Census: Calif. immigrants assimilating

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- New U.S. census data suggests that California's immigrants are more assimilated than they were in 2000, with more reporting they have become U.S. citizens.

The census data also indicates that more native Spanish speakers are saying they speak English very well, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

The 2007 American Community Survey also showed that the Golden States continued to diversify. The number of whites in California declined to about 42.5 percent, while the number of Latino's, Asians and blacks increased to 54.4 percent.

The number of foreign-born Californians is now more than 25 percent, and about 33 percent in Los Angeles County.

"It seems to me that increases in the number of naturalized immigrants and those who are fluent in English send a strong signal that historic patterns of integration are continuing," said Michael Fix, vice president of the Migration Policy Institute.

"These trends certainly do not support fears that immigration is eroding the nation's social cohesion," he added.