Redefining America: Findings from the 2006 Latino National Survey Luis R. Fraga Stanford University University of Washington John A. Garcia University of Arizona Rodney E. Hero University of Notre Dame Michael Jones-Correa Cornell University Valerie Martinez-Ebers Texas Christian University Gary M. Segura University of Washington

Sources of Funding Annie E. Casey Foundation Carnegie Corporation Ford Foundation Hewlett Foundation Irvine Foundation Joyce Foundation Kellogg Foundation National Science Foundation Russell Sage Foundation Texas A&M University: MALRC, PERG

Percent Hispanic of U.S. Population, Source: Chapter 2. Multiple Origins, Uncertain Destinies. Adapted from Figure 2-2. Percent

Hispanic Births and Net Immigration by Decade: Source: Chapter 2. Multiple Origins, Uncertain Destinies. Adapted from Figure 2-1. Millions

Assimilation, Values, and Identity

Latino Diversity Census Bureau (American Community Survey, Released August 2006) Mexican 63.9% Puerto Rican 9% Cuban 3.5% Salvadoran 2.9% Dominican 2.7% Guatemalan 1.7% Colombian 1.8% ALL OTHERS 14.3% Native-born (not Island-born): 35.4% Foreign-born 61% Island-born PR 3.6% No high school diploma 43% College graduate 11.1% Latino National Survey (unweighted N) Summer 2006 *Mexican 66.1% (5704) *Puerto Rican 9.5% (822) *Cuban 4.9% (420) *Salvadoran 4.7% (407) *Dominican 3.9% (335) *Guatemalan 1.7% (149) *Colombian 1.6% (139) *All Others 7.6% *Native-born 28.4% (2450) *Foreign-born (adults) 66.2% (5717) *Island-born PR 5.4% (467) *No high school diploma 37% *College graduate 16.2% 44 million Latinos in the US

Language Proficiency across Generations 1 st Gen2 nd Gen3 rd Gen4 th Gen Answered in English Answered in Spanish, Speak English Total Share with English Proficiency Retain Spanish Proficiency Strong English dominance and nearly universal English proficiency among the first-generation of US born; Generally strong Spanish retention, aided by refreshed populations of Spanish-speakers.

Importance of Learning English/ Retaining Spanish across Generations 1 st Gen2 nd Gen3 rd Gen4 th Gen How important do you think it is that everyone in the United States learn English? Somewhat Very How important do you think it is for you or your family to maintain the ability to speak Spanish? Somewhat Very

Sense of American and Home-Country Identity Across Generations 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th How strongly do you think of yourself as “American”? Somewhat Strongly Very Strongly How strongly do you think of yourself as (Mexican, Cuban, etc)? Somewhat Strongly Very Strongly

Attention to US and “Home Country” Politics and Public Affairs Attention to US politics is strong, even among the foreign born, and approaches (and in some cases surpasses) levels for all other groups, among Latinos born in the US. While about 57% of foreign born respondents agree that they should be able to vote in home country elections, only about 4% have ever done so, and about 58% report paying little or no attention to politics back home. 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th Attention to/Interest in US politics Somewhat or Very Interested Attention to/Interest in “Home-Country” politics Little or No Attention Paid

Preferences for Cultural Assimilation and Distinctness 1 st 2 nd 3 rd 4 th Importance of Changing to Blend into Larger Society Somewhat Very Importance of Maintaining Distinct Culture Somewhat Very Support for blending into the larger culture and for maintaining a distinct culture are positively related (r=.1415): Not seen as an either/or proposition

Civic and Political Participation

Latino Interest in Politics (in percentages) AllUS Born Naturalized Non- Respondents Citizens Citizens Citizens Not Interested Somewhat Interested Very Interested QUESTION: How interested are you in politics and public affairs? Would you say you are very interested, somewhat interested or not at all interested?

Civic Engagement Among Naturalized and Non- Citizens (in percentages) AllUS Born Naturalized Non- Respondents Citizens Citizens Citizens Group participation Contacts officials Organizational problem-solving Multiple contacts w/ officials

Patterns of Partisanship Overall U.S. Born Puerto Rico Born Outside U.S. Democrat Republican Independent Don’t Care Don’t Know

Citizenship and Issue Positions: Problem Facing the Country CitizenNon-citizen Iraq War Economy Illegal Immigration Education/ Schools Other “What do you think is THE one most important problem facing the country today?”

Partisanship and Issue Positions: Problem Facing the Country Democrat Republican Independent Iraq War Economy Illegal Immigration Education/ Schools Other “What do you think is THE one most important problem facing the country today?”

Partisanship and Issue Positions: Preferred Party to Address Problem Facing Country Democrats Republicans Neither Don’t Know Democrat Republican Independent Don’t Care Don’t Know “Which political party do you think has a better approach to address this problem?”

Latino Linked Fate Do Latinos see their futures, and those of their national origin group, linked to that of other Latinos? YES Mex indiv. Mex group Cuban indiv. Cuban group PR indiv. PR group Nothing Little Some A Lot How much does your “doing well” depend on other Latinos/Hispanics also doing well? How much does [national origin] “doing well” …?

Contributing Factors to Latino Linked Fate Perceived commonality 1 Latino Linked Fate Nativity 67.4/62.9 Language Use 67.9/61.7 Linked fate w/ African. Amer. 74.3/58.6 Partisan Identity 74.5/61.2 Linked fate w/ Latinos 73.7/46.1 Race/ethnicity of co-workers 66.6/ The set of percentages represents Latino respondents who indicated some or a lot of commonality for native/foreign born, English/Spanish speakers. For the linked fate percentages, it is some/a lot vs. little/nothing. For partisan, it is partisans vs. non-partisans. And coworkers represent mixed group of coworkers vs. only Latinos.

IMMIGRATION POLICY

Latinos in the Midwest: Public Policy and Issues

Latinos’ and their Schools Grading the Schools Participation in the Schools

Grade Given to Community Schools Grade Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________ _ A B C D F

Kids in School LevelNation Chi metroother Ill Iowa Aspir. Expect. Aspir. Expect. Aspir. Expect. Aspir. Expect. High Sch./ GED Vocational College Advanced/ Professional

Has Met with Child’s Teacher Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________ Yes No DK Refused

Has Attended PTA Meeting Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa ____________________________________________ Yes No DK Ref

Has Acted as School Volunteer Nation Chi metroIll otherIowa _______________________________________ Yes No DK Ref

Contact with School Officials Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________________ No good contact Good contact

Attitude of Public Toward Latino Immigrants Iowa _______________________________________ Very/somewhat unwelcoming43.5 Welcoming/very welcoming54.0 Dk/Rf 3.2

Most Important National Problem Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa ___________________________________ Economy Unemp Illegal imm Other Iraq war DK/Ref

Most Important Problem for Latinos Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________ Economy Unemployment Education Illegal Imm Something else Race relations DK/Ref

Fair Treatment by Police? Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa ______________________________________ Yes No DK

Keep Troops in Iraq as Long as Necessary to Stabilize Nation Chi metro Ill other Iowa ______________________________________________ Oppose Support Not Sure

Government Should Provide Income to Those Who Need It Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________ Oppose Support Not Sure

Current Health Care System Needs Government Intervention Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________________ Oppose Support Not sure

Undocumented Immigrants Should be Charged Higher College Tuition Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _____________________________________________ Oppose Support Not Sure

Use of Matricula Consular as Acceptable Form of ID for Immigrants Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa ____________________________________________ Oppose Support Not Sure

Use Standardized Tests for Grade Promotion/High School Graduation Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________ Oppose Support Not Sure

Fund Public Schools so All Have Same Amount Per Student Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________ Oppose Support Not Sure

School Vouchers for Private School, Even if Takes Away from Public Schools Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________ Oppose Support Not Sure

Replace Multi-year Bilingual Instruction with English Only After One Year Nation Chi metro Ill other Iowa _______________________________________ Oppose Support Not Sure

Government Should Provide Income Support to Those Who Cannot Adequately Support Themselves Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________ Oppose Support Not Sure

Same Sex Couples Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________ Legally Marry Civil Union No Legal Recognition DK

Abortion Should Be… Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________ Legal in All Circumstances Legal in Most Circumstances Legal When Necessary to Save Mother Illegal Unsure

Public Health Clinics/Hospitals in Spanish in Your Community? Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________ Yes No DK Refused

Police/Law enforcement, Courts/Legal Representation in Spanish? Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________ Yes No DK Refused

Information from Public Schools in Spanish? Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa ______________________________________ Yes No DK Refused

Neighborhood Impacted by Pollution, Toxic Waste, Landfills? Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________ No Yes DK

Pollution, Toxic Waste More, Less, or Equally Likely to be Located in Minority Neighborhoods? Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa ______________________________________ More/Equally Likely Less Likely DK/Ref

Your Views: Immigrants Effects on American Society Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________ Strengthen Country A Burden On Country

Preferred Immigration Policy Proposals Nation Chi metro other Ill Iowa _______________________________________ Legalization Guest worker Leading to legalization Guest worker Permits legalization Close border None

Additional Information Regarding Latino National Survey

Latino National Survey Executive Summary Demographic Tables Background Tables Questionnaire and Toplines Available at the website of the Washington Institute for the Study of Ethnicity, Race, and Sexuality (WISER), University of Washington, Seattle: