In the past two decades, the U.S. has seen a notable increase in the numbers of new immigrants from Latin America moving away from traditional gateway areas to new immigrant destinations in the south and Midwest, as well as to suburbs and small towns around traditional gateway cities. These new locales have little or no previous experience with immigration and lack the institutional infrastructure to help immigrants integrate. As a result, they often struggle to create new policies in response to these rapid changes.
Surveys of public opinion suggest support for government action on behalf of the unemployed typically grows during market turbulence. In the 50 years after World War II, popular support for government spending on the social safety net typically increased during recessions. But the Great Recession may be different. Tea Party groups have emerged to oppose social spending and fiscal deficits, and support for income transfer policies among the American public as a whole went slightly down between 2008 and 2010.
The Great Recession has had a significant and largely negative impact on Americans and their families in a variety of ways. Millions of Americans have experienced the loss of their homes through foreclosure. Significant numbers are behind on rent or mortgage payments, or are “underwater,” paying on homes that are worth less than is owed. More than 14 million Americans are still without work, another 11.3 million are underemployed, and 6.3 million have been unemployed for more than six months.