GENERAL DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

1
GENERAL DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
NC Latino Growth in NC

• Dr. H. Nolo Martínez
• Director
• Hispanic/Latino Affairs
• Office of the Governor

2
Population and Size Composition

• In March 2000, 32.8 million Hispanics lived in
  the United States.
  
• 12 of the U.S. population is Hispanic.
• People of Mexican origin comprise approximately
  66 of the U.S. Hispanic population.
  

3
Percent Distribution of Hispanic by Type 2000
4
Age

• One-third of Hispanics are under age 18.
• Among Hispanics, Mexicans have the largest
  proportion of people under age 18 (38 percent).
  
• The Hispanic population is younger than the
  non-Hispanic White population.
  

5
U.S. Immigration Data

• The leading source countries for legal
  immigration are
  
• Mexico (91,000),
• Vietnam (78,000),
• the Philippines (59,000), and
• the republics of the former Soviet Union
  (44,000).
  
• Undocumented immigration total approx. 300,000
  annually, according to the INS. 50 of these
  undocumented immigrants arrive in the U.S.
  legally and overstay their non-immigrant visa.

6
Current Occupation for Men by Hispanic Origin
2000
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic White
Managerial, professional
7
Current Occupation for Women by Hispanic Origin
2000
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic White

Managerial, professional
Technical sales
8
Top States in Percentage Growth of Mexican
Population
9
Large scale Immigration from Mexico

• 8 million in 2000
• Highly concentrated 78 in 4 states
• 22 of all HS dropouts in US labor force were
  born in Mexico
  
• Most natives do not face significant job
  competition from Mexican immigrants
  

10
NC Hispanic Demographic Growth

• Hispanic population in NC has grown from 76,745
  in 1990 to over 379,000 in 2000
  
• NC Metro Growth (now) 44,000 Charlotte, 34,000
  Raleigh, 100,000 Triangle
  
• NC Rural Growth (future)
• LATINO POPULATION BY COUNTY IN www.ayudate.org

11
Growth by Ethnic Group
12
NC Latinos by County

13
Education in North Carolina

• 4th fastest growing enrollment in US
• 160 languages
• 46,000 LEP students in Public Schools
• In 2000, 41.4 of Hispanic w/ HS diploma

14
The New Melting Pot
Ranked by percentage increase of
immigrants from 1995 to 1999
For states with a foreign-born pop. of at least
50,000 in 1995, Urban Institute
15
NC Hispanic Market Boom (numbers count)

• Highest growth of Mexican and Mexican American
  population in US 655 (300,000)
  
• 95 of construction workers in Charlotte are
  Latinos
  
• Highest number of guestworkers (H2A) in the US (
  10,000)
  
• Highest birth rate in rural and metropolitan
  counties (45-50 in many counties)
  
• Highest percent growth in school system ( 415)
  (44,000 in 2001)
  
• Latinos are much younger than the total
  population in NC. Latinas in their peak
  childbearing years
  
• Latino Credit Union membership (3,500 in 1 year)

16
Poder Hispano

• National Latino buying power in 1998 was 404
  billion annually - among top 20 largest consumer
  markets in the world
  
• In 1997 Hispanic buying power in NC was 2.3
  billion (pop. estimated at 100,00), a 177 jump
  from 1990
  
• NC Hispanic buying power is increasing at the
  third highest rate in the nation

17
Habla Español ?

• Spanish is the first language of approximately
  90 of Hispanics, the only language of about 60
  of NC Hispanic workers
  
• Hispanics prefer advertising messages in Spanish
• English-only business is a barrier to attract
  Latino clients
  

18
30 years Latinos in NC
Period 70-80s
Period 80-90s
Period 90 - 2000
19
The essentials

20
Heroes o Criminales?

• 10 billion dollars per year contribution to the
  US economy (American Academy of Sciences)
  
• 8 billion dollars send to Mexico every year
  (Mexicos third source of income)
  
• Millions of undocumented workers pay taxes
  (suspense file). Since 1937, 265 billion
  collected wages
  
• Fund grows 17 billion annually since 1990

21
Heroes o criminales?

• Keep inflation down (Allan Greenspan)
• Cheap labor (Only game in town Poultry
  Federation)
  
• Best medicine for NC aging population
• Tom Ridge calls them technically criminals
• Presidente V. Fox calls them heroes

22
The other illegals

• Since 1986 is a crime to hire foreigners without
  documentation
  
• According to INS, 75 of Latino workers in NC are
  illegal (Tom O'Connell, NO)
  
• No match letters. What of illegal
  business/industry in NC?
  

23
Complete Story

• The revolving door is part of being an illegal
  immigrant and an employer in NC
  
• The actions of one (illegal worker) do not
  condone the actions of the other (illegal
  employer)
  
• But media continues to focus on crime of the
  worker
  
• Who are the offenders, why are these violating
  the law, how we can stop both parties from
  conducting criminal activity

24
Immigrants and the Economy

• Immigrants do not take away jobs from American
  workers. Instead, they create new jobs by forming
  new businesses, spending their incomes on
  American goods and services, paying taxes and
  raising the productivity of U.S. businesses.
• The perception that immigrants take jobs away
  from American workers is based on the mistaken
  assumption that there is only a fixed number of
  jobs in the economy.

25
Immigrants and the Economy

• Immigrants pay more than 90 billion in taxes
  every year and receive only 5 billion in
  welfare. Contributions to the public treasury
  added to the economy surplus.
• International aid vs. Money transfers
• Law of Supply and Demand

26
Legal Status

• Local communities are where the effects of
  immigration are felt most
  
• Lack of documentation and insurance often deters
  Hispanic from seeking services
  
• Fear of immigration authorities create great
  potential for confusion no matter what the system
  (QRT presence)

27
Pro-immigration Conditions (prior to 9.11.2001)

• Unions and AFL-CIO
• Alan Greenspan
• Restoration of 245i
• Mexico-US Relations (Bush, Helms, NC Commerce, NC
  Elected Officials, Mexican Consul in NC)
  
• Elections (Jorge y Alberto)

28
Immigration Reform

• INS backlogs have skyrocketed, families have been
  separated, businesses have lost valuable
  employees and eligible people must leave the
  country (often for years) in order to adjust.
• Increase the number of Mexicans granted Temporary
  work permit
  
• Put many of these workers on a path toward a
  green card, which provides permanent legal
  residence and is a step toward U.S. citizenship
  

29
Border Security (245i)

• Some illegal immigrants stay in the US while
  their green card is being processed
  
• Limited to Nov. 30, 2002
• Border security tied to legislation
• Boost the pay of border patrol agents
• Hire more
• Establish foreign student tracking system
• After 2003 passports be tamper-resistant
• Visitor documents-machine readable with biometrics

30
Current and Future Challenges (taxation without
representation)

• Mainstream NC vs. underground lifestyle
• Easy target (essential workers)
• In-state tuition for non-citizens
• Drivers license issues
• Workers compensation
• Home ownership potential (the American dream)
• Financial security
• State contracts
• One North Carolina vs. segregation

31
Enforcement bias (bad ideas)

• Equate immigration enforcement with protecting
  national security
  
• Deputize local police officers as agents of the
  Immigration and Naturalization
  
• INS actively promoting such partnerships
• Federation for American Immigration Reform
• INS agents have wider latitude