CLICK HERE to view the preliminary agenda or other event details.

If you have questions, email the NCLR Policy Center at advocacyday@nclr.org or call Vanessa Clemens at (202) 785-1670.

Are AmeriCorps members eligible for Unemployment if they are released for cause since they technically are not employees of our organization?

Go to the AmeriCorps Provisions, Section 11 - Living Allowances, Other In-Service Benefits and Taxes and item D. Taxes and Insurance, #iv Unemployment Insurance. Basically, the statement that you are looking for is there in that paragraph which indicates that federal unemployment compensation law does not require coverage for members because no employer-employee relationship exists. However, it also goes on to say that a grantee cannot charge the cost of unemployment insurance to the grant unless mandated by state law. There, it recommends that programs are responsible for checking with their State Commission.
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Career Development

The Home Depot is committed to the growth and career development of our associates. Associates participate in a structured learning curriculum based on their position and department. E-learning modules are available via kiosks in each store. Associates also receive regular feedback and performance reviews. Career opportunities exist within The Home Depot stores and within The Home Depot family of companies. Associates are encouraged to apply for other jobs as they become available.

How do I order recruitment materials for my placement center?

Contact NCLR staff, Simon Lopez at slopez@nclr.org to order materials.

Every partner site will be supplied with key pieces of collateral in order to encourage qualified candidates to apply. These pieces will give your members more information about The Home Depot and the types of common job opportunities. Distribute materials at your discretion in order to drive candidates to careers.homedepot.com/united or the in store career kiosks.

Each site will initially receive:

1. Partnership Brochure

2. Partnership Posters

3. Partnership Flyers

All Home Depot HRM’s have also received samples of all collateral.

Additional materials are available to order through your Home Depot Partnership Captain. Keep track of your collateral inventory so that you can re-order materials before you run out. Please allow at least a 2-week lead time for additional materials. When re-ordering collateral reference these numbers for your captain:

Social Responsibility and Community Involvement

Giving back is important value at The Home Depot. Through extensive community relations program, we reach out to the communities where our associates live and work with philanthropic and volunteer support. Our programs bring together volunteerism, do-it-yourself expertise, product donations and monetary grants to meet critical needs and build affordable communities.

Community relations efforts focus on four key areas: helping to build and rehabilitate affordable housing; empowering at-risk youth to realize their dreams; protecting the environment; preparing communities for emergencies and assisting in responding and rebuilding.

Volunteerism is embraced collectively and individually. Whether it's building a playground for children, repairing homes for the elderly, helping inner-city teens learn job skills, educating customers about energy usage or shoring up an over-flowing river, making a difference helps Home Depot remain true to its progressive corporate culture. In 2004, during our inaugural "Week Of Service", our associates contributed more than 260,000 volunteer hours to more than 1,600 community improvement projects in one single week. For the full year, they've donated more than 7 million hours of time.

An NCLR operating site must meet both practical and mission-based selection criteria. Sites must leverage their resources and invest strategically in order to create effective and sustainable programs in their communities.

In order to be eligible for participation, an operating site must be an affiliate of NCLR in good standing. The site must have sufficient staff and infrastructure to manage the AmeriCorps program. NCLR requires that the site have previous experience managing similar government programs. AmeriCorps helps make federal funds more responsive to state and local needs, but it is inherent upon operating sites to also contribute financially to the success of the program. For that reason, sites must have adequate match funds to support the AmeriCorps program.

Currently, NCLR’s AmeriCorps program is focused on tutoring and job skills training. In selecting the 2004-2005 operating sites NCLR looked for affiliates with during- and after-school educational programs and/or career resource centers or One-Stop Centers where AmeriCorps members provide direct service. Most importantly, NCLR seeks affiliates that can help increase the amount of volunteering and civic engagement in our country, while strengthening the capacity of nonprofit organizations.

In the future, we plan to expand our program focus beyond education and job skills training. Depending on the availability of the funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service in the next fiscal year, NCLR hopes to engage in other fields such as health and community development. If you are an NCLR affiliate and are interested in participating in the AmeriCorps program, please contact Gerry Schafer. The 2005-2006 program has already begun. Please stay posted for 2006-2007 deadlines.

What is NCLR’s role in providing an Hispanic perspective on national issues?

NCLR’s Policy Analysis Center is the premier voice in Washington, DC for Hispanic Americans. Its unique capacity to provide timely policy analyses, combined with its considerable advocacy expertise, a reputation for political independence, and an identifiable constituency, permits NCLR to play an important role in policy and advocacy efforts. Its policy-oriented documents command extensive press and policymaker attention, and NCLR is consistently asked to testify and comment on public policy issues such as immigration and education, as well as other issues of broad concern, from affordable housing to health policy and tax reform. It uses a synergistic and complementary approach between its capacity-building efforts and its advocacy-related activities to achieve its goals.

Who are NCLR’s leaders?

As someone who has experienced the promise of the American Dream firsthand, Janet Murguía has devoted her career in public service to opening the door to that dream to millions of American families. Now, as a key figure among the next generation of leaders in the Latino community, she continues this mission as President and Chief Executive Officer of NCLR.

Murguía has sought to strengthen the Latino voice on issues affecting the Hispanic community including education, health care, immigration, civil rights, the economy, and the rise of hate rhetoric and hate crimes targeting the Latino community. In her role as NCLR’s spokesperson, she has appeared on ABC World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, NBC’s Today Show, CNN’s Larry King Live, PBS’s NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360°, and CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight.

Murguía has also focused on strengthening NCLR’s relationship with sister civil rights and advocacy organizations. She has spearheaded efforts to build bridges between the African American and Latino communities in conjunction with organizations such as the NAACP and the National Urban League, and was the first Hispanic leader to give the keynote speech at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast in Birmingham, Alabama.

The visibility of Latinos in the media has also been a key concern for Murguía. Through her efforts at securing a host of new partners and resources, the NCLR ALMA Awards returned to television in 2006 after a three-year hiatus as part of NCLR’s strategy to promote fair, accurate, and balanced portrayals of Latinos in the entertainment industry.

Murguía is currently a board member of the Independent Sector, a coalition of leading nonprofits, foundations, and corporations. She is also an executive committee member of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and serves on the board of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility and the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda.

Murguía has been recognized on numerous occasions for her work. She was featured in Newsweek magazine’s “Women and Leadership” issue, chosen as one of the NonProfit Times’ “Power and Influence Top 50” leaders and one of Washingtonian magazine’s “100 Most Powerful Women in Washington,” named to People en Español’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics,” and selected as one of Hispanic Business magazine’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics,” Hispanic magazine’s “Powerful Latinos,” Latino Leaders magazine’s “101 Top Leaders of the Hispanic Community,” and Poder magazine’s “The Poderosos 100.” In 2005, she received the KU Law Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus/na Award.

NCLR Board Chair Daniel Ortega is a partner with the law offices of Roush, McCracken, Guerrero, Miller and Ortega in Phoenix, Arizona and whose legal practice focuses on serious personal injury and wrongful death cases.

A respected attorney and longtime community leader, Ortega brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role as Chair. His community involvement began during high school and continues to this day with a focus on educational reform, political empowerment, and the protection of human rights. His contributions have been recognized with many awards, including the Chicanos Por La Causa Community Service Award and the Anti-Defamation League Leader of Distinction Award. He serves on the Board of Directors of the National Farm Workers Service Center, Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association, and the Stewardship Board for The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Arizona State University and a juris doctorate from the university’s College of Law.

What constitutes NCLR’s governing structure?

NCLR’s governing Board of Directors represents the constituency it serves. Bylaws require that the Board include representatives of all geographic regions of the U.S. and all Hispanic subgroups, that half the Board represent Affiliates or have identifiable constituencies, and that the Board include equal representation of men and women. The Board’s leadership consists of a Chairperson and an Executive Committee—members who share responsibility for Board governance and organizational oversight issues. NCLR also receives guidance from its Corporate Board of Advisors (CBA). Established in 1982, the CBA is made up of senior executives and liaison staff from 26 major corporations. The CBA meets with NCLR leadership twice a year to discuss issues and programs of common concern. CBA members also assist NCLR and its network through financial, in-kind, and programmatic support.

What publication resources are available from NCLR?

NCLR has produced and offers a variety of resources to educate the public and the Latino community about important issues. In particular, its publications are a credible source of facts and information on a wide range of issues, from education and health to political and social empowerment. They present a uniquely Hispanic perspective, particularly on issues affecting minority, limited-English-proficient, and low-income Hispanics. Materials include research and policy papers, training materials, statistical analyses, fact sheets, issue updates, congressional testimony, and selected speeches and presentations. These materials can be obtained through NCLR’s website. These materials can be obtained through NCLR’s publications page.

Q:    Does NCLR support undocumented immigration?

A:    No. NCLR believes that all immigration to the U.S. should be safe and legal. Their lack of legal status means that undocumented workers are vulnerable and easily exploitable, resulting in unscrupulous employers offering these workers poor wages and working conditions. In addition, undocumented immigrants live in fear of detection, are vulnerable to crime, and not eligible for most social services, all of which contribute to difficult living and working conditions. It is in the best interests of the United States and of immigrants themselves to ensure that all immigration to the U.S. takes place legally.

Q:   Does NCLR support undocumented immigrants?

A:   NCLR advocates on behalf of the entire Latino population regardless of immigration status. We believe that all persons deserve dignity and respect, and that the human rights and civil rights of all persons must be upheld.

Q:   Does NCLR advocate unlimited immigrant admissions?

A:   No. Immigration to the United States is currently restricted, and NCLR supports these restrictions. In order to come legally as an immigrant, you must be sponsored by an employer (in a “highly-skilled” profession) or by a close family member, such as a spouse, parent, adult son or daughter, or sibling. NCLR supports these visa categories, and is working to ensure that all immigration can take place legally.

Q:    Does NCLR believe in open borders?

A:    No. NCLR does not and has never advocated open borders. We believe that the U.S. is a sovereign country with the right to control its borders. We care a great deal about how our borders are enforced; NCLR has long argued that enforcement at the border and in the interior must be conducted in a way that maximizes effectiveness without undercutting our values as a nation. We are especially troubled that more than a decade of increased enforcement measures along the U.S.-Mexico border have resulted in a steep increase in the number of border deaths without much impact in deterring migration. NCLR takes the position that any border enforcement policies must be both effective and humane.

Q:   What are NCLR’s policy positions on immigration reform?

A:   NCLR supports comprehensive immigration reforms that combine reasonable enforcement with reduction in family immigration backlogs, a legal path for future immigrant workers, and a path to citizenship for those living and working in the U.S. For further information, see our issue brief: Immigration Reform: Comprehensive Solutions to Complex Problems.

Q:   Does NCLR support an amnesty?

A:   No. NCLR supports a path to citizenship for immigrant workers that requires them to earn permanent status over time. Unlike amnesty – which is an immediate and complete pardon – to earn permanent status an immigrant would have to register with the government, undergo a criminal background check, maintain a clean record, pay all taxes, learn English, and pay a fine to the government. This is very different from an “amnesty.”

Additional information about NCLR:

What is the Latino Juvenile Justice Network (LJJN)?

The LJJN is a project of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR). It is a Latino-specific model for juvenile justice reform. The LJJN is a long-term, multistate juvenile justice reform effort based in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Washington, and Louisiana. It is a component of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change Initiative, which seeks to develop a comprehensive framework for a model juvenile justice system that can be replicated in other states.

What is the goal of the LJJN?

Our goal is to create a system that is fair and responsive to the needs of all children, and takes into account the cultural and linguistic needs of Latino children. We also want to ensure that there are programs that address the root causes of youth crime and violence, and provide the proper guidance and support for youth to become community assets. This includes alternatives to incarceration; substance abuse and mental health treatment; educational support/mentoring; and job-skills training.

Who makes up the LJJN?

The LJJN is comprised of NCLR Affiliates, community-based organizations, community leaders, youth, and parents who care about making the juvenile justice system a just system that provides youth with a second chance to become productive members of society.

Aside from Latino community-based organizations, who else is the LJJN working with?

We work side by side with national, state, and local juvenile justice experts; policy-makers; justice system personnel, including police, judges, probation officers; prosecutors and defense attorneys; and social service providers.

How does the LJJN work in different states?

The LJJN comes together as a partnership of local organizations that works on public education, advocacy, and media outreach around juvenile justice reform issues. The juvenile justice system is large and complex, which is why the LJJN keeps a deep focus in making lasting improvements to the justice system.

How many LJJN sites are there?

Currently, there are five LJJN sites which include: • Philadelphia, PA • Reading, PA • Chicago, IL • Seattle, WA • “Tri-Cities,” WA– 2007

How will the LJJN bring about juvenile justice reform?

The LJJN will utilize different strategies and approaches for juvenile justice reform through the following mechanisms: advocacy, media outreach, community education and mobilization, and research and policy analysis. The LJJN gives Latino advocates the opportunity to provide recommendations on how best to address the needs of Latino youth in the system so that they become productive members of society.

What issues does the LJJN address?

The LJJN has identified four core issues that affect the Latino youth the most. These include: • Disproportionate Minority Contact, which is the overrepresentation of Latino youth in all stages of the system from arrest to secure confinement. • Anti-gang laws that target Latino youth and punish them more harshly than their White counterparts. • Transfer/waiver of youth into the adult system including jails and prisons. This is also known as “Adultification.” • Treatment and support programs which include mental health, substance abuse, education, and reintegration services for youth returning to the community after confinement. Each LJJN will identify which of these four issues they will work on, depending on which are most critical to their community.

How is the LJJN making change?

The LJJN is reaching out to the broader Latino community to raise public awareness about these issues. We want to ignite the hope that change is possible, and encourage the participation of social service providers, youth, and parents in our efforts. We are sponsoring community events and reaching out to the media to demonstrate that the Latino community cares about what happens to children when they enter and exit the juvenile justice system. We are providing leadership and advocacy trainings for CBOs and community leaders who are concerned about the current juvenile justice system and want to join us in making positive reform a reality. We are participating in key juvenile justice reform dialogues that have the ability to change the way Latino children are treated by the juvenile justice system so that their outcomes improve as they leave the system.

Q: Is there a new immigration law?

A: No. There is no new immigration law, but a new proposal has been introduced for consideration by the Senate. The new proposal, “Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007” (S. 1348), will be debated and voted on in the Senate. Once the Senate has ended their debate, the House of Representatives will also debate and vote on a separate immigration proposal. Later, both versions will be reconciled in what is called a conference committee before the President can sign the bill into law. During the debate in the Senate and the House, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) will be working hard to change parts of the bill to make it better for the Latino community.

Q: Should I give my money to a notario to begin the application process?

A: No. You should not trust a notario who says that there is a new process for applying to obtain a work authorization or to change your immigration status if you are undocumented. There will be no new application process until legislation moves through the entire process and the bill is signed by the President. However, you should start to gather any documents, receipts, bills, or anything else that can prove you have been living and working in the U.S. Also, take note of all the places where you have lived and the schools your children have attended.

Q: How is this Senate proposal different from the proposal that the House of Representatives passed last year, H.R. 4437 (the Sensenbrenner bill)?

A: There are many differences between the “Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007” and H.R. 4437. The Sensenbrenner bill was not a comprehensive immigration reform bill; it was a punitive measure with harsh criminalization provisions. This Senate proposal is the start of a debate to reform our broken immigration system. It includes: 1) a program that allows undocumented immigrants who were in the United States by January 1, 2007 to attain a work visa and eventually become legal permanent residents and U.S. citizens; 2) a new worker visa program for future workers to come to the U.S. temporarily to work; 3) a reduction in the backlog for family immigrants currently waiting in line for visas, and 4) other major changes to our family immigration system.

Q: Would the proposal allow undocumented immigrants to legalize their status?

A: Yes. If this bill were to become law, immigrants who arrived in the U.S. before January 1, 2007 and meet other requirements would be able to get legal status. This proposal would create a new visa program (a Z visa) for undocumented immigrants and their spouses and children in the U.S., which would be valid for eight years, after which you could apply for legal permanent residence or a “green card.” It would provide you with a visa so you could work and travel and it would protect you from deportation.

Q: What are the requirements that undocumented immigrants would have to meet to regularize their status under the Z visa?

A: Under this proposal (which could change) one must:

• Establish that you have continuously lived in the U.S. on or before January 1, 2007
• Prove that you were employed in the U.S. before June 1, 2007 and have been employed since that date (and submit related documentation)
• Complete criminal and security background checks
• Pay a $1,000 fine, a $500 impact fee to the state, and other necessary application fees

Q: Will Z visa holders be able to apply for a green card?

A: Yes. This bill would provide qualified immigrants and their spouses and children an opportunity to apply for lawful permanent resident status (a green card) and eventual citizenship. There are many people who have been waiting many years to gain legal permanent residency (green cards). Before a qualified immigrant can receive a green card, all immigrants currently waiting for their green cards must obtain them. This process should take about eight years. Then Z visa holders can begin to obtain green cards.

Q: Are there any other requirements that Z visa holders would need to meet to apply for a green card?

A: A Z visa holder must:

• Meet employment requirements during the eight-year period immediately preceding the application for adjustment
• Pay a $500 state impact fee
• Pay a $4,000 fine plus application fees (children are exempt)
• Complete criminal and security background checks
• Establish registration under the selective service (if applicable)
• Meet English-language and civic requirements
• Undergo a medical examination
• Prove that you have paid all taxes while you worked with a Z visa
• At some point during the eight years of holding a Z visa, the primary applicant on the green card application must return to her/his country and file her/his application for a green card with the U.S. consulate.

Q: How would the proposal affect my ability to apply to bring a family member to the U.S.?

A: The proposal makes significant changes to the family-based immigration system. It would reduce the waiting period for those who filed applications for their family members before May 2005. But in the future, adult children and siblings of U.S. citizens and adult children of green card holders would no longer qualify for green cards. In addition, there would be fewer visas available for parents of U.S. citizens; many parents would have to use a new visitor visa to come to the United States. NCLR and many other organizations object to these new provisions and are committed to work to change them before a bill becomes law.

Q: What is the merit-based or point system?

A: The proposal would significantly change our legal immigration system by creating a new point system for anyone who wishes to immigrate to the U.S. to work or to join family members. The system would award points to potential immigrants based on occupation and job experience, education, and knowledge of English. Points are also awarded to people who have certain family relationships (adult child of a legal permanent resident [LPR] or U.S. citizen, sibling of a U.S. citizen) that are no longer eligible for visas under the family immigration system. Only individuals who accumulate enough points would be able to obtain a green card. NCLR and many other organizations are working to change this point system to preserve family-based immigration.

Q: Does the proposal include a temporary worker program for future workers? How will workers qualify for the program?

A: Yes. This proposal would create a new visa (Y) that would allow a person with a job offer, who has completed background checks, had a medical exam, and paid a $500 fee to apply to enter legally to work in the U.S. Y visas are good for two years and can be renewed for two more years, provided the worker lives outside the U.S. for one year between the two-year extension. A worker’s family may accompany the worker in limited capacity. If a worker stays in the U.S. beyond the time allowable by the Y visa, he or she will be barred from obtaining immigration benefits in the future. A worker may not be out of a job for more than 60 days, otherwise he/she will not be allowed to remain in the U.S. legally. Unfortunately, most Y visa holders would not be eligible to apply for a green card and could not stay permanently in the U.S. This proposal is very controversial, and may change as it goes through the legislative process. NCLR is one of many organizations working to make sure that the program provides a path to U.S. citizenship over time.

Q: What rights would workers with Y visas have?

A: The visa would belong to the worker, not the employer. That means that if the worker is not satisfied with a job, she or he can change to an employer that meets the requirements to hire a worker with a Y visa. Workers will have all the same labor protections that a U.S. worker has, which means that the employer must follow all the rules regarding health, safety, and wages. That also means workers can organize in the workplace. Also, an employer must pay the higher of the wage they pay other workers who do the same job, or what is called the “prevailing wage.”

Q: How would employers check my work authorization in the future?

A: This proposal would create a new Electronic Employment Verification System (EEVS) to determine if a worker is eligible to work in the U.S. All workers, including U.S. citizens, would have to be verified through this system. This proposal may also change through the legislative process; it is important to make sure workers are protected against errors in the system.

Q: Are the bills “AgJOBS” (to assist agricultural workers) and the “DREAM Act” (to assist individuals who came to the U.S. as children) found in this Senate proposal?

A: Yes. Both of these bills are currently in the “Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007,” but changes to both proposals have been made, mostly in an effort to conform to the overall architecture of the immigration proposal. Farmworkers will have their own legalization program. Individuals who came to the U.S. as children before January 1 2007, who are currently under the age of 30, have graduated from high school, and pursue higher education or military service would have increased access to in-state tuition, federal loans and work study, and most importantly, a path to citizenship.

Q: If this bill has so many problems, why are advocates urging Congress to pass it?

A: This year may be our best chance to pass an immigration reform bill that legalizes undocumented immigrants currently in the United States. NCLR is very concerned about many of this bill’s provisions, and will be working to improve them as the bill moves through the legislative process. But we believe this bill is an important starting point; if the Senate votes it down, it is not clear how we can move any immigration reform forward.

Q: What happens now?

A: The Senate will debate this legislation through the first week of June. Senators will vote on amendments to change the bill, some of which will attempt to make the bill more responsive to immigrants’ needs, some of which will attempt to make the bill harsher for immigrants. The House of Representatives is expected to take up its own bill this summer. If the House passes a separate bill, members of the House and Senate will meet to work out differences; this is another point at which the proposal could change. Please keep in touch with organizations that you trust for information on what is happening, and on how to get involved in the process. NCLR will update information on the Internet as it becomes available.

¿Cuáles son los requisitos con los que las personas indocumentadas tienen que cumplir para normalizar su estado inmigratorio mediante una visa Z?

Bajo esta propuesta (que podría cambiar), tendrían que:

• Probar que ha vivido en Estados Unidos continuamente desde o antes del 1º de enero de 2007.
• Demostrar que fue contratado en EE.UU. desde antes del 1º de junio de 2007 y que ha tenido empleo desde entonces (y someter documentación relacionada).
• Someterse a una investigación de sus antecedentes y obtener un resultado positivo
• Pagar una multa de $1,000, un cargo de $500 de impacto estatal, y otras tarifas de la solicitud.

1. Who makes up the U.S. Hispanic population?

Hispanics are an ethnically and racially diverse population. The Latino population on the U.S. mainland is composed of Mexican Americans (64%), Puerto Ricans (9%), Cubans (3.4%), Salvadorans (3.1%), and Dominicans (2.8%). The remainder is composed of Central American, South American, or other Hispanic or Latino origins (17.7%).

U.S. Census Bureau, “Facts for Features, Hispanic Heritage Month 2008: Sept. 15 – Oct. 15,” news release, http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/012245.html (accessed November 5, 2008).

2. What terms are used to describe the U.S. Hispanic population?

The terms "Hispanic" and "Latino" are used interchangeably by the U.S. Census Bureau to refer to persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central and South American, Dominican, Spanish, and other Hispanic descent; they may be of any race. Some segments of the population also use the term "La Raza" which has its origins in early 20th century Latin American literature and translates into English most closely as "the people," or, according to some scholars, "the Hispanic people of the New World." The term was coined by Mexican scholar José Vasconcelos to reflect the fact that the people of Latin America are a mixture of many of the world's races, cultures, and religions. Some people have mistranslated “La Raza” to mean "The Race," implying that it is a term meant to exclude others. In fact, the full term coined by Vasconcelos, "La Raza Cósmica," meaning the "cosmic people," was developed to reflect not purity but the mixture inherent in the Hispanic people. This is an inclusive concept, meaning that Hispanics share with all other peoples of the world a common heritage and destiny.

Jose Vasconcelos, (La Raza Cósmica. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997).

3. How large is the Latino population?

The Hispanic population is the largest ethnic minority in the country. As of July 1, 2007, the estimated Hispanic population in the U.S. was 45.5 million, constituting 15% of the nation’s total population. (This estimate does not include the 3.9 million residents of Puerto Rico.)

U.S. Census Bureau, “Facts for Features, Hispanic Heritage Month.”

4. Are most Latinos immigrants?

In 2007, approximately 39.8% of the Hispanic population was foreign-born. Approximately 28.1% of foreign-born Latinos are naturalized citizens. While nearly two out of five Latinos are foreign-born, the second generation is growing faster than the first. More Latinos are being born in the United States than immigrating to this country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2007, 90% of Hispanics under age 18 were born in the U.S.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 American Community Survey, S0201, “Selected Population Profile in the United States, Hispanic or Latino (of any race),” http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/IPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-geo_id=NBSP&-ds_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_&-reg=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201:400;ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201PR:400;ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201T:400;ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201TPR:400;&-_lang=en&-_caller=geoselect&-redoLog=true&-format (accessed November 5, 2008); U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 American Community Survey, C05003I, “Sex by Age by Nativity (Hispanic or Latino),” http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-ds_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_&-SubjectID=15233518&-_lang=en&-mt_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G2000_C05003I&-format=&-CONTEXT=dt (accessed November 5, 2008).

5. What percentage of the foreign-born population comes from Latin America?

In 2007, more than half (53.6%) of the foreign-born population residing in the United States came from Latin America, equaling 20 million people. Of those, 57.5% were born in Mexico. Other regions of birth that contribute large numbers of Hispanics are Central America (13.3%), the Caribbean (16.6%), and South America (12.6%).

U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 American Community Survey, S0506, “Selected Characteristics of the Foreign-Born Population by Region of Birth: Latin America,” http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0506&-ds_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_&-_lang=en&-redoLog=false&-format=&-CONTEXT=st (accessed November 5, 2008).