Welcome—Delegate D. Page Elmore Words from the Task Force Chairman—Geoffrey S. Tobias

1. Eastern Shore Meeting of the Task Force to Study Driver Licensing DocumentationAgendaJune 28, 2004 • Welcome—Delegate D. Page Elmore • Words from the Task Force Chairman—Geoffrey S. Tobias • Bienvenidos Overview—Amy K. Liebman • Eastern Shore Needs Assessment—Tim Dunn • Invited Testimony

2. Changing Face of Delmarva Tim Dunn, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Sociology Amy K. Liebman, MPA BEACON Consultant Salisbury University June 28, 2004

3. Hispanic Population Growth on 8 Eastern Shore Counties 1990-2000 Source: US Census 1990, 2000

4. Hispanic Immigrants on Delmarva

5. BIENVENIDOS A DELMARVA • Network of over 70 service providing organizations on the Delmarva Peninsula preparing to meet the needs of our immigrant communities • Housed at BEACON of Salisbury University—http://beacon.salisbury.edu/

6. Activities • Meet Monthly to • Exchange Information • Discuss Problems and Needs • Work on Solutions • Raise Awareness • Conduct Outreach • Conduct Research • Facilitate Training • Cultural Competency

7. Needs Assessment • Assessed the needs and service gaps among Hispanic immigrants on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to to improve the provision of services to this population and to reduce barriers to these services • Funded by Eastern Shore Regional Library • Conducted by BEACON, Salisbury University and Horizon Marketing

8. Methodology • Survey (Ethno)—185 Participants, snowball/network referral sample • Wicomico, Somerset, Caroline, Worcester • 11 Focus Groups • 8 with immigrants (50 participants) • Wicomico County (2) • Somerset • Kent/Queen Anne’s County • Caroline • Talbot • Worcester • Dorchester • 3 with service providers (40 participants) • 275 participants total

10. Country of Origin New Geography of Mexican Migration Starting in 1990’s New Receiving Communities

11. Time on Delmarva Median = 2 years

12. Age • Very Young • Median Age = 29 Years Old

13. Gender and Marital Status • 66.5% Male -- 33.5% Female • 41% Single • 39% Married • 20% Living Together • Less than 1% Divorced

14. Years of Education • Median = 6 years • Mexicans (median 6 years) slightly more education the Guatemalans (median 4 years)

15. Occupation in Sending Country Agriculture—Peasants, Farmworkers Services—Domestic, Restaurant, Hotel, Retail Sales

16. Occupation in US • 80% of unemployed are female, nearly all taking care of children • Services = Restaurant, Hotel, Domestic, Maintenance

17. Labor Force Participation

18. Labor Demand • US—Immigrants accounted for ALL workforce growth under 35 years of age. • US—1/3 of unskilled workforce are immigrants. • Maryland—New immigrants accounted for 76% of labor force growth from 1990-2000, • Vs. 50% nationally

19. Earnings • Average wage is $7.25-$7.75/hour • Average work week is 40 hours • Median amount of $ sent home = $300-$349 (1/3 send +$500) Maryland’s Latino immigrants have highest level of remittances of any state in the US • Median Savings/Month = $175-$199

20. Come to the US for Economic Reasons • To have work—40% • For a better life—34% • To save money—17% • Family here – 6% • Other—3%

21. Migration Experience • 58%--Delmarva First Migration Experience • 77%--First trip taken to the US NEW IMMIGRANTS Social networks new GROWTH & Self perpetuating migration

22. Documentation • 84% Unauthorized Immigrants • 2/3 have taxes withheld from pay • Nationally from 1990-1998, unauthorized immigrants paid $20 billion in social security taxes alone • Very limited access to legal entry • Strong labor demand • 27% have Consulate Issued ID Cards (Matricula Consular) • Most lack information or opportunity to get card

23. US Citizen Children • Mixed Status Households • 9-11 million undocumented residents • 3 million US citizen children

24. Future Plans • Plan to be in same town/city in 3 years • 57% plan to remain • Unusually high • Return to country of origin in 3 years • 42% plan to move back Plan to Stay

25. Most Difficult Things about Life in US

26. Desired Services for Better Life

27. Desired Library Services

28. LanguageOver 90% do not understand English or have only limited understanding

29. Desire to Learn English • “If it were possible to gain a command of the English language to understand legal immigration issues, and be in good health—that would be great.” • “To get better jobs you always need the language [English].” • Noted language as barrier to accessing health services.

30. Language • Typical learning cycle for non-English speaking immigrants in the US is 3 generations • 1st generation learns enough to get by • 2nd generation is bilingual • 3rd generation monolingual English

31. TransportationFocus group participants noted: • lack of transportation as barrier to accessing services. • risks of driving a car. Drive only when it is essential—work, food. Can’t legally obtain a driver’s license if undocumented. • public transportation limited. • poor treatment by bus drivers. • racial tension between riders and drivers.

32. Transportation

33. Police Service Attitudes • 31% do not trust the police enough to report a crime or seek their help. • Reasons for lack of trust:

34. Victims of Crime • Every focus group mentioned tensions between African-Americans and immigrants • Immigrants are easy targets • Language • A lot of CASH • Can’t open bank accounts b/c of lack of documentation (banks now accepting matricula consular identification cards)

35. Victims of Crime • 21% of survey respondents victims of crime • National rate is less than 10%

36. Employment Hardship • Because they are undocumented, feel vulnerable at work: • “If you’re illegal, you can’t do anything; otherwise they’ll call the ‘migra.’” • Risk of deportation too great to seek redress: • “One comes to this country to work, not to look for problems.”

37. Housing • Median Number of People per Household = 6 • 15% live in households with 10-16 people • Average Number of People per Household in Maryland 2.6 • Median Number of People per Bedroom = 2.6

38. Number of Children in Household Median = 1 Child

39. Location of Children

40. High Levels of Social Isolation • 13% belong to sports/recreational group and 2% belong to social group • 54% said they do not have relations with other racial or ethnic group • Of the 46% who do have relations with other groups, 61% said they are work-related only • 75% have family/friends in area • In-group relations strong(er), out-group relations weak

41. In the last 12 months sources of information used: • Television—84% • Friends—72% • Family—52 % • Libraries—8% Word of Mouth Key--Trust

42. Who Helped Resolve Problems Here?

43. Sources of Support/Services • 56% belong to a religious institution here, 44% do not. Main point of contact for immigrants in receiving communities—apart from work. • Religious Affiliation:

44. Contact with Local Educational Institutions • 16% have attended school here • 27% have taken a class of some type • English—86% (church, library) • 27% said children in their household attend public schools • Of those, 12% problems registering

45. Summary • New, inexperienced immigrants • Isolated from receiving community • Want to Learn English • Transportation is a major problem • Here to stay in this region • Growing, growing, growing population • Hardworking, industrious