Thread: NV-Hispanic Population Increase Cause May Surprise You

Chris Saldana, Reporter
Hispanic Population Increase Cause May Surprise You

Updated: July 21, 2008 08:55 PM CDT

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Hispanic Population Increase Cause May Surprise You


The Hispanic population is experiencing non-stop growth here in the valley and nationwide. But it's not because of immigration. Here in Las Vegas, according to this year's Las Vegas Perspective, the Hispanic population is at 26-percent.

But that number is growing every day. It's a natural increase because it's now births that are accounting for most of the nation's Hispanic population, not immigration.

Twenty years ago, motherhood led Heidi Herrera from Mexico, to the United States. "It was a choice because we didn't want out kids to go through what we did. We wanted for them to have a better life, a better education."

Today, her three children are adding to what many are calling "the Hispanic baby boom."

"It's a misconception that people come in, have their kids and go back to Mexico and whenever they're older, just come over to the United States," she said.

In seven years, the Hispanic population grew by more than 10 million people. This natural increase is something Hispanic advocate Miguel Barrientos says should come as no surprise.

"It's a natural thing that's happening. The Census Bureau has indicated in the year 2050, 50-percent of the population in U.S. will be Latino. This is the beginning stage of that phenomenal growth that will take place in the country," he said.

Barrientos says people tend to overlook the increase is because of natural reason, and not immigration. Herrera says immigrants from Mexico, like herself, are often scrutinized more so than immigrants from other countries.

"When they say immigrants, they target people from Mexico or Central America. We're their first targets. Nobody asks he people who came from China, Russia; we are because we're so close," she said.

And in the meantime, she continues to raise he kids, reminding them of what a privilege it is to be an American.

The growth of Hispanic population in some areas of the country, where few people lived before, has increased dramatically. Here in Nevada, Elko and Nye County have seen this happen.

Email your comments to Reporter Chris Saldana.

http://www.lasvegasnow.com/global/story.asp?s=8711749

It has everything to do with immigration. Illegal Immigration. These babies are born to illegal aliens and should not be given citizenship.

Totally agree

Illegals exit

When they say immigrants, they target people from Mexico or Central America. We're their first targets. Nobody asks he people who came from China, Russia; we are because we're so close," she said.

Did someone forget to give her a handbook. She's supposed to say "we are because of racism."