Statistics on U.S. Immigration An Assessment of Data Needs for Future Research (1996) / Chapter Skim
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6 Immigration Data Needs
6 Immigration Data Needs
Pages 57-67
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From page 57... ...
The data needs are groupedinto several topics: the decennial census, the Current Population Survey, Immigration and Naturalization Service records, case studies, and data on nationality, race, and ethnicity. Chapter 7 discusses the pros and cons of developing a new longitudinal survey of imm~grants.
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From page 58... ...
Recommendation 1. We urge that the Immigration and Naturalization Service work with other federal agencies and the Bureau of the Census, under the overall direction of the Office of Management and Budget, to include key immigration questions on future censuses, including a question on nativity and parental nativity, based on the requirements of the Immigration Act of 1990.
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From page 59... ...
For example, data from the Current Population Survey reveal geographic identification of the respondent's residence for states and major metropolitan areas. Census PUMS files display geographic identification for counties or groups of counties (aggregating smaller populated counties)
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From page 60... ...
The Current Population Survey, which produces a great deal of valuable data, is the key federal survey available for immigration analysis. For more than a decade prior to 1991, the Current Population Survey occasionally included questions on parental nativity and other immigration-related issues.
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From page 61... ...
SIPP is a valuable data source, however, and the usefulness of SIPP for immigration research warrants further exploration. Whereas the Current Population Survey is the key survey for use by immigration researchers, there have been discussions in recent decades about a joint survey in Mexico and the United States for immigration study.4 Such surveys would have value for policy studies in both countries.
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From page 62... ...
Such a meeting should include key immigration researchers from both countries. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE RECORDS Although some valuable changes have occurred in the Immigration and Naturalization Service statistical system in the past decade, changes since 1985-for the Immigration and Naturalization Service and other agencies collecting immigration data also reveal that weaknesses in the data persist: the Current Population Survey questions on nativity have not been asked regularly, data on emigration and illegal aliens remain poor, and little is known about foreign students and new citizens.
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From page 63... ...
Workshop participants made suggestions for the Immigration and Naturalization Service to explore the collection of new data, including improving data on nonimmigrants, adding information on immigrant adjustment to information on previous nonimmigrant status, matching administrative records, conducting a longitudinal survey of immigrants, doing special surveys, and sponsoring case studies. Survey data on new immigrants, in particular, would offer useful additional data for immigration policy research.
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From page 64... ...
Individual data on immigrants are not released, but the agency does release special administrative data, such as the names of newly naturalized citizens, as a matter of public record. For recent surveys of the population of illegal aliens who applied for legalization, it was necessary for the Immigration and Naturalization Service to obtain a special exemption for analysis by outside contractors.
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From page 65... ...
The more diffuse positive effects, workshop participants argued, are more difficult to detect in research data and hence may be a factor in the likelihood of case studies reporting negative immigration effects. Case studies, with detailed descriptions of specific processes and changes, can be the point of departure for the study of new topics.
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From page 66... ...
With the introduction in 1994 of questions on country of birth of parents of respondents and their parents, the Current Population Survey has the potential to provide essential data on immigration. Moreover, as discussed earlier, the Current Population Survey could also include special-purpose supplements in order to collect additional information about immigrants and their children.
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From page 67... ...
Data on race and ethnicity of immigrants must rely on such other data sources, such as the Current Population Survey, the decennial census, and sample surveys.
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