North Carolina Gateway to the World - World View

North CarolinaGateway to the WorldWorld View 2012 Community College Symposium UNCChapel Hill, Nov 14, 2012North Carolina : Gateway tothe WorldPresentedbyRaleigh Bailey, Ph.D.Director, UNCG Center for New North CaroliniansWith Assistance from Khem Khatiwada and Ghaisha Yahaya-MuhammedAmeriCorps ACCESS Members, UNCG- CNNC

15,000 years ago: the first Americans1600’s: Colonial era, first Europeans and Africans1700’s and beyond: secondary migrationNorth Carolina’sImmigrant HistoryWorld War II and beyond:• Creation of United Nations and UNHCR• Migrant Workers: Growing Latino population• 1965 Immigration Reform Act• Vietnam War aftermath• Refugee Resettlement Act of 1980• Development of Ethnic Enclaves• 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act• 1990’s Economic Boom and Globalization• 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and ImmigrantResponsibility Act

Why People Migrateto the United StatesFamily reunifications and relativesEmployment opportunitiesRefugees and asyleesNon-immigrants: students, tourists,temporary workers…

The Refugee Process Refugees are resettled through nationally approved resettlementagencies under contract with the U.S. Department of State andtheir regional affiliates. Follow up services are provided through contracts with the federalOffice of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and the State level throughthe Office of the State Refugee Coordinator with the NCDHHSDSS. NC has 8 resettlement agencies with 10 offices. Activities arefocused on the Triad, Charlotte, and the Triangle with someresettlement in Craven and Buncombe counties.

The Refugee ProcessContinued In an average year, NC resettles about 2000 refugees, concentratedin the in the Triad, Charlotte, and the Triangle NC ranks as the 10 th largest State in the number of refugeesresettled annually. It is considered a model state in “success” of therefugees here. Refugees may petition to become LPR’s after a year and requestresettlement of family members.

NC Hispanic/LatinoGrowth 800, 000 Latinos in NC Represents 25% of NC’s growth in the last 20 years Represents 8.4% of NC population Latinos have grown by 111% in last ten years Native births have now overtaken migration NC is the 11 th largest State in terms of Latino population 61% are from Mexico; 13% from Central America; followed byother smaller %s Latinos are in all NC counties but the largest populations are in: Mecklenburg: 112,000 Durham: 36,000 Wake: 88,000 Guilford: 35,000 Forsythe: 42,000 Cumberland: 30,000

Secondary Migrants A term used to depict people, particularly immigrants moving from onepart of the U.S. to another. This becomes a major part of demographics asnewcomers move within the country, trying to find the best fit andsupportive community. In NC, the Hmong tribal people from Laos came as refugees after theVietnam War, have picked NC as a major secondary migration site, withclose to 15,000 people living in Western Piedmont, Hickory, and Morgantonareas. This makes NC the 4 th largest Hmong settlement State. Most of theseHmong moved here from other States. Another example is Russian and Ukrainian populations in the Ashevillearea, most of them coming as secondary migrants. Other cities have smallclusters building on the “Ethnic enclave” process.

Newcomer ImmigrationStatus Newcomers, non U.S. citizens, may have various types of statuswhen they come to the U.S. The system is complex, confusing, and broken. However, below aresome of the common categories. International visitor-temporary visa (not classified as immigrant) International student Out of status, undocumented, “illegal”. Temporary work visa Employment visa: might eventually lead to LPR Status Refugee or asylee (someone who meets UNHCR and DOS definitions of fleeingwar or oppression and accepted to U.S.) After a year, this can transition to LPR.

Legal PermanentResident (LPR) Also known as “Green Card” holder even though the card is notgreen: goal for newcomers who want to eventually transition tobecoming a U.S. citizen. After 5 years as an LPR, with good moral character, meetingphysical presence and residency requirements, a person mayinitiate the citizenship application. S/he must be at least 18 yearsof age and successfully pass the U.S. citizenship test. An estimated 70,000 to 80,000 NC LPR’s are eligible for citizenshipand the number is expected to continue to increase dramatically. THE GOAL: Naturalized U.S. Citizen

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