MEXICAN AMERICANS WHO HAVE MIGRATED TO THE INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX OF EAST CHICAGO ARE ANALYZED TO DETERMINE THE VALIDITY OF A HYPOTHESIS THAT THIS GROUP WAS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES NOT AVAILABLE TO THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE SOUTHWEST FOR ASSIMILATION INTO THE COMMUNITY. A CONCISE REPORT ON THE HISTORY OF THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN COLONY IN EAST CHICAGO, ITS GROWTH INTO A COMMUNITY, FAMILY TRADITIONS, AND CHURCH RELATIONS IS INCLUDED. EDUCATION AND ITS EFFECTS, PATTERNS OF EMPLOYMENT AND OCCUPATIONAL STATUS, INTERNAL COHESION AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE, AND PERSONAL AND SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT STUDIES ARE SUPPORTED BY GRAPHS, CHARTS AND TABLES. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HYPOTHESIS WAS NOT VALID AND THAT GEOGRAPHIC DISPERSION BEYOND THE SOUTHWEST DID NOT NECESSARILY RESULT IN CONSPICUOUS STATUS BENEFITS UNOBTAINABLE IN THE SOUTHWEST. THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT THERE IS VERY LITTLE VARIATION IN SOCIOECONOMIC POSITION BY MEXICAN-AMERICANS MIGRATING TO AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, IN REFERENCE TO GROUP ASSIMILATION, COMPARED TO THEIR SOUTHWESTERN NEIGHBORS. THIS REPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR $2.00 FROM THE DIVISION OF RESEARCH, GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90024. (WN)