Thread: SC: Hispanic population an integral part of work force

Hispanic population an integral part of work force
By CLIF LeBLANC - cleblanc@thestate.com
Gerry Melendez/gmelendez@thestate.com


Carolina Nieto, left, and Emelia Garcia wait for customers inside Novedades Las Tres Hermanas, a Hispanic clothing store on U.S. 378.

One of the most noticeable changes along U.S. 378 is its robust Latino flavor.

Hispanic workers and the businesses that service them stretch, in rising numbers, from West Columbia westward to Batesburg-Leesville.

Latinos comprise much of the work force in chicken processing plants that anchor both ends of the thoroughfare.

Hispanics also are the laborers in produce fields, construction companies, landscaping operations and many other businesses.

Sarah Adames and her husband have provided insurance and a wide range of other services along 378 for five years.

Adames, whose family is from the Dominican Republic, estimates the Latino population along the road to be in “the thousands,â€

[b]Critics of illegal immigration are closing their eyes to the contributions of Latinos, she said. “No (North) Americans are going to work for six dollars (an hour) to cut up chicken.â€