Area Hispanic population grows
By Magdalene Perez
Staff Writer
Article Launched: 12/22/2008 02:41:00 AM EST

In the past decade, the number of Hispanic residents has increased to nearly a quarter of the populations of Stamford and Norwalk.

Newly released estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that, from 2000 to 2007, the number of Hispanic residents grew from 17 percent to 22 percent in Stamford, and from 16 percent to 23 percent in Norwalk.

During the same period, the number of non-Hispanic whites declined, from 61 percent to 57 percent in Stamford, and 64 percent to 59 percent in Norwalk.

The new data puts a spotlight on integration, education and the question of immigrants' legal status.

While the census estimates do not distinguish between the number of Stamford and Norwalk Hispanics who are immigrants and the number born in the United States, there has been an influx of immigrants from Latin America in the past 10 years, immigration lawyer Philip Berns said.

Over the past decade, both cities have pursued policies to include immigrants by offering bilingual services, English-language instruction in schools and programs to help legal immigrants become naturalized citizens, city officials said.

"I think Norwalk is very tolerant," Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia said. Immigrants "feel Norwalk is a very warm and embracing city."

Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy said the numbers show nothing new.

"It's consistent with what the trend has been for a long period of time," Malloy said. "Stamford has always been a diverse community and continues to be a diverse community."

In both cities, the number of non-Hispanic black residents declined slightly, from 15 percent to 13 percent. Non-Hispanic Asian residents increased slightly in Stamford, from 5 percent to 6 percent. In Norwalk the number of Asian residents remained about the same, 3 percent.

The U.S. Census measures Hispanic ethnicity separately from race, meaning Hispanics can report any race.

Stamford's foreign-born population increased this decade from 30 percent to 34 percent.

In Norwalk, the number of residents born in other countries increased from 20 percent to 23 percent.

Berns, who provides legal help for immigrants, said Stamford's approach to immigration enforcement is markedly different from Danbury, where authorities volunteered to cooperate with federal officials in raids aimed at rooting out immigrants who entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas.

"Stamford is not persecuting immigrants like Danbury is," Berns said. "Here in Stamford we have a very lassiez-faire approach, a sort of benign neglect."

Berns said 40 percent to 50 percent of the Latino population in Stamford is Guatemalan, with Peruvians, Colombians and Dominicans making up much of the rest.

In Norwalk, there are strong Columbian and Peruvian communities, and more Mexicans than in Stamford, where the Mexican population is quite small, he said.

Stamford school Superintendent Joshua Starr said the city has made larger gains in test scores among students learning English as a second language than other parts of the state.

About 15 percent of Stamford public school students are learning English as a second language, with about 85 percent of those Spanish speakers.

In all, the school system has students who speak 55 languages, Starr said.

"I see it as a real opportunity and I think we're really fortunate in Stamford that we have a group of folks who are committed to having their children educated and committed to the American dream," Starr said. "It enriches our schools without a doubt to have people from all around the world."

Because Spanish is the predominant foreign language spoken among Stamford public school students, the district often offers translations in Spanish, such as bilingual notices to parents, Starr said.

In the latest census survey, 41 percent of Stamford residents reported they speak a language other than English at home. About half of those speak Spanish. Among Spanish speakers, 57 percent said they speak English "less than very well."

In Norwalk, 31 percent said they speak a language other than English at home. Of those, 63 percent spoke Spanish, and 55 percent of Spanish speakers said they speak English "less than very well."

Malloy and Starr said the bump in new Hispanic immigrants seems to have leveled off.

With jobs for undocumented workers getting more scarce in the economic downturn, some immigrants may decide to return to their home countries, Malloy said.

In Connecticut, as in other parts of the country, immigration from Latin America has stirred controversy.

Paul Streitz, director of Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control in Darien, said immigration, legal or otherwise, is a threat to the country because it puts unsustainable stress on society and public services.

Streitz predicted a "catastrophic increase" in U.S. population in the next 40 years.

Streitz said recent immigration is different from an earlier generation, when millions of Irish, Italian and Jewish people came to the United States, because the country is more developed now.

"Most of the people who come here are low-income people who require a large number of social and medical services," Streitz said. "They're coming from rural areas to a highly sophisticated society. They're uneducated and can't do anything other than menial work."

Berns said Stamford likely will have a large Hispanic community for years to come.

The city should respond by providing services to help them, Berns said.

"They're here to stay and they are our future," he said.

- Staff Writer Magdalene Perez can be reached at magdalene.perez@scni.com or 964-2240.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11286632