Caribbean Immigrants in the United States

This article provides a sociodemographic profile of Caribbean immigrants in the U.S. The authors begin by briefly outlining the history of Caribbean migration to the U.S., with special attention to U.S. policies directed at Cuban and Haitian migrants. The authors provide details on a number of demographic characteristics, and describe differences among migrants of the 13 countries and 17 dependent territories included in this population. Nearly 90 percent of these immigrants come from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Haiti. Most Caribbean immigrants (two-thirds) reside in Florida and New York. Caribbean immigrants are older, on average, than the foreign-born overall, with more than a quarter of Cuban immigrants aged 65 and older. Caribbean immigrants are more likely to have completed high school, but less likely to have completed college than the overall foreign-born population, and have household incomes slightly lower than immigrant households overall. The article also provides information on employment rates, labor force participation, poverty levels, immigration pathways, and other characteristics. (Maurice Belanger, Maurice Belanger Associates)

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