UMass Boston Study Identifies Critical Shifts in Latino Population in the Boston Area

By Ed Hayward

The number of immigrants from Central and South America living in the Boston area has increased significantly during the 1990s, transforming the Latino population and providing significant settlement challenges to social service agencies, a new study by UMass Boston researchers has found.

Guatemalans, Hondurans, Salvadorans, and Colombians came to Massachusetts in record numbers during the 1990s, according to the study by students and faculty in UMass Boston's Ph.D. Program in Public Policy in collaboration with Centro Presente, a Boston nonprofit group that serves new Latino immigrants, and the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy.

The 2000 U.S. Census reported that there are 49,101 persons from El Salvador, Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras in Massachusetts, an increase of 85 percent since 1990. The largest growth has been among Salvadorans (137 percent) and Guatemalans (73 percent). Today these four groups account for 11.4 percent of the Latino population.

"Immigrants make up over 75 percent of these groups, and more than half of these immigrants have arrived in the U.S. within the last ten years," said Miren Uriarte, professor of human services and lead researcher on the study. "Even though we believe Census figures almost certainly represent undercounts, these numbers show that these groups are becoming important components of the state's Latino and immigrant populations."

Researchers found that these immigrants are young; they are recent arrivals; many are undocumented; they have a strong attachment to work despite barriers that may be posed by language, limited education and immigration status; they face strong barriers in gaining access to education and social services; and they work hard to develop resources in their communities.

The researchers, who held focus groups with immigrants and interviewed immigrant leaders and social service providers to these groups, found that the new immigrants face a number of hurdles in their lives in the U.S., including issues related to their immigrant status, access to education and services, employment opportunities and limited transportation options, and exploitation at work and in housing.

Leaders and providers recommend improved avenues for legalization for all groups as the place to start assisting the needs of immigrant families. Other recommendations include: reinstating benefits and social services for authorized immigrants, increasing access to ESL and Adult Basic Education classes and to workforce development programs; making more information available for new immigrants in the areas of education, housing, social services, and immigration and workers' rights; targeting programs to families and youth; and providing access for all children to community-based programs, regardless of status.

The research was the result of the work of graduate students Phillip Granberry, Megan Halloran, Susan Kelly, Robert Kramer, and Sandra Winkler during a year-long practicum that is part of the Ph.D. in Public Policy. Miren Uriarte was the lead faculty member in this practicum.
The report is available at www.gaston.umb.edu and was reported by El Mundo, La Semana, the Boston Globe, the Dorchester Reporter, WBZ Radio, WBUR Radio, and WLVI-TV Channel 56.

Members of the Ph.D. Program in Public Policy who authored a study finding a significant increase in immigrants from Central and South American living in Massachusetts: Miren Uriarte, lead faculty member in the practicum, Robert Kramer, Megan Halloran, Susan Kelly, and Phil Granberry. Not pictured: Sandra Winkle.

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