A few months ago, Sophia celebrated her 10th birthday and invited half of her class as well as relatives and friends for the occasion. The anniversary took place in one of the small community gardens on the Lower East Side, a district long known for its successive waves of migration, but which, today, no longer appears original as the ethnic mix has gained New York City. .
So that day, in addition to English and Spanish, we could also hear Hebrew, Hungarian, Finnish, French, Romanian and Persian, each of the participants speaking at least two languages fluently. A fact that would surprise in Paris but which is commonplace in this city where 37% of the population, or 3,066,599 inhabitants out of 8.34 million, comes from elsewhere, according to a 2013 report.
This proportion makes Gotham and the other four boroughs (arrondissements), the agglomeration that receives the largest number of immigrants in the whole country. Foreigners who – and this is the second peculiarity – arrive from the four corners of the planet.
« Our emigration is more diverse than ever “, confirms Joseph Salvo, who at the New York City Department of City Planning is director of the Population Division. “This diversity of places of origin makes New York City unique in our nation. “
And even to the world. But if you only need to take the metro to hear up to 800 different languages, ten countries are in the lead, including the Dominican Republic, China (soon on the way to forming the strongest group), Mexico, Jamaica or Guyana … More than a third of these people set foot on American soil in the 2000s, or even later. The reasons for this recent exile? They are political, economic and social, but they come from the same attraction forAmerican Dream.
American Dream? There’s only “more opportunities here than elsewhere “
New York City, a city where many survive rather than live, continues, in the planetary imagination, to embody the American dream whose principles – the right to equality, to freedom as well as to the pursuit of happiness – are found inscribed in the Declaration of Independence. In an unequal world, the aspiration for fundamental freedoms and a social rise by merit pushes individuals from all backgrounds to leave everything … to rebuild everything here. Including young French graduates.
Mathilde is 24, has been living in New York for almost two years with her husband, David, 25. She explains her choice:
“Frankly, the expression” American Dream “seems dated. I would rather say that here, there are more opportunities than elsewhere. Full of companies, full of work, more possibilities to evolve than elsewhere. “
Myth or reality, the movement of attraction in any case does not date from yesterday. Thus, between 1880 and 1920, a period which saw New York pass from the status of a small port city to that of an industrial metropolis, immigration reached one of its great peaks. In forty years, the population has tripled, in particular thanks to the arrival of 1.3 million Europeans. Almost a century later, between 1980 and 2000, the Big Apple experienced a new influx: 1.2 million citizens of the world settled, while 250,000 New Yorkers born in the United States left. Until 2013, the tide did not stop. It only fluctuates, depending on the year.
Immigrants welcomed with open arms
In any case, these migrants are welcomed with open arms by the authorities of all political stripes. Because, legal or illegal, those who are ready to sacrifice a lot to build a more secure future are seen as an opportunity for the economy. A source of wealth for the city, as evidenced by numerous reports on the subject.
First argument of this work: these arrivals first made it possible to stabilize the number of inhabitants of New York which, in the 1970s, had suffered a loss of 10%, then to increase it to reach 8.34 million in 2012. Second point highlighted: this population deploys intense economic activity. Representing 47% of the working population, half of these immigrants work in the service sector (babysitters, nursing assistants, nurses, babysitting, cleaning, servants, etc.), transport (taxi drivers) or construction.
The other half (48%) are found at the head of companies in the catering, transport, storage … according to a 2013 report.
A contribution of 210 billion dollars for New York
This dynamism is reflected in a strong financial contribution beneficial to the smooth running of the city. Thus, according to the estimates of the comptroller of the state, in 2011, immigrants contributed 210 billion dollars to the economic activity of New York, which represents 31% of the GCP (Gross City Product).
Between 2000 and 2011, their participation in the city’s economic activity increased by 63%, while that of US-born citizens was “only” 53%. Equally symptomatic, it is estimated that without the 1.3 million installed since 1980, the municipality would have lost $ 500 billion in property taxes and would have been forced to raise taxes to pay civil servants. Finally, another not insignificant effect of this migratory wave, working populations have repopulated neighborhoods threatened by abandonment and have in fact preserved them from severe crime.
Breaking immigration laws to help migrants stay
Considering these assets in a country where, moreover, competition exists between cities like Philadelphia, Detroit or Nashville to welcome immigrants, the municipality is making great efforts to make them want to stay. Leaving for example not to carry out certain instructions of the federal authorities on immigration.
Thus, last October, the city council passed a law refusing cooperation with the State Department and undertakes not to arrest or imprison an individual for the sole reason that he has no papers. Unless he was suspected of terrorist activity. The protection of illegal immigrants (643,000 illegal immigrants, mostly from the Caribbean and South America) also involves the creation of the municipal identity card called the “IDNYC Card” which will allow these people, as well as Homeless, to open a bank account, to rent an apartment, to go to the hospital …
“It fits with the promise I made to improve the quality of life for so many New Yorkers who need to be recognized and respected,” New York mayor Bill de Blasio said on January 12. “As a city of immigrants, we must honor our history. “
The city offers free interpreters, language or business courses
This desire to settle newcomers also requires very practical consideration of their integration difficulties. Thus, since 2008, public services in direct contact with the public have made translators and interpreters available free of charge in the six most widely spoken languages, namely Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Haitian Creole, Russian and Italian.
In the same vein, and assuming that 49% of immigrants speak a language other than English at home, free English classes are offered at municipal libraries in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island.
“With the continued arrival of millions of immigrants, explains Elaine, director of the “Aguilar Adult Learning Center” in East Harlem, the need for more and more language courses was felt. We went from 1,000 students to 5,000 last year. This program is funded through private donations, city and state participation to help students communicate in their daily lives. “
Different courses to start a business, manage accounts or learn how to obtain a microcredit are also offered to those who dream of getting started.
It remains to be seen whether all these tools and opportunities will be enough to keep this population in one of the most expensive cities in the country. In 2011, just over 40 million immigrants lived in the United States and 7.6% lived in New York City, up from 9.2% in 2000.
To settle often amounts to postponing the moment of founding a family whose maintenance requires means. A choice that ultimately poses a threat to the future of this unique ethnic patchwork that is New York.
Governors Island’s (little-known) history
If everyone is aware of the existence of Ellis Island which, from January 1, 1892, became the city’s major immigration center, a compulsory passage before being able to enter the United States, the role played is often unknown. by Governors Island a century earlier. This small 80 hectare island, located one kilometer south of Manhattan, belonged to England in the 18th century.
In 1710, it became the place of quarantine for some 10,000 German Protestants, refugees from the Palatinate from where they had been driven by the armies of Louis XIV, which prompted Queen Anne of England to want to protect them in their offering asylum in Manhattan. However, after the crossing, many migrants arrived sick with typhus and other contaminating ailments. They were then placed in quarantine on the small island.
At least 250 people died and were buried without anyone really knowing where. Once the migrants left for the continent, this small land turned into a stronghold. Then, again between 1794 and 1799, Governors Island took in the sick migrants. For this purpose, hospitals and administrative buildings have been constructed, some of which are only beginning to be renovated.
