Two-thirds (65%) of children of recent immigrants 12.1 millionare low-income. 2 For these children the challenges in academic, physical, emotional, and social development usually associated with economic insecurity are likely to be exacerbated by language barriers, the process of migration and acculturation, and restrictions on access to safety net programs.
The South and the West are home to most children of recent immigrants.
Percent of children living with recent immigrant parents, by region, 1993-2003
Percent of children living with recent immigrant parents, by region, 1993-2003
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Figure 1: Percent of children living with recent immigrant parents, by region, 1993-2003
* 35% live in the South, up from 24% a decade ago. 3
* 34% live in the West, down from 46% a decade ago.
Most children of low-income, recent immigrants have parents who are employed.
Percent of children living with low-income, recent immigrant parents, who are employed, by region, 2003
Percent of children living with low-income, recent immigrant parents, who are employed, by region, 2003
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Figure 2: Percent of children living with low-income, recent immigrant parents, who are employed, by region, 2003
* 62% of children of low-income, recent immigrants have a parent who is employed full-time, year-round, compared to 51% of children of low-income, native-born parents.
* Parental employment is high across all regions.
* 71% of children of low-income, recent immigrants live with married parents, compared to 42% of children of low-income, native-born parents.
* Marriage rates are high across all regions: 68% are married in the Northeast, 71% in the Midwest, 69% in the South, and 73% in the West.
Many children of low-income, recent immigrants have parents who lack a high school degree.
Parental education among children of low-income, recent immigrants, by region, 2003
Parental education among children of low-income, recent immigrants, by region, 2003
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Figure 3: Parental education among children of low-income, recent immigrants, by region, 2003
* 45% of children of low-income, recent immigrants live with parents who do not hold a high school degree, compared to 18% of children of low-income, native-born parents.
* Children of low-income, recent immigrants in the West are particularly likely to have parents with low education levels. 4
Almost half of children of low-income, recent immigrants are under age 6.
* 47% of children of low-income, recent immigrants are under 6 years old, compared to 36% of children of low-income, native-born parents.
* Children of low-income, recent immigrants are likely to be young in every region: 42% are under age 6 in the Northeast, 50% in the Midwest, 50% in the South, and 45% in the West.
Public benefit use is low among children of low-income, recent immigrants despite need. 5
Public benefits utilization among children of low-income, recent immigrants, by region, 2003
Public benefits utilization among children of low-income, recent immigrants, by region, 2003
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Figure 4: Public benefits utilization among children of low-income, recent immigrants, by region, 2003
* 17% of children of low-income, recent immigrants live in households receiving food stamps, compared to 35% of children of low-income, native-born parents.
* 7% of children of low-income, recent immigrants live in households receiving TANF, compared to 13% of children of low-income, native-born parents.
* 34% of children of low-income, recent immigrants are insured by Medicaid or SCHIP, compared to 41% of children of low-income, native-born parents.
* Children of low-income, recent immigrants are unlikely to utilize public benefits, particularly in the South.
I'd gladly trade our own inner-city dwellers for these recent immigrants.