UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal

This paper explores the causes of migration, suchas cultural influences, language, and thepolitical structures of countries, and how these factorsaffect the identity of migrants and theirchildren in the U.S. The experiences of a Vietnameseminority group, the Montagnard refugeeswho have settled in North Carolina, provide insighton how building in-groups can preventcomplete assimilation while the experiences of Cubanmigrants provide insight on how in-groupscan successfully assimilate and gain political representation.There is an emphasis on the Latinocommunity and how the country of origin has varyingeffects on the political and social choicesdepending on the age of the individual and the dependencyon in-groups. The socializationtheory and political socialization of children covershow political conflict affects early partisanattachments. This paper examines how social choicesformed by the lack of integration can affectthe ability of migrants to fully create a new identityin the U.S. as well as how the effects of identity incompatibility on dual identity can be avoided. This paper also examines minority representation, political parties, age, political exposure, and the effects of changing political structures.