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Immigrant Demographics of Guilford County
Regions of the World that Contribute to our Local Population
The Caribbean & Latin America
Cuba: Cuban refugees have been resettling in Greensboro since the mid 1980's, many fully acculturated. There are an estimated 200 to 300 Cubans in Guilford at this time.
Caribbean: A coalition of Caribbean community groups representing various island nations collectively represent about 50 families or 250 people. About 20 Haitian people with refugee protections have also resettled in Guilford.
Hispanic/Latino: This is by far the largest and growing immigrant group in Guilford and across North Carolina. Hispanics/Latinos are becoming the largest ethnic minority in the US. North Carolina was the largest in-migration state for Hispanics in the year 2000. According to the 2002 and 2003 estimates of Latino population in Guilford County published by Faith Action Inc, there was a 4% increase in Latino population between those years, and in 2003 the population was 26,981. Though there were not follow up studies using this method, we can estimate that if population continued to increase by 4% annually, the current Latino population would be approximately 29,182. Other studies indicate the rate of increase may be even more. This dramatic Hispanic/Latino increase is sufficient to move Guilford County and much of North Carolina into becoming a bilingual and bicultural state.
US Citizens: There is an undetermined number of native born Latino US citizens from Puerto Rico and the southwest US who have migrated to this area, primarily because of job opportunities. Many experience some of the same cultural barriers as immigrants.
Refugees: While most Hispanic/Latinos are not refugees, most Cubans came as refugees and the US has also begun resettling some Colombians as refugees. Some Central Americans have also received asylum status after coming to the US, meaning they are entitled to the same protections as refugees because of a well founded fear of persecution in their home countries.
Latin American Immigrants: The predominant immigrant population across North Carolina is a growing and diverse Hispanic/Latino population. Over two thirds of these immigrants are from Mexico, though it is thought that all 26 countries are represented. Most Hispanic/Latinos have arrived since 1990. Growth is expected to continue as long as economic opportunities prevail. Poverty in Latin America, family and home village connections, and the availability of jobs in North Carolina affect migration patterns.
Guest Workers: Many farm workers, especially from Mexico, are brought here through contracts with the Department of Labor for agricultural work. Though here legally, guest workers have few protections and restricted rights, and are under the control of contractors who regulate their travel and contacts.
Undocumented: It is not known what percentage of the immigrant population is undocumented, and this population can include immigrants from any country though the public often associates this status with Hispanic/Latinos. Most Hispanic/Latinos are here legally. Some families have migrated annually to participate in agricultural harvests for generations and now, because of poverty and unemployment in their home countries, have found ongoing jobs here. People who enter the US without legal documents or those who overstay their visa time limits or fail to inform the Bureau of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly known as INS), of change of address, may be undocumented. Some people are undocumented because the USCIS has failed to process their legal paperwork in a timely manner.
Social Class Status: Social class is a very important consideration in many Latin American countries, more important than race or ethnicity. It is an important dynamic in working with Hispanic/Latinos.
* Middle class business people, professionals, and students are a small but significant part of the Hispanic/Latino population in the Guilford area. Many of these people are from South America. Because of their bilingual skills and social status, they are often sought out as the Hispanic/Latino representatives for various community activities. They are sometimes placed in the difficult situation of speaking on behalf of the large working class population from Mexico where there are different values and cultural traditions.
* Working class Hispanic/Latino non-refugee immigrants, who are at-risk because of language, discrimination, culture, economic and political barriers, represent the largest population. Very complex documentation issues and Latino fear of authority linked with the USCIS, greatly hinders relationships with this growing immigrant population. Many cultures are represented in Guilford County, including indigenous people from Latin America who speak tribal languages. Many construction workers are contract workers who have no benefits. Some have dropped out of the migrant farm labor stream because of the economic opportunity for settled residents. Some see their work here as temporary and expect to rejoin families in Latin America as soon as financially feasible.
The Hispanic/Latino population poses some of the greatest opportunities and challenges for acculturation. They are at the core of the North Carolina economic boom of the nineties as farm, factory, and construction workers. Their taxes finance many of the state's services and resources but those who are not citizens are barred from using many of these services. They now have young children born here who are US citizens, growing up as bilingual and bicultural North Carolinians. These youth will be the state's investment in the future as we move further toward being a global economy and a bicultural state.