Carolinas lead nation in Hispanic growth
S.C. ranks first in Latino per capita growth from 2006 to 2007

The Carolinas' Latino populations continue to rank among the country's fastest-growing, despite a slowing economy and a tougher crackdown on illegal immigrants.

New Census data show South Carolina's Latino population ranked first among states in per capita growth from 2006 to 2007. North Carolina was third, with Tennessee between them.

The Charlotte region continues to fuel the increase, with more than 16,000 new Latino residents arriving in the area.

The new arrivals come not only from Mexico, Central and South America, but also New York, New Jersey and California, where U.S. economic problems have taken a greater toll, immigrants and advocates say. Latinos continue to see the Carolinas as having more jobs, cheaper housing and a better climate.

Not that the Charlotte region and the two states have escaped the economic slowdown. One-way bus and plane tickets from Charlotte to Latin America have more than doubled, in part because of the loss of jobs. Other Latinos are leaving the area due to tougher enforcement of immigration laws.

But far more Latinos continue to arrive than leave.

It's all about the jobs, says Angeles Ortega-Moore, executive director of the Latin American Coalition in Charlotte.

“The moment companies in Charlotte, or in any place, stop hiring undocumented people, that's the moment we will actually start seeing the decline,â€