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GEOGRAPHY 160

DISTRIBUTION OF MEXICANS IN THE UNITED STATES

Emilio Villegas November 22, 2011 ID #: 805946274

2 I choose Distribution of Mexicans in the United States as my topic, the reason being is Im a Mexican born American and knowing how my culture here came to be in United States of America is fundamental to me. Hispanics reside in almost every state of this country. States such as California, Florida, Texas, and Oregon have a vast majority of Hispanics, although many other states also have a huge portion of Mexicans. One might ask themselves, what is the reason for Mexicans to cross the border and reside in states such as the ones I named above? Based on my own personal observation, families immigrate to the United States to make a better living. Jobs offered to illegal immigrants are not always the best working conditions but it brings an income to their needy families and provides a roof over their heads. The distribution of Mexican in the United State of America is based on education, income, and community development.

Mexicans who cross the border illegally are said to be amongst the working class suffering from poverty and only finding work in farm field, construction work, or maids. Based on Regions of Refuge in the United States, Even a modest demographic expansion of the Mexican-origin population over the next 25 to 50 years has enormous consequences for what I have termed the distribution of sadness (Vlez-Ibez 1996). By this I mean the overrepresentation of Mexican-origin populations in the bilges of poverty, and among the undereducated, underemployed, and underrepresented who suffer from poor mental and physical health and lack in protection. Statistics show that if this chain keeps going then more low income workers will be fighting for the same job opportunity, hence, putting more people into the streets of

3 poverty, all due to competition at a job force that only pays minimum wage. For this same reason one can ask themselves, Does the distribution of more and more Mexicans into this country benefit them? Simply, its a question we leave to others to solve, but if the economy is struggling then common sense says that more Hispanics will be put on the streets. This due to the facts that in order to maintain a well paid job in this country we need to have residency or a work permit and also knowledge or experience at a certain profession.

In another similar factor Mexican born American populations have moved up the chain from poverty to well paid jobs. These generations have learned that in order to be successful in this country one must get an education. Programs have been made possible also to help needing families so their kids can have the possibilities to go to a four year university or attend medical school. Many States have offered and open up opportunities for Hispanic or in this case in specific Mexican American to be someone in life.

States that have the majority of Mexican origin population according to the 2000 Census are those bordering Mexico. California, Texas, and Arizona are by far the ones who possess a greater population. But according to the 2000 Census Diagram 1 the Mexican population is slowly expanding to Midwest and South. It is estimated that seventy percent of the Hispanic population live in California; cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Ana, San Diego, and many others. Colonias vary between settlements and communities. Made up largely of clandestine makeshift housing; they are characterized by inadequate or

4 nonexistent water supplies, sewage, or electrification, and surface drainage systems. The populations themselves are largely poor, with sizeable families, and sustained by a combination of local and migrant agricultural work. Colonias in my grandfathers native country means poor small towns, that dont have the same resources as huge cities; those who are industrially more stable for instance are Anaheim, Fullerton, East Los Angeles, and countless more. There surroundings also provide a greater chance of education and a better job opening.

Education for illegal Immigrants is highly low and averages around eight years of schooling. Around twenty percent of those generations have completed secondary school, The U.S. Census Bureau states that in each generation the number of Mexicans attending a higher education have increase over the past years. About 11.1% of third generation Mexicans is able to get a bachelors degree, greater than a recent immigrant who only has a 3.9% percentage on the average of obtaining this same degree.

The difference between Anglos and Mexican is that they benefit in education, work, health insurance, and many other. In 2000, 24 percent of the Mexican population lived in poverty, compared to 9 percent of Anglos and 22 percent of blacks (Population Resource Center 2001). In fact, most Mexican households are below the median income of $38,000 and 71 percent of the population earns less than $30,000 a year. One main concern of the growing population is that families are in danger of surviving at a low income. Not only this factor but most Mexican Immigrants families have a large

5 family size which affects the future of their sons and daughters. Chances of attending a university are also less due to the facts that there is not enough support. In conclusion, the distribution of Mexican around the United States grows by day. As stated in the Census Bureau 2000, the number increase by a million each year. But there are factors such as education, limited health insurance, and work opportunity that p put them in a state of poverty and only winning enough to maintain their families.

6 DIAGRAM 1

50.0 or more 25.0 to 49.9 2.5 to 24.9 6.0 to 12.4 Less than 6.0

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Redistricting. FIGURE 2

Figure 2. Location of Colonias Along the U.S.-Mexico Border A

7 WORK CITED Vlez-Ibaez, G. Carlos. Regions of Refuge in the United States: Issues, Problems, and Concerns for the Future of Mexican-Origin Populations in the United States. Nov. 2004. 1 November 2004. <http://www.metapress.com.libproxy.fullerton.edu/content/ru1h227tgeyh8dm3/fulltext.pdf>

Mason, Patrick L. Annual Income, Hourly Wages, And Identity Among MexicanAmericans And Other Latinos Industrial Relations 43.4 (2004): 817-834. Business Source Premier. Web. 3 Dec. 2011