Asians top immigrant group to US_美文_趣味英语-查字典英语网

Asians top immigrant group to US

Chinese immigrants first came to the US in significant numbers more than a century and a half ago - mainly as low-skilled laborers working as miners, peasants and railway builders, he said.

They endured generations of officially sanctioned racial prejudice, including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which barred all new immigration from China.

"One hundred years later, they are no longer the minority. They are well-educated and the most in-demand hard workers right now," he said.

Jerry Chen of Palo Alto, California, 27, said, "The identification as an American-Chinese becomes an advantage for me because more and more Asians are coming to the US with investment and business opportunities.

"I understand the culture of both sides, and can speak fluent English and Mandarin."

Chinese-Americans not only play an important role in economic activities but also in politics.

Politically, Asian-Americans are more satisfied with the nation's direction, and generally rate Obama's performance as positive; they favor Democratic candidates and prefer bigger government than other Americans, according to the survey.

Though many Asian-Americans don't like the "Tiger Mom" image of pushy, demanding Asian-American parents, 62 percent of respondents said American parents are too soft on their kids.

"Socially, Chinese-Americans are very typical examples for placing a higher value on marriage and parenthood," Konghua He, chief of the American Chinese Women Federation, said in California. "Most Chinese-Americans believe they have today's social status because of higher education and hard work, so they want their children to emulate their success mode."