110% growth in Hispanic population in Jones over six years

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps ... /709160302
By NANCY KAFFER and DAVID McRANEY

State and county estimates released by U.S. Census Bureau last week show a significant increase in the Pine Belt's Hispanic population since 2006, a fact some officials say has also contributed to an increase in crime.

The largest increase occurred in Jones County, where the Hispanic population more than doubled from 1,272 to 2,678. Other notable increases include Lamar County, where the Hispanic population grew by 53.9 percent, Pearl River County where it rose by 49.3 percent, and Forrest County where it increased by 36.4 percent.

Although the growth has been high, the Hispanic population still makes up only a small percentage of Pine Belt counties' total population. For example, in Jones County Hispanic residents make up 4 percent of the total population; while in Forrest County Hispanic residents make up just more than 1 percent of the total population.

The census figures were calculated using public records, which cannot account for all illegal immigrants.

According to Jones County Administrator Charles Miller, the 110 percent increase in the Hispanic population did not come as a surprise.

"Anyone who spends any time driving around Laurel or Jones County can certainly tell there are a lot more here than five years ago," he said. "On some streets, that is all you see."

Miller said he suspected the large poultry industry in Jones County was behind the surge in the Hispanic population because they "certainly are not coming for white-collar type jobs."

Miller added he felt the surge in the Hispanic population was creating a burden on local law enforcement and necessitated more traffic stops, more arrests and a need for interpreters.

Jones County Sheriff's Lt. Jerry Hutcheson, who has been with the department for 20 years, said the increase in the Hispanic population had followed familiar trends.

"At first, they seemed to more often be the victims," Hutcheson said. "Then we saw more Hispanic-on-Hispanic crimes, with assaults and domestic violence. It's the typical stuff; they are learning everything from the Americans here."

Hutcheson said the greatest increase concerning Hispanic crime involves traffic offenses.

"We have two or three hit-and-runs and wrecks each week," he said. "I would say 80 percent (of the people responsible) are illegal at least, and every time I run into one they have no documentation."

The Rev. Roberto Velez of Iglesia Cristiana Peniel (Peniel Christian Church) in Laurel said it's hard to count the Hispanic population and he believes the increase could be higher than 110 percent in Jones County.

Velez said he has estimated there are 500 Hispanic families living in his area of Laurel alone and that Hispanics are being born very rapidly.

"If you just take a census at the hospital of them being born, you'll find that it's a large number," he said. "When you do that, you'll find that it's more than people expected it to be."

Lamar County Administrator Chuck Bennett listed the low cost of living, coupled with a healthy job market, as factors in his county's population growth. Lamar County's total population showed an 18.3 percent increase 39,070 to 46,240 - greater than the increase in Forrest, Covington, Jones, Marion, Pearl River and Perry counties.

"Opportunity, it's got to be opportunity," he said.

With regards to the increasing Hispanic population, Bennett said: "We're adding diversity. I saw reports the other day that in Lamar County schools over 13 languages are spoken, so we are becoming a very diverse community."

Growth won't impact long-term residents, Bennett said, if county officials plan well.

"I think we've done a fantastic job of keeping up, and we've done a lot of these things by budgeting and planning ahead of times," he said.

Forrest County Board of Supervisors President Billy Hudson said he was concerned about the 36 percent increase in the Forrest County Hispanic population because it could mean there has been an increase the number of illegal immigrants in the county.

"This is part of an issue the state has to address," Hudson said. "I'm not opposed to immigration. My great, great granddaddy was an immigrant from somewhere. I'm opposed to illegal immigration."

Hudson said any increase in population would result in an increase in crime.

"These folks just want jobs; the honest people do, and there is a lot of construction going on," Hudson said. "As long as they are legal, God-fearing and patriotic, I have no problem with them, but I don't want anybody's criminals."

American staff writer Terry L. Jones contributed to this report.