When reading excerpts of God in Chinatown by Kenneth J. Guest, the enclave model that Portes and Bach suggested seemed too optimistic. For example, they spoke about two waves of immigrants; the first wave is made up of entrepreneurs who successfully make economic advancements, and the second wave becomes the labor force of these businesses. Although this part seems correct, it is not probable that immigrants in this way can find “better-paying jobs, more promotion opportunity” (38). In fact, many immigrants are exploited due to their lack of opportunities, which can be illustrated through the Fuzhounese immigrants. They often work in industries that require them to stay twelve hours a day, for as low as two dollars an hour. Many illegal immigrants often have to pay back smugglers or family members who got them into the States, therefore their only visible option is to comply with harsh, low-wage working conditions. Therefore, all enclaves don’t offer upward social mobility, or fair wages- some take advantage of vulnerable immigrants who can’t voice opinions about their miserable situation.
This also ties into Willets Point, which houses many immigrants who often work in unfavorable conditions. Forty percent of these workers are illegal immigrants, according to Dan Bilefsky’s “Concern for Underclass As the City Progresses On Its Willets Point Plan”. Many people who support the project to renovate Willets Point cite the elimination of immigrants’ rigid working conditions as a reason. However, many immigrants also lose their businesses as a result of this plan, and employees are most likely not guaranteed jobs afterwards. Therefore, the government should protect these immigrants, not by buying their property and expecting them to relocate, but by improving their current conditions. The government can help protect these people without building new buildings, schools, etc. It is important for these residents to be secured without losing their businesses and properties.
