Thread: NC-Southern cities are attracting more immigrants

Southern cities are attracting more immigrants
FRANCO ORDONEZ
Published: October 31, 2009

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carola Cardenas left her native Venezuela twice to live in the United States. Both times she moved to cities that have long attracted large numbers of immigrants, first to Los Angeles, then New York.

But after four years living in the shadow of Manhattan in nearby New Jersey, Cardenas, 36, and her husband decided to plant some roots elsewhere. They chose Charlotte -- far away from any traditional immigrant gateway.

"We had the idea of forming a family," she says. "We now have a daughter. And we were definitely looking for what would be the best place to raise a child."

The family's story reflects the path that many immigrants, here legally or not, are taking -- from U.S. urban enclaves, filled with immigrants who share their language and culture, to Southern cities such as Charlotte that offer appealing and affordable suburban lifestyles.

A study published this year by the New York-based Center for an Urban Future found that a growing number of successful immigrants in New York are moving to Southern cities that boast a lower cost of living and a better chance to achieve middle-class goals such as homeownership and sending their children to college.

Analysts say the trend reflects immigrants' greater assimilation and movement up the economic ladder. It also reflects new migration patterns that have been created as large numbers from ethnic communities have spread into regions that traditionally had very little diversity.

"What we're seeing is in the bigger, more established cities -- Los Angeles, New York, Chicago -- those places have become more limited, so immigrants are looking for opportunities elsewhere," says Audrey Singer, an immigration specialist at the Brookings Institution. "If you look at the density of New York versus Charlotte, the housing prices, school issues and the range of quality of life, some immigrants decide to take a chance." Cardenas, who became a U.S. citizen last year, lives in a two-story, four-bedroom house in South Charlotte with her husband, Miguel, 38, a graphic designer, and daughter Amelia, 3. They paid less for the house than any one-bedroom condo they considered buying in New Jersey.

Cardenas, a membership and fundraising director for a YMCA branch, said they realized quickly that "we were not in New York anymore." But they were encouraged to hear Spanish on the radio, see a few stores and restaurants catering to immigrants, and learn of growing numbers of Latino businesses opening that possibly could use Miguel's services as a graphic designer.

Cardenas first moved to Los Angeles when she was 4 years old. Her mother moved there to study English and initially stayed because of economic changes in Venezuela. They returned, however, when she was 16.

Cardenas moved back to the United States in July 2000. They picked New Jersey because Miguel's brother lived there, and she found a job at a New York law firm. They found an apartment in an immigrant neighborhood in West New York, N.J.

They loved the activities, the sense of camaraderie and the friends they made in New Jersey. But when they decided to start a family, they knew they wanted better job opportunities, more space and better schools.

"We fell in love with Charlotte," Cardenas said. "It's not so tranquil that you're out in the middle of the boonies, but you still have the city life." North Carolina's Latino population has soared since the 1990s, growing more than 1,000 percent. But it's not just Latinos moving from the Northeast. High-tech professionals from India, teachers from Africa and others from throughout the world are moving to Charlotte after stops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami.

Such change prompted the Levine Museum of the New South to dedicate a yearlong exhibit, "Changing Places: From Black and White to Technicolor," to the influx of people from around the world.

Pamela Grundy, curator of the exhibit, heard from several immigrants, including a man from India, that Charlotte reminded them more of home than the urban areas they left.

"The slower pace of life," she said. "The way people interact with each other. To some degree the focus on religion. It feels more like what they grew up with."

Detroit resident Roberto Sanchez travels to Charlotte often on business. He has long wanted to move to the region, saying the pace reminds him of life back home.

"The weather is very similar to Mexico," he said. "You don't need as much money. People are calmer, more easygoing."


http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/lifes ... 08/302380/

So sorry to hear that the illegals are invading the south now.

Lets have some more of that "path for more people to enter our country--and work here -- Doug Hoffman, liberal conservative candidate for Congress in NY-23rd.

Originally Posted by ELE

So sorry to hear that the illegals are invading the south now.

They aren't just invading, they're taking over! I live in rural NC, when I go shopping I RARELY hear English anymore. I am seriously considering just going back to Canada for good.

If Canada weren't so cold, I would be there in a minute.
I have been grumping for years that many of those not speaking English, not planning to assimilate, or even thinking about becoming citizens unless it is handed to them under another amnesty are draining our resources while contributing nothing equal to what they suck out of here.
I just wonder when it will be politically feasible to arrest and deport these lawbreakers, as neither the Republican or Democrat administrations have seemed interested in doing what is right for their constituents.

Latino population has soared since the 1990s, growing more than 1,000 percent

that is why I call this an invasion NOT immigration

Pamela Grundy, curator of the exhibit, heard from several immigrants, including a man from India, that Charlotte reminded them more of home than the urban areas they left.

"The slower pace of life," she said. "The way people interact with each other. To some degree the focus on religion. It feels more like what they grew up with."

Detroit resident Roberto Sanchez travels to Charlotte often on business. He has long wanted to move to the region, saying the pace reminds him of life back home.

"The weather is very similar to Mexico," he said. "You don't need as much money. People are calmer, more easygoing."

So what were their reasons for leaving their homeland?

Originally Posted by uniteasone

Latino population has soared since the 1990s, growing more than 1,000 percent

that is why I call this an invasion NOT immigration

Which make it a national security issue, right? Seems to me that's what it is, a national security issue.

And here I thought I was the only one--who noticed that our country is loaded, yes loaded with Latinos, most of whom I can safely assume are here illegally since our immigration policies do not allow as many as are here.
I offer any American this challenge--go to Mount Kisco NY, or its general area including Putnam county. Go to Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford, New Haven. The government is BSing you and even the good guys are underestimating. I say and I stand by it that there in excess of 25 million illegals in the country counting there families.

I live in Georgia--go to Smyrna, they had to pass atown ordinance that all busiess signs will include English decriptions od what their business is,. Go to Lawrenceville--go to the mills in Dalton. See all the jobs that Americans USED to do until they were displaced for cheap labor. Got to Collinsville AL. See the trailer city full of illegals that work the poultry industry.

How in heaven's name can we wake up our corrupt politicians??? How can we curb this unwanted growth that will forever change the fiber of America.

Call me a racist if you will--I do not want animal sacrificing residents living in my town. I do not want children who cannot speak English and hold back my grandchildren or yours from advancing in education as well as we did when we were young. And , darn it, I do not want to pay for it either. I am not a missionary. I am not here to administer charity to the rest of the world. I will gladly share AFTER-my fellow Americans get theri seat in the boat. If there is no room after that, let them fix their own countries and create a positive friendly economy for fair trade and wealth for all.

I, once again, feel helpless since I know that here, I preach to the choir. If all Americans would sit down and estimate what will happen to America in a few short years when all these third world folks get to make governmental decision, when all the "anchor babies' are in elective office and completely open the borders. While they spawn at a rate higher than legal citizens and take over our country. While the bleeding heart liberals, who never see their own end coming, tell us we must share what we have with those that THEY decide we will share it with. Is that America????? The churches see their pews filling with those who put their contributions in the basket. The great bishops and clergy and the liberals who fawn over them to build their congregations. They revel in the adulation as the undereducated immersed in God-fear illegals turn to them for succor and advice . These Princes of the church who would steal the job from a legitimate citizen to have another poor unfortunate look up at them in doglike worship for the help they give them. That help, is at the cost of Americans. That help is for the churches to enrich themselves at the expense of American citizens. I do not turn my back on Jesus. I am a Christian. I never read that Jesus said--"go thee into the merchants' shops. Take the bread and the fishes you need. Then go thee to the vineyard. Make free with the grapes and the wine of the vintner for the wealth of the working people is to be taken from them and shared with those who do not have the skill or the will to do it for themselves. They do not say--"Go to Vatican City. Stay as long as you wish. Dine with the Cardinals and the Pope.

Analysts say the trend reflects immigrants' greater assimilation and movement up the economic ladder. It also reflects new migration patterns that have been created as large numbers from ethnic communities have spread into regions that traditionally had very little diversity.

They are not assimilating, they are taking over more and more towns across this nation, when they open businesses, that is where they shop and do business so they don't have to learn english.

Do you see any diversity in LA? but then once it is all Hispanic, Latino or people from central American ( call it what you want) no one seems to care that they are not diverse any longer.