mistake.” Their findings suggest that the long-term success of immigrant families has remained a consistent feature of American society for over a century.

While the study offers a broad historical perspective, the authors acknowledge the need for further research on recent undocumented entry at the southern border and the current state of the asylum system. These newer immigrant flows may differ from earlier waves in various ways and might not be immediately captured in government surveys.

As the United States continues to grapple with immigration policy, this research underscores the importance of taking a long-term view. The success of immigrants and their children in integrating into American society and contributing to the economy has been a enduring feature of the nation’s history, one that appears poised to continue into the future.

Quiz: Test Your Knowledge on Immigrant Assimilation

According to the study, what proportion of U.S. residents today are foreign-born? a) 1 in 5 b) 1 in 7 c) 1 in 10 d) 1 in 20
How do the children of immigrants generally fare economically compared to children of U.S.-born parents? a) They perform worse b) They perform about the same c) They perform significantly better d) It varies widely by country of origin
What trend did the researchers observe in attitudes towards immigration in congressional speeches since 1945? a) Increasingly negative across all parties b) Consistently neutral c) More positive overall, but increasingly polarized by party d) Consistently positive across all parties

Answer Key:

b) 1 in 7
c) They perform significantly better
c) More positive overall, but increasingly polarized by party

Glossary of Terms

Assimilation: The process by which immigrants adapt to and integrate into the culture, customs, and way of life of their new country.
Intergenerational mobility: The change in social or economic status between parents and their children.
Name-foreignness index: A measure created by the researchers to identify more foreign- versus American-sounding names based on their usage among immigrant and U.S.-born populations.
Immigrant incarceration advantage: The observed phenomenon where immigrants are less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born individuals.
Economic migrants: Individuals who move to a new country primarily for economic opportunities, such as better jobs or higher wages.
Refugees: People who have been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.

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