Immigrant children most at risk

This study followed 5,200 children for almost 20 years. An interesting and somewhat upsetting story emerged. Most are doing well, but one group needs help. - - Donna Poisl

By EDWARD SCHUMACHER-MATOS - For the North County Times

NEW LONDON, Conn. ---- In the early 1990s, sociologist Alejandro Portes and a group of colleagues began an ambitious project of following the progress of 5,200 children of foreign-born immigrants.

Immigration studies were rare then, and focused on arriving adults. Portes hit on the observation that the real national impact of the burgeoning number of immigrants turned not on inflammatory issues such as their health care, but on the success or failure of their children. In turn, there was a historical American bargain for the immigrants themselves: They might suffer, but their offspring would advance.
Click on the headline to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.