Foreign-Born Legislators Will Likely Remain At A Similar Level In The 116th Congress

According to Pew Research Center studies, the 117th U.S.U.S. Congress was the most ethnically and racially diverse ever. It revealed that 18 members of Congress were foreign-born before obtaining citizenship through naturalization.

According to Pew, the percentage of immigrants in the 118th Congress, which takes office on January 2, 2023, will remain below historical highs while maintaining its current level.

The 118th U.S.U.S. Congress is anticipated to contain at least 16 members (3% of the total). Who immigrate to the country and later became citizens. However, some congressional races have yet to decide. 8% of the members of the 50th Congress, which met from 1887 to 1889, were foreign-born.

“Although there aren’t many members of the current Congress who were born abroad, there are more who at least one of their parents was. Immigration and the children of immigrants collectively make up a 2021 study from Pew, a nonpartisan organization with headquarters in Washington that offers analysis on demographic trends shaping the United States, found that 14% or more of the new Congress, a marginally higher proportion than in the previous Congress (13%).

The study also demonstrated the percentage of lawmakers born abroad in the 117th Congress. At 3%, it was significantly lower than the population’s proportion of immigrants in the United States. As a whole, as of 2019, it was 13.6%, according to Pew.

At least 18 members of Congress, both Democrats, and Republicans, were born abroad before obtaining citizenship. They are from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Japan, Poland, the United States, the Dominican Republic, India, Somalia, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, and Vietnam.

Requirements For Residency

The U.S.U.S. Constitution stipulates that individuals who obtain citizenship through naturalization must fulfill specific requirements to run for office and hold a federal position.

A candidate for the U.S.U.S. Senate must be a citizen of the at least 30 years old state they are contesting and a citizen of the nation for at least ten years. Nine years.

The naturalized American, a citizen for seven years, must be 25 years old and reside in the state being represented at the time of the election to serve as a representative in the U.S.U.S. House of Representatives.

The Senate and the House, the upper and lower chambers of the U.S.U.S. Congress, respectively, are in charge of passing laws.

Senators have six-year terms; House members have two-year terms.

Mazie Hirono is the sole Hawaii senator born outside of America. Her non-American parents gave birth to her in Japan. In 1959, the year Hawaii became a state, Hirono became a citizen of the United States.

The member who has been in office the longest is Hirono, who was born abroad. She served in the House from 2007 until her election to the Senate in 2013.

“We’ve known for a long time that foreign investors favor America when it accepts refugees and those seeking asylum. The International Rescue Committee’s “As earners, refugees and asylum seekers make a significant contribution to the economy. Taxpayers by joining the workforce, starting their businesses, and putting JC Hendrickson, senior director of resettlement, asylum, and integration policy and advocacy, said: “down roots with their families to become active members of their communities, has said.

Politician Immigrants On Both Sides

At least 16 born-abroad lawmakers were elected or reelected in the midterm elections. Three Democrats, Salud Carbajal, Raul Ruiz, and Jesus Garcia, all of whom represent California, were among the four who were born in Mexico.

Republican Juan Ciscomani won the 6th congressional district of Arizona for the first time. His family emigrated from Mexico to the United States. As a young child, he acquired citizenship.
Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois and Pramila Jayapal of Washington are two lawmakers of Indian descent. Democrats are both. Republicans Young Kim and Michelle Park Steel, both from California, are from South Korea. Republican Victoria Spartz is the first congresswoman of Ukrainian descent. In 2000, she relocated to America.

At least 12 Democratic and four Republican members of the incoming Congress are foreign-born.

In 2020, three of those Republicans won their initial seats in Congress. This month, one Republican was newly elected.

Voters in the area are prepared, according to Ghida Dagher. Who is the president of the New American Leaders Action Fund and New American Leaders, who says that people have embraced the future that new American candidates represent?
She said that voters from all backgrounds chose numerous new Americans who took the initiative to run, win, and lead.

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