The demographic revolution is coincidentally both the result of diversity as a catalyst for the United States but also the subsequent result of apprehensions that set the nation's mindset on immigration and its immigrants. This revolution, which has taken place between 1965 and the present, has illustrated a dramatic population change due to several laws and socioeconomic factors. The American population has shifted from a predominantly white nation to the growing possibility of the majority of its people being of color. This shift to a majority minority population influenced laws that both restricted their immigration and facilitated it and by the socioeconomic benefits that accompany the "American Dream". Thus, the drive for a better life socially and economically has caused a dramatic shift in diversity in the United States between 1965 and the present as it has increased the number of minorities regardless of the laws imposed to restrict their immigration.
The American population has shifted greatly since 1965 beginning with the termination of the Bracero Program as the end of this compelled Latino workers to illegally enter the United States now that they couldn't enter legally. This influx of migration from Latin America allowed countries like Cuba to increase its presence in the United States from 50,000 people in 1950 to more than 638,000 by 1970 (Globalyceum, Demographic Dynamics Since 1965). Moreover, Mexico created, "the most dramatic demographic shifts in regional history," as their population presence grew from 760,000 in 1970, to nearly 34 million by 2011; now representing more than 11 percent of the total population of the United States (Globalyceum, Demographic Dynamics Since 1965). With many Latino immigrants moving into America, their overall population tripled from 10 million in 1970 to more than 50.5 million as they now, "constituted 16.3 percent of the nation's total," (Globalyceum, Demographic Dynamics Since 1965). However, another growing population increase was also within the Asian nations as enacted immigration reforms in 1965 now allowed Asian immigrants to enter the country. A direct result of this new law was the increase of Southeast Asians as 700,000 refugees were able to resettle in the United States during 1975 and 1985; also an additional 700,000 Asians were able to immigrate over the following decade (Globalyceum, Demographic Dynamics Since 1965).
One of the key factors that influenced this dramatic population shift are the socioeconomic benefits/reliefs that arose with living in America. These factors range from the desire for work, and fleeing from crippling economies and/or governments. The desire for work and presence of labor in America created different types of immigrant labor from low tier jobs (domestic work, service sector, manufacturing, etc) and higher level jobs (doctors, engineers, scientists, etc). The professional and white collar job positions were mainly taken by those immigrating from Asia as they were able to attain secure visas through the Hart and Cellar Act and Immigration Reform (Lecture 12/03-05/18. Through this law, the restrictions against those trying to immigrate from Asia dissipated and immigration allowance was now race neutral and prioritized based on family reunification and skills (Lecture, 12/03/18). Those in the service sector were typically from Latin America, however, unlike those who immigrated for professional/white collar jobs, there is virtually no way to attain a visa to arrive to the US legally and with documents (Lecture, 12/05/18). Also with this act, those in similar situations like Cuba and Vietnam who faced communism or other forms of a corrupt government were able to seek refuge in the United States (Globalyceum, Demographic Dynamics since 1965). Thus coming to America for work and an overall better life resulted in an influx in illegal immigration as those who couldn't come legally found ways around it, even if these solutions were dangerous and life threatening. An example, illustrated through the film, Who is Dayani Cristal?, tells the story of Dilcy Yohan Sandres Martinez, a Honduran immigrant who died whilst trying to enter the United States illegally (Film: Who is Dayani Cristal?). Yohan is one example of many who leave their lives behind in hopes for a better future not only for themselves but for their families that are left in their homelands regardless of the risk factors. This increase in immigration not only led to having 70 to 80 percent of all immigrants to originate from Asia and Latin America but also diversified the labor force (Globalyceum, Socioeconomic Factors). Foreign born workers were now occupying 44 percent of the medical sciences, 37 percent of the physical sciences, 34 software engineering, 30 percent in computer engineering and 27 percent of all US physicians and surgeons (Globalyceum, Socioeconomic Factors).
However with this increase in minorities, many non-whites felt threatened as they worried that their demographic was decreasing rapidly. Therefore, this alleged threat to their population is what led the increase in laws that helped filter those who could and couldn't immigrate to the United States. Some backlash that immigrants faced were laws such as Prop 187 (1994) and HR 4437 (2006). Prop 187 argued that undocumented people were taking up too many resources and causing California to suffer economically and criminally. Therefore, this law limited/banned access to public resource to illegal immigrants and require public employees to report anyone who they knew were here illegally (Lecture, 12/05/18). This law would not only affect undocumented people but also the legal children who have undocumented parents as resources, such as public school would no longer be in their access; luckily, this law was never enacted. Similarly, the HR 4437 wanted to make it a felony both if you were in the United States undocumented and if you were helping someone undocumented; this law did not pass due to public outcry (Lecture, 12/05/18. These laws, among others, being part of an anti-immigrant movements have created immense racial tensions as the growing "majority minority" populations have been overtaking the nation's demographics.
In conclusion, the demographic revolution that has taken place in the United States between 1965 and the present was dramatically influenced by the several laws and socioeconomic factors. This population shift is transforming America into majority minority as immigrants and people of color are resettling in hopes to find work and a better lifestyle. However, along this shift also arose the creation of laws that inhibited people to immigrate to the United States and created an anti-immigrant sentiment as the social and political atmosphere grew tense as immigrants and people of color began to resettle in the US.