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MPI Study: Iraqi Immigrants in the United States, LEP Statistics

Excerpt:

Almost half of Iraqi immigrants in 2007 were limited English proficient.
About 8.7 percent of the Iraqi immigrants age 5 and older reported speaking "English only" while 44.2 percent reported speaking English "very well." In contrast, 47.1 percent reported speaking English less than "very well," slightly lower than the 52.4 percent reported among all foreign born age 5 and older.

(Note: The term limited English proficient refers to any person age 5 and older who reported speaking English "not at all," "not well," or "well" on their survey questionnaire. Individuals who reported speaking only English or speaking English "very well" are considered proficient in English).

Among limited English proficient Iraqi immigrants in 2007, half spoke Arabic.
The most common language spoken among Iraqi immigrants age 5 and older who reported speaking English less than "very well" was Arabic (52.8 percent), followed by Syriac/Aramaic/Chaldean (28.5 percent) and Kurdish (10.9 percent).

Complete Report: http://www.migrationinformation.org/USfocus /display.cfm?ID=721

Topics:
  • Civil Rights
  • Immigration