Since he arrived in the United States at age 12, Eric Amador of Dalton, Ga., has become a kind of statistical snapshot for a generation of immigrants.
Like 1 in 5 Americans — about 70 million in all — he is a first- or second-generation U.S. resident.
In the 10 years since he arrived, he has graduated from high school, gotten his associate degree and is working on his bachelor’s. That puts him among the 45 percent of U.S. residents born abroad who have some college.
And, like many whose parents came to the United States and stayed, Amador has already attained a higher education level than they have. One day he’s expected to make more money than they do.
What Amador’s statistics demonstrate is a trend noted in past waves of immigration: The longer immigrants or their succeeding generations live in the United States, the higher levels of education and income they attain.
“This suggests that the children of immigrants are continuing to assimilate over time as they have in past generations,” Elizabeth Grieco, chief of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Foreign-Born Population Branch, said in a news release.
“Education is something that my parents have always instilled in me,” said Amador, 22, who became a U.S. citizen when he was 18 and attends Dalton State College. “They’ve always supported me.”
GETTING AHEAD
In 2009 about 12 percent of the U.S. population, almost 37 million people, were foreign-born. Another 33 million were native-born with at least one foreign-born parent.
That makes one in five people first- or second-generation U.S. residents, according to the latest Census Bureau data.
Although Amador is considered a first-generation immigrant because he came here as a child, he is bilingual and bicultural like most second-generation immigrants. His group is usually referred to as the 1.5 generation.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, the foreign-born population in Tennessee increased from 159,004 to 248,483 from 2000 to 2008. In Georgia, the number grew from 577,273 to 910,473.
Amador said his parents told him and his three younger siblings that it was important to stay in school and have a better future than they did.
Amador, who is working full time at a carpet factory to put himself through school, said he wants the same for his future family.
“My goal is to continue studying, get a better-paying job and be able to provide my family with better opportunities than what I had growing up,” he said.
He and his siblings always had a roof over their heads and food on the table, but there weren’t a lot of extras.
Shela Van Ness, associate professor of sociology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, said many immigrant parents “are willing to sacrifice greatly to help their children attend college and graduate.”
“One trait many immigrant families bring with them, and pass to their children, is to look at our nation as the land of opportunity, which they value,” she said.
Amador’s parents couldn’t pursue their educations in Mexico because they had to work, but he said they are his greatest motivation.
“In the long run, I hope I can make all the sacrifices my parents made to bring us here worthwhile,” he said.
He hopes to finish college in 2012 and his goal is to work as an accountant at Shaw Floors or in a bank, he said.
Contact staff writer Perla Trevizo at ptrevizo@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6578. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/Perla_Trevizo.
FOREIGN-BORN
United States 2009
* One in five people were first- or second-generation U.S. residents.
* Of those 15 years and older who worked full time and year-round, the second generation had higher median earnings ($42,297) in 2008 than the foreign-born population ($32,631).
* The second generation was slightly less likely to be in poverty (16 percent) than the first generation (18 percent).
* Among the foreign-born, more than half were born in Latin America and almost one-third in Mexico.
* Nearly one in three entered the country in 2000 or later.
Source: Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements Foreign-Born Population of the United States: 2009
Tennessee 2008*
* Between 2000 and 2008, the foreign-born population in Tennessee increased from 159,004 to 248,483.
* 29.5 percent of the total immigrant population entered during the 1990s, and 43.8 percent entered in 2000 or later.
* The largest share, 46.4 percent, of the foreign-born population was from Latin America .
* The top three countries of birth were Mexico, India and China (excluding Taiwan).
* 32.3 percent of the foreign born were citizens.
Georgia 2008
* Between 2000 and 2008, the foreign-born population in Georgia increased from 577,273 to 910,473.
* 32.8 percent of the total immigrant population entered during the 1990s, and 39.2 percent entered in 2000 or later.
* The largest share, 53.6 percent, of the foreign-born population was from Latin America.
* The top three countries of birth of the foreign born in Georgia were Mexico, India and Korea.
* 34.5 percent of the foreign born were citizens.
*Note: Latest year available
Source: Migration Policy Institute, 2008 American Community Survey
* GENERATIONS Statistics demonstrate a trend noted in past waves of immigration: the longer immigrants or their succeeding generations live in the United States, the higher levels of education and income they attain.