North Carolina
Gateway to the World
World View 2012 Community College Symposium UNC
Chapel Hill, Nov 14, 2012
North Carolina : Gateway to
the World
Presented
by
Raleigh Bailey, Ph.D.
Director, UNCG Center for New North Carolinians
With Assistance from Khem Khatiwada and Ghaisha Yahaya- Muhammed
AmeriCorps ACCESS Members, UNCG- CNNC
And demographic data from Dr. Rick Bunch
UNCG Center for Geographic Information Science
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15,000 years ago: the first Americans
1600’s: Colonial era, first Europeans and Africans
1700’s and beyond: secondary migration
North Carolina’s
Immigrant History
World War II and beyond:
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Creation of United Nations and UNHCR
Migrant Workers: Growing Latino population
1965 Immigration Reform Act
Vietnam War aftermath
Refugee Resettlement Act of 1980
Development of Ethnic Enclaves
1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act
1990’s Economic Boom and Globalization
1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act
Why People Migrate
to the United States
Family reunifications and relatives
Employment opportunities
Refugees and asylees
Non-immigrants: students, tourists,
temporary workers…
The Refugee Process
 Refugees are resettled through nationally approved resettlement
agencies under contract with the U.S. Department of State and
their regional affiliates.
 Follow up services are provided through contracts with the federal
Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and the State level through
the Office of the State Refugee Coordinator with the NCDHHSDSS.
 NC has 8 resettlement agencies with 10 offices. Activities are
focused on the Triad, Charlotte, and the Triangle with some
resettlement in Craven and Buncombe counties.
The Refugee Process
Continued
 In an average year, NC resettles about 2000 refugees, concentrated
in the in the Triad, Charlotte, and the Triangle
 NC ranks as the 10th largest State in the number of refugees
resettled annually. It is considered a model state in “success” of the
refugees here.
 Refugees may petition to become LPR’s after a year and request
resettlement of family members.
NC Hispanic/Latino
Growth
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800, 000 Latinos in NC
Represents 25% of NC’s growth in the last 20 years
Represents 8.4% of NC population
Latinos have grown by 111% in last ten years
Native births have now overtaken migration
NC is the 11th largest State in terms of Latino population
61% are from Mexico; 13% from Central America; followed by
other smaller %s
 Latinos are in all NC counties but the largest populations are in:
 Mecklenburg: 112,000
 Wake:
88,000
 Forsythe:
42,000
Durham:
36,000
Guilford:
35,000
Cumberland: 30,000
Secondary Migrants
 A term used to depict people, particularly immigrants moving from one
part of the U.S. to another. This becomes a major part of demographics as
newcomers move within the country, trying to find the best fit and
supportive community.
 In NC, the Hmong tribal people from Laos came as refugees after the
Vietnam War, have picked NC as a major secondary migration site, with
close to 15,000 people living in Western Piedmont, Hickory, and Morganton
areas. This makes NC the 4th largest Hmong settlement State. Most of these
Hmong moved here from other States.
 Another example is Russian and Ukrainian populations in the Asheville
area, most of them coming as secondary migrants. Other cities have small
clusters building on the “Ethnic enclave” process.
Newcomer Immigration
Status
 Newcomers, non U.S. citizens, may have various types of status
when they come to the U.S.
 The system is complex, confusing, and broken. However, below are
some of the common categories.
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International visitor-temporary visa (not classified as immigrant)
International student
Out of status, undocumented, “illegal”.
Temporary work visa
Employment visa: might eventually lead to LPR Status
Refugee or asylee (someone who meets UNHCR and DOS definitions of fleeing
war or oppression and accepted to U.S.) After a year, this can transition to LPR.
Legal Permanent
Resident (LPR)
 Also known as “Green Card” holder even though the card is not
green: goal for newcomers who want to eventually transition to
becoming a U.S. citizen.
 After 5 years as an LPR, with good moral character, meeting
physical presence and residency requirements, a person may
initiate the citizenship application. S/he must be at least 18 years
of age and successfully pass the U.S. citizenship test.
 An estimated 70,000 to 80,000 NC LPR’s are eligible for citizenship
and the number is expected to continue to increase dramatically.
 THE GOAL: Naturalized U.S. Citizen
Questions or Comments
?
This presentation is available at http://cnnc.uncg.edu