Thread: NC:Latino summit kicks off

Latino summit kicks off
With increased immigation, officials recognize the "future of the state."
June 27, 2008 - 9:19PM
Chris Lavender
Staff Writer

GREENVILLE - The state's Latino leadership met Friday at East Carolina University to discuss how to bolster efforts to improve immigrants' economic opportunities.

About 300 people gathered at the Murphy Center for the first Mexican and Latin American Leadership Summit in North Carolina. The summit was presented by the Associations of Mexicans in North Carolina.

More than 700,000 Latinos currently live in the state, which has seen a staggering 595 percent increase in Latino immigration from 1990 to 2008, according to Angela Sanbrano of the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities.

Undocumented immigrant workers alone contribute $220 billion to the nation's gross domestic product annually, Sanbrano said.

"The South is seeing a tremendous immigration transformation," she said. "Seventy-five percent of the nation's agricultural labor force is Mexican."

The influx of Latino and Mexican immigration has contributed to a growing undocumented workforce for many small rural southern communities. Currently, there are about 12 million undocumented immigrants in the nation, Sanbrano said.

During the summit, Dr. Helen Marrow of Harvard University discussed the impact of documented and undocumented immigrants on Eastern North Carolina's infrastructure.

From 1980 to 1984, 18 percent of Mexican immigrants moving to this nation were undocumented, she said. From 2000 to 2004, 85 percent of Mexican immigrants moving to this nation were undocumented.

This influx was due to changes in the nation's temporary work visa requirements in the mid-1980s and tougher border enforcement which actually increased the number of undocumented immigrants staying in the United States, Marrow said.

Marrow also said the influx of Mexican immigrants to North Carolina has helped stabilize some rural counties which have seen declining population growth. Immigrants come to the state looking for jobs in food processing, construction, and agribusiness, she said.

Several officials from Lenoir County attended the summit, including Pride of Kinston Executive Director Adrian King.

"This is the future of our state," King said. "There has been a long history of tension in immigration movements. In 10 years we will look entirely different and it's good we are able to talk about it."

Summit leaders agreed with King's observations. J.R. Peralta, Association of Mexicans in North Carolina President and Lenoir Community College Director for Continuing Latino Education, said community organizers need to work better to protect the rights of Latino residents.

"Support and build alliances," he said. "Help us foster leadership."

Groups from California, Texas, Florida and Honduras attended the summit, which included panel discussions on the Economic Benefits of Building Latino Leadership as well as African-Americans and Latinos Uniting for Social Justice.

Chris Lavender can be reached at (252) 559-1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com.

Mexican and Latin American Leadership Summit 2008

· 700,000 Latinos currently live in North Carolina.

· Undocumented immigrant workers contribute $220 billion to nation’s gross domestic product annually.

· Changes in temporary work visa permits have contributed to influx of undocumented immigrants.

· From 2000 to 2004, 85 percent of Mexican immigrants moving to United States were undocumented.

http://www.enctoday.com/news/summit_477 ... atino.html

If there is no way to ascertain how many illegal aliens we have, where do they get their numbers? Where is the proof that illegal aliens contribute one dime to the economy? We certainly know they take way more than they put into it.

From 1980 to 1984, 18 percent of Mexican immigrants moving to this nation were undocumented, she said. From 2000 to 2004, 85 percent of Mexican immigrants moving to this nation were undocumented.

So they are admitting that most mexicans here are illegal aliens?

Groups from California, Texas, Florida and Honduras attended the summit, which included panel discussions on the Economic Benefits of Building Latino Leadership as well as African-Americans and Latinos Uniting for Social Justice.

And what about everyone else? They don't count or matter?

About 300 people gathered at the Murphy Center for the first Mexican and Latin American Leadership Summit in North Carolina. The summit was presented by the Associations of Mexicans in North Carolina.

Oh brother! Another latino lovefest where everyone rallys around to pamper, coddle and generally promote opportunities for illegal invaders.

Is there any possibility this will also be the LAST illegal invader leadership summit?

More than 700,000 Latinos currently live in the state, which has seen a staggering 595 percent increase in Latino immigration from 1990 to 2008, according to Angela Sanbrano of the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities.

And the liars are still spouting 12 million....unbelieveable!! 7 years after 9/11 and the 12 million figure first came up.

fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me....1986 and 1996 was enough you will not fool me a 3rd time.

Originally Posted by NoBueno

About 300 people gathered at the Murphy Center for the first Mexican and Latin American Leadership Summit in North Carolina. The summit was presented by the Associations of Mexicans in North Carolina.

Oh brother! Another latino lovefest where everyone rallys around to pamper, coddle and generally promote opportunities for illegal invaders.

Is there any possibility this will also be the LAST illegal invader leadership summit?

I know, it's like, Oh...another one! Can't they just fax in the demands to Ted Kennedy and John McCain. Keep it simple like a stupid liberal.