IN THE NEWS
IRE and NICAR offer data, stories and tipsheets to help cover the latestOther resources for covering the news
Immigration Data
The IRE and NICAR Database Library has just revised its database of immigrants admitted to the U.S. as permanent legal residents. The database, maintained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, contains characteristics of the aliens who were granted legal permanent residence in the U.S. during fiscal years 2000 and 1999.
In fiscal year 1999 (Oct. 1, 1998 to Sept. 30, 1999) 646,560 aliens were granted permanent residence. In fiscal year 2000, there were 849,386. These immigrants either arrived from outside the United States with a valid immigrant visa, or they were already living in the U.S. (for example, as temporary workers, foreign students, refugees, or certain undocumented immigrants) and adjusted their status with the INS.
This database includes each immigrant's country of birth and country of last permanent residence, as well as the intended metropolitan area and state of residence. Reporters can track which countries most immigrants come from, what occupation groups are most wanted, and how that fits the demographics of a particular area. With the data reporters can track the number of people who come with a tourist visa and later change the status without having any labor certificate.
The data show that big states and southern border states aren't the only places to attract lots of immigrants. For instance, in fiscal 2000, Michigan was the top destination for immigrants from Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, while Minnesota was the most popular state for Somalian and Liberian immigrants. And although the most legal immigrants to the U.S. come from Mexico, many other countries are well-represented too. For instance, about 16,000 Ukrainians, 12,000 Bosnians and 8,500 Iranians obtained permanent legal residence in 2000.
This file does not include data for the small number of aliens granted legal permanent residence under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
The cost of the 1999 and 2000 data for all states: 50-200 market or circulation below 50,000 -- $90; 25-50 market or 50,000-100,000 circulation -- $155; top 25 market or circulation above 100,000 -- $200. The cost of the archived years of 1980-1998: 50-20 market or circulation below 50,000 -- $30; 25-50 market or 50,000-100,000 circulation -- $50; top 25 market or circulation above 100,000 -- $70.
To order the data, call the Database Library at 573-884-7711 or download an order form at http://www.ire.org/datalibrary/orderform/.
Stories
The IRE Resource Center offers stories about immigrants in its database:
#18983: In 2001, Newsday ran a five-part series called "Death on the Job." The paper found that New York had the nation's highest rate of immigrants killed in the workplace, and that immigrant workers there accounted for three of every 10 deaths.
#18485: Also in 2001, USA Today reported on "Forced Labor in America.” Many immigrants hired for domestic work in U.S. homes end up being forced into virtual slavery. "Some have been chained, sexually abused and paid less than 3 cents an hour," according to the paper, which documented more than 140 cases of domestic worker abuse.
#16082: In the 1999 series "Stolen refuge," The Boston Globe reported that the U.S. granted legal residency to immigrants suspected of war crimes human rights violations. Many of the immigrants disguised themselves as refugees.
#15879: The Washington Post used this database and others for a 1998 series, "Many paths to here: Washington's multicultural mosaic." The stories examine how this diverse population has altered the economic and social fabric of the region without triggering the bitter backlash often felt in other urban centers.
For more stories, search the story database at http://www.ire.org/resourcecenter/initial-search-stories.html.
To contact the Resource Center, call 573-882-3364 or e-mail rescntr@nicar.org.
Tipsheets
The IRE Resource Center offers several tipsheets to help journalists report on immigration issues. They include:
#1680: Discusses immigration abuses before and after Sept. 11. Stories about immigration can be found everywhere, not just in border states - and some of the best stories may be in your own community. Includes national and local sources to check out. From the 2002 IRE Conference.
#1437: Highlights ways to investigate injustices in immigration law. Includes sources for INS detention and deportation stories. From the 2001 IRE Conference.
#1436: Gives tips on covering immigration courts. From the 2001 IRE Conference.
#1035: Offers 10 tips for covering immigration and immigrant communities, with a focus on places "beyond the border" in the interior U.S. Web sites for government agencies and advocacy groups are also included. From the 1999 IRE Conference.
More tipsheets can be found in the tipsheet database.
Uplink and The IRE Journal
IRE members can search the indexes of The IRE Journal and Uplink.
Back issues of The IRE Journal and Uplink may be purchased for $10 each. There is an additional $10 user fee for nonmembers. Check with the Resource Center at 573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org for availability.
| For more information, contact: | |
| Jeremy Milarsky Database Library Director IRE and NICAR E-mail: jeremy@ire.org Voice: 573-882-1982 Fax: 573-884-5544 |
Beth Kopine Research Director IRE Resource Center E-mail: beth@ire.org Voice: 573-882-6668 Fax: 573-884-8151 |
