Asians have overtaken Latin Americans as the biggest group of foreign-born residents arriving in the United States since a surge in the number of foreign-born arrival from the largest continent beginning in 2010.
The top three countries of origin are now China, India and Philippines while the number of immigrants from Mexico has declined, a Brookings Institution report says.
Despite the new trends in arrival of immigrants from Asia, overall Latin American remain the largest foreign-born residents at more than half of the immigrant arrivals at 50.4 percent.
Citing the census data for 2017, the report notes that 41% of foreign born immigrants that arrived since 2010 are Asian while 38.9 % of the foreign-born hail from Latin America. The figure 1 shows the following immigration trends.
A Pew Research Center report last month said Asians are projected to become the largest immigrant group in the U.S. by 2055.
By 2065, Pew Research Center estimates that Asians would make up some 38% of all immigrants; Hispanics, 31%; whites, 20%; and blacks, 9%.
The latest statistics cited by Brookings and the Pew Research Center represent a new trend compared with previous years when more than half of the new arrivals in the U.S.. Between 2000 and 2009, or before 2000 the new arrivals used to be mostly Latin American immigrants. During this period Asia-born immigrants accounted for more than 30 percent of new arrivals.
The number of immigrants from Mexico, which remains the source country of all U.S. foreign-born residents—reduced by 440,000 between 2010 and 2017.
The Brookings piece also reports that the new arrivals have greater number of college graduates since 2010, comprising 45% of foreign-born arrivals whereas previously 30% of new foreign entrants to the U.S. population were college graduates.
New immigration trends also show that immigrants are spreading to several parts of the country, including the states that historically had a small foreign-born population.
The new immigration trends as those before them during the last century, are expected to contribute to expanding American economy. The Pew Research Center looks at a variety of features the immigrants represent.
Virginia is one of the states which has benefitted enormously from its immigrant population and this year top Fairfax county leaders took part in Asian Gala celebration, which recognized outstanding entrepreneurs.
“We recognize the spirit and the contributions that small businesses and entrepreneurs from diverse communities bring to Washington metro area,” Cindy Shao, President of Asian American Chamber of Commerce, the hosts, says.
