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A sad reality: more poverty and more incarceration

I recently read a story in a local community newspaper about a young woman, daughter of immigrants, who, after overcoming many obstacles, earned a college degree and opened her own businesses. With the usual triumphalism proper of this kind of publications, the story said the woman was living the “American dream.” Of course, nothing was said about the fact that for many immigrants that “dream” is a true nightmare.

According to a report published by the Pew Research Center last July, from 2005 to 2009 the net worth of Hispanic households decreased 66 percent, from $18,359 to $6,325, the largest drop among all groups.

The decrease in the net worth among Hispanic families was due to a combination of factors, including a decrease in the value of the properties owned by Hispanics and a significant increment (42 percent) in the level of debt among Hispanics.

Whatever the case, the net worth of Hispanics is 18 times lower than the net worth of White families: $6,300 against $113,000. In many cases, the $6,300 “extra” in the hands of Hispanics is just a car they can sell, but not investments or savings.

Based on the information provided in the report by Pew Research Center, it is possible to speculate that many Hispanic families (as well as African-American families) live “on the edge,” meaning they lack any kind of retirement plan, they don’t have extra money for emergencies, and they incur in more debt just to pay for everyday expenses.

Looking at that reality it is difficult to understand the “triumphal” tone of many Hispanic publications. How low have we fallen that what is normal –earning a college degree, opening a business– is being celebrated as something extraordinaire?

And if the nightmare is not worrisome enough, then let’s add a new element. According to a report published by a federal agency on September 6, 2011, “More than half of all people sent to federal prison for committing felony crimes so far this year were Hispanic.”

The report, prepared by the U.S. Sentencing Commission, says that this “major demographic shift” is due to a large number of “immigration offenses,” both violent and non-violent ones.

In real numbers, during the first nine months of the fiscal year 2011, 50.3 percent of all people sentenced were Hispanics, 26.4 percent Whites, and 19.7 percent African-Americans. It is worth noting that Hispanics made up 16 percent of the U.S. population.

The report by the U.S. Sentencing Commission reveals that many Hispanics are sent to federal prisons after “expedited court hearings along the border.” In many cases, those sentenced were the breadwinners in their families, condemning those families to even greater poverty.

It is good to celebrate the achievements of those who overcome overwhelming barriers and obstacles and, after learning English, graduate from college and enjoy “success.” However, those stories of “success” (well-deserved, indeed) should not hide the nightmare of poverty and incarceration a growing number of Latinos now face.

Clearly, our reality is no longer a “sweet dream.”

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