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Salt Lake City Utah Hispanic Immigration
SALT LAKE CITY - Immigration is changing the complexion of communities across the USA. As it sweeps through Utah, traditionally one of the least diverse and most conservative states in the nation, its impact is particularly dramatic. About 98 percent white until 1970, Utah is becoming a mini-melting pot.
Utah is attracting Hispanics to this reddest of red states. Among them: the Mormon Church's philosophy of outreach and its embrace of large families.
These influences have helped give the state a reputation of being warm and welcoming to immigrants. Utah allows the undocumented to drive legally with a "driving privilege card." They can attend public colleges and universities and pay in-state tuition. Minorities -- mostly Hispanics -- make up 16.5 percent of the population, up from 8.8 percent in 1990. They could reach 20% by 2010. Hispanics are driving the growth among minorities here. The state's black and Asian populations also are growing but more slowly.
Family values and the church's worldwide proselytizing and mission work in Latin America have attracted immigrants and potential converts to Utah. The church offers English classes throughout the state. It has held dinners for Hispanic leaders and has 114 Spanish-speaking congregations in Utah.
Immigration in Utah: 25,000 people marched in a pro-immigration rally here in April, "I think it frightened people," says Maria Garciaz, executive director of Salt Lake Neighborhood Housing Services, a non-profit group that finances and builds affordable housing on the increasingly diverse west side of Salt Lake City.
Abogados September 17, 2006 06:55 PM | Hipotecas | Preguntas Para Abogados
