Chicago Sun Times Editorial - More must be done to help Mexicans succeed here

Chicago Sun Times Editorial - More must be done to help Mexicans succeed here
Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times
September 21, 2006


When it comes to Mexicans in the Chicago region's melting pot, we may need to do a little stirring. That's the conclusion of a task force sponsored by the Chicago Council on Global Relations. It argues persuasively that because the number of Mexicans in the region is so big, and growing so rapidly, the area's future will be tied to our ability to integrate them into society and our economy. In other words, we can't afford to let them fail, because if they do, so will the region.

The task force's report didn't cover the immigration debate -- although the council has previously supported immigration reform similar to that pushed by President Bush and the Senate. Rather, it was more concerned about studying immigrants who are already here, determining how they fit into the region and looking for ways to improve the integration process.

It notes that 1.3 million Mexicans (defined as someone of Mexican descent, regardless of citizenship) live in the region, about one-sixth of the total population. The number is expected to double by 2030. That makes Mexicans by far the region's biggest ethnic group.

There are some key differences between Mexicans and the waves of Germans, Irish, Poles and other ethnic groups that built early Chicago. This is the first time, for instance, that the area has integrated such a large group in such a short time. And low-skill industrial jobs, which aided earlier groups, are vanishing, being replaced by service sector jobs that require more skill and more education. Finally, the task force argues, the fast pace of global economic change means Chicago must work quickly to keep its work force -- a work force with a a great number of Mexicans -- up to speed.

The study notes that Mexican integration has been hampered by many problems, including a lack of English proficiency, limited connections to the wider community and low levels of education. It makes a variety of recommendations aimed at overcoming those hurdles, calling on business and civic leaders, unions, educators, politicians and the Mexican community to cooperate to achieve them.

Those include supporting Mexican entrepreneurship, promoting job training, increasing financial literacy, improving bilingual education, raising academic expectations, strengthening parental involvement in schools, fostering Mexican participation in civic groups, promoting citizenship, voting and coalition-building, improving access to health care and health insurance, and creating "welcoming centers" to help immigrants adjust to life here.

It's a tall order. Many of the proposals will cost no small amount of money. But it's an investment that will pay dividends in the future.

This represents the consensus of the Sun-Times News Group of 100 papers in metro Chicago.