http://rdu.news14.com/content/top_stori ... ArID=92889

TOP STORIES
Saturday October 21 2006

Study: Immigrants send a billion dollars away from NC
10/20/2006 4:42 PM
By: Tim Boyum

RALEIGH -- This week a report claims that immigrants in North Carolina will send back a billion dollars to their home countries this year alone.

At the same time, thousands of immigrants are trying to fit into North Carolina jobs and schools. It's creating a complicated web of problems for schools and state officials to work out.

On Friday, hundreds of educators and leaders from across the state joined together to try and find better ways to reach out and teach to Hispanic students.

"The Hispanic population is very new in North Carolina and we have seen that a lot of people within the schools need to know more and learn more about this population and how we can help them be better in school," Marco Zarate from the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals said.

It is well documented the Hispanic population has exploded since the 1990's and the state, local school districts, just about everyone, has been scrambling to deal with it.

Studies show about 600,000 live in North Carolina and contribute about $9 billion to the economy.

"Really this is something that has a true impact on everybody in this state," Zarate continued. "I mean, the more educated people we have in this state would be better for everyone in North Carolina."

Studies also point out about 45 percent of that population is here illegally and a study this week shows immigrants will send at least a billion dollars to Latin America this year alone.

It adds fuel to the fiery argument over what to do with the country's immigration issues.

"Employers that hire illegal aliens are supposed to be fined; the border is supposed to be secured," said William Gheen of Americans for Legal Immigration. "Our problem right now is not the need for new legislation; it's non-enforcement of our existing laws."

They are issues that have no easy solutions and will only get more attention politically as we get closer to a gubernatorial and presidential election in 2008.