Mexican Immigrants: the New Irish?

I’ve always had an interest in learning about my family lineage and ancestry, but have never taken much time to dig in and investigate. I know that most of my roots go back to Great Britain – most likely, Ireland – and that there is Native American blood in my paternal grandmother’s side of the family.

We’ve all heard the statement: “Unless you are a Native American, you are an immigrant!” No one would dispute the fact that America is a nation of immigrants. However, we often fail to comprehend what the experience of making the transition from immigrant to citizen – assimilation – encompasses. For the purpose of this discussion I will not make a distinction regarding the legal status of the immigrant. (I fully recognize the laws as they exist today and that new laws must be created to address illegal immigration; please read the previous posts in this blog.)

I was surprised to find so many parallels between the Irish immigrant of the 1850’s and the Mexican immigrant of today. Here are just a few examples:

- The most common motivation for both groups was the desperation to escape economic hardship and provide for their families.

- Both endured dangerous and unhealthy conditions in order to make the trip to America. Many perished along the way.

- They were immediately relegated to the most menial of tasks, but gained the reputation of being the best fit for the heavy, hard, and most dangerous jobs.

- They both were largely unwanted by other Americans, and were considered an inferior underclass.

- They were believed to represent a disproportionate percentage of prison inmates; the public sentiment was that crime would diminish greatly if they were sent back to their home country.

- Many lived in the poorest of homes not solely because of poverty, but also because they were considered undesirable in most neighborhoods.

The Irish ultimately adapted and embraced the American way of life, but it took many years. Some claim – rightly so, in my opinion – that Mexican immigrants are not dissolving quickly enough into the Great Melting Pot. Let’s take a look at why this is the case.

The Irish had the benefit of already speaking English, unlike most Mexicans, avoiding an additional barrier to assimilation. A multitude of Spanish-language newspapers and television and radio stations contribute tremendously to keeping Mexican immigrants from learning English. But there is a more compelling reason.

Mexicans have a greater sense of patriotism and national pride than do Americans today. Their cultural identity is instilled at an early age – in the public schools. Family is extremely important, and the obligation they assume to financially provide for their parents and older is the common reason they cross the northern border and seek employment in the first place. They would prefer to stay in Mexico and would if they had decent paying jobs. But here they are, thanks to the huge “Help Wanted” sign hanging over the border – a sign that in the mid-19th century read, “No Irish Need Apply.”

So, how have other immigrant groups adjusted to life in these United States today? Indians and Canadians have low civic assimilation, as few of them seek citizenship. The Chinese immigrants resist assimilating culturally. Will the Mexicans eventually assimilate? Yes, it is inevitable that they – and other immigrant groups – will become part of the American experience. It has always been so throughout our country’s history, and according to a report from the Manhattan Institute, immigrants are assimilating today more rapidly than those of a century ago.

And who knows; the words spoken by Orestes Brownson of the Irish might also hold true for the Mexican immigrant: "Out of these narrow lanes, dirty streets, damp cellars, and suffocating garrets, will come forth some of the noblest sons of our country, whom she will delight to own and honor."