Immigration tide continues to rise in county

Published: Saturday, July 03, 2010


By KEITH PHUCAS
Times Herald Staff


Part one of a three-part series: COURTHOUSE — In the past decade, the number of illegal immigrants has continued to rise in Montgomery County — particularly in Norristown, which has the highest number of Mexican nationals — and the newcomers continue to test the limits of medical services, public schools and law enforcement, according to local officials.

Despite criticism, many have positive things to say about immigrant-owned restaurants and retail stores that have sprung up to brighten Norristown’s urban landscape.

But with Pennsylvania and its counties facing budget deficits, many wonder how long government can continue to subsidize the burgeoning low-income population that is straining vital services. Currently, state legislators are considering a more restrictive law mirroring Arizona’s to stem the tide of the undocumented settling in the state.

In an award-winning Times Herald series on illegal immigration by Joseph Gidjunis in 2003, the number of immigrants then living in the Norristown area, the great majority natives of Mexico, was estimated at 12,000, by Miguel Dones of Conecciones. Current estimates range between 10,000 and 20,000, depending on the source.

Acción Comunal Latinoamericana de Montgomery County (ACLAMO), a social services agency operating in Norristown since 1976, estimates between 15,000 and 20,000 Latinos reside in Norristown and Bridgeport combined.

“We don’t know exactly how many there are,â€