The Pew report points out that some immigration experts have
questioned whether the children of modern-day immigrants will be
able to experience the upward mobility of previous generations.
"The skeptics cite many factors," the study said. Among them are
social and cultural barriers; illegal immigration and the
vanishing of low-skilled jobs due to globalization and
technological advancements. The report warns against making
judgments based on the data that was analyzed, saying that data
trends do not reach far back enough in history. But the findings
are important as the immigration debate heats up in Congress.
And because of this fact: Consider that virtually all of the
growth (93%) of America's working-age population between now and
2050 will be accounted for by first-generation immigrants and
their U.S.-born children. That's according to Pew's projections
given current trends. Asians, more than Latinos, are largest
group of new arrivals in U.S.