IMMIGRATION
AN ILLINOIS PORTRAIT
Photographs by Bill Stamets
Text by Brian Lee
Illinois consistently ranks among the
top half-dozen states immigrants
choose to call home, making us the
leading Midwest port of entry.
Currently, we rank sixth behind
California, New York, Texas, Florida
and New Jersey in the number of
immigrants who have established residency Between 1970 and 1980,
though, according to U.S. Census figures, Illinois ranked as high as number
three on two occasions. We averaged
fourth during that decade. Throughout
the '80s, we ranked sixth in each year
but one.
In 1993, Polish immigrants made up
the largest ethnic group migrating to
Illinois, at 10,651, according to the
most recent census figures available.
Mexicans made up the second largest
group at 8,91 I.Indian (3,991) and
Chinese (3,170) immigrants were next
on the list. There were 923 Vietnamese
immigrants and 743 Irish immigrants.
Most immigrants who move to Illinois settle in Chicago — though they
may relocate to other parts of the state
— making the city one of the most
diverse urban areas in the country.
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Photography by Bill Stainets /Impact Visuals
North Milwaukee Avenue on Chicago's Northwest Side is a magnet
for the Polish community in the metropolitan area.
Shoppers even come to the neighborhood from the surrounding suburbs.
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Illinois Issues January 1996 * 17
The shoppers above are enjoying a Sunday
afternoon on Chicago's North Milwaukee
Avenue. They're selecting over-the-counter
"homemade Polish specialties," including
sausages and other meats, featured at Andy's
Deli. Poles still make up the largest ethnic
group choosing to relocate in this state.
These Sunday shoppers take a moment to rest
under the "el" along Argyle Street in Uptown.
This Southeast Asian shopping district on
Chicago's far North Side welcomes Vietnamese, Chinese and other Asian immigrants.
18 * January 1996 Illinois Issues
Devon Avenue in Chicago's West Rogers Park
neighborhood is a good place to find Indian
and Pakistani grocery stores. That neighborhood is located on the city's far North Side.
The pressure is on in Congress
to change immigration laws
Early this year, the Judiciary Committee in the
U.S. Senate is scheduled to consider a measure that
would make it more difficult for immigrants to bring
their families to the United States.
The legislation, sponsored by Republican Sen.
Alan Simpson of Wyoming, would reduce the number of immigrants who legally can come to this
country.
That number would be reduced from 675,000
each year to 525,000, not including refugees. Of that
number, 75,000 would be allowed to immigrate to fill
jobs. The rest would be allowed into the United
States as relatives of U.S. citizens.
The bill would exclude adult married children
and adult brothers and sisters of American citizens
from being allowed to move here under relatives'
sponsorship. The measure also would require proof
that sponsors would be responsible for health care,
and other welfare-related costs for elderly parents.
Critics of the reform effort contend the measure
would place too heavy a financial burden on Americans who want their aging parents to join them in
the United States.
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Illinois Issues January 1996 * 19
The Flares family does its Saturday shopping along 26th Street in
Little Village. Little Village, on
the city's West Side, has the highest concentration of Mexicans in
the Midwest. Goods they want
from Mexico can be gotten here.
The retail corridor along 26th is
among the most lucrative business
districts in Chicago, based on sales
tax revenue. In fact, many Hispanic business owners have done so
well they've opened second and
third stores in the nearby suburbs.
Maria Salceda (below) prepares
flower and balloon arrangements
in a shop on south Central Park,
near 26th Street in Little Village.
The shop provides the arrangements for any special occasion,
such as a birth, death or a wedding.
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20 * January 1996 Illinois Issues
Pablo's Hair Studio on south Central Park, near 26th, provides haircuts for neighborhood residents
and for visitors to Little Village.
Officially speaking
The sign in this shop window on West
Devon in Chicago's North Side Rogers
Park neighborhood calls to mind the federal debate over English as an "'official"
language.
The issue has even been inserted into
the presidential campaign. Republican
front-runner Bob Dole has urged that
English be adopted as the official national language.
Meanwhile, Illinois is already one of 22
states that have adopted English as the
official state language. Based on data
gathered by the state, after English,
Spanish is the language spoken most
often in the schools. Polish is third.
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Illinois Issues January 1996 * 21
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