Transnational Ties of Latino and Asian Americans by Immigrant Generation

Emi Tamaki, University of Washington

Does engagement with the country of origin decline as immigrant groups become assimilated to American society? This paper investigates the generational effect on the strength of transnational ties (i.e. contact with the country of ancestral origin) among Latino and Asian Americans. Analysis using a nationally representative sample of Latino and Asian Americans suggests a negative association between generational status and ties to the country of origin. However, this trend is not fully explained by the degree of socioeconomic assimilation and acculturation to the US, as assumed by the assimilation theory. The analysis also shows positive associations between education and home country visits among Latino Americans, and between household income and home country visits among Asian Americans. In addition, the study finds no significant difference between the first- and second- generation Latino Americans.