DO YOU KNOW…
- That the first immigrants who came to what we call North Carolina, came between 10,000 and 14,000 years ago?
- The first peoples migrated from Siberia, crossing the Bering Straits into Alaska and continued migrating south and east over several centuries. We don’t know what things motivated them to leave their homeland- war, famine, floods, or just a curious nature.
- That the first European language spoken in what we now call North Carolina was Spanish?
- In the 1500’s the Catholic Church in Spain sent missionaries along with conquistadors to the new world to establish missions on the east coast. One of those missions was in the Wilmington/Cape Fear area of North Carolina.
- That the longest international border in the world between two countries is the US/Canada border?
- It is 5,525 mile long and is essentially undefended and often unmarked, though border agents do check papers and require Passports at major road crossings. In comparison, the US/Mexico border is only 1,933 miles.
- That parts or all of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah used to be part of Mexico?
- The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo brought the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) to end and it’s terms included ceding 55% of Mexican territory to the US.
- That the term “chain migration” refers to the primary criteria in immigration policy for the United States?
- It is traditionally called “family immigration” and is based on the understanding that the best factor for integrating newcomers into the US is to accept people who have family members who already live here and are successfully integrating into US society.
- That more Montagnards live in North Carolina than anywhere else in the world outside of Vietnam?
- These tribal peoples from the highlands of Vietnam fought along with the US Army Special Forces during the Vietnam War, and members of the initial fighting group received refugee status after the war. The Montagnard population in North Carolina has now grown to an estimated 15,000 people.
- That the North Carolina farm economy is dependent upon between 100,000 and 150,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers to maintain our strong agricultural economy?
- Agricultural officials believe that a majority of these farmworkers are undocumented.
- That between 2016 and 2018, the number of refugees coming to North Carolina DECREASED by 67%?
- The number of refugees resettled to North Carolina in Fiscal Year 2016 was 3,342 and in Fiscal Year 2018, that number dropped to 1,140. (cite: https://ireports.wrapsnet.org/)
- That between 2016 and 2020, the number of refugees being resettled in the United States will DECREASE by over 80%?
- The number of refugees resettled in the United States in Fiscal Year 2016 was 84, 995 and in Fiscal Year 2020 the proposed ceiling (max) is 18,000. (cite: https://ireports.wrapsnet.org/)