Texas leads nation in refugee resettlement

[diablo234]

Texas leads nation in refugee resettlement
By Tony Freemantle
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-te...nt-3623614.php
Published 08:44 p.m., Sunday, June 10, 2012

It could be that the weather has something to do with it, or that Houston has one of the lowest unemployment rates for a big city. Housing here is relatively cheaper than in other places, too, and while it's not an easy place to get around, one can do it with a little perseverance, which these newcomers have in abundance.

But ultimately, the main reason Houston, and Texas, are the No. 1 destinations for refugees seeking haven in the United States could simply be that the word is getting around. Thanks to word of mouth, more and more of the world's refugees lucky enough to qualify for resettlement in America are asking to come to Houston or Texas.

Last year, for the first time since at least 2000, more refugees - 5,623 of them, or 10 percent of the national total - were settled in Texas than in any other state, something, perhaps, to celebrate as this most-diverse of American cities this week marks World Refugee Day.

They come, literally, from virtually every corner of the globe, but the vast majority of refugees to the United States are now coming from Burma, Bhutan and Iraq - a demographic echoed by the people arriving in Houston.

Last year, a total of 56,419 refugees were settled in the United States, according to data released by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

click on link to read more....

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[desertpunk]

There was a big pipeline 20 years ago for Cubans in Albuquerque due to the efforts of Catholic Charities. I imagine they're pretty active in Texas.

[Dariusb]

I think this is really cool!

[diablo234]

Originally Posted by desertpunk

There was a big pipeline 20 years ago for Cubans in Albuquerque due to the efforts of Catholic Charities. I imagine they're pretty active in Texas.

Actually regarding the Cubans, Texas has been a huge recipient of Cuban Refugees as well in part because of the US wet foot, dry foot policy which curbed Cuban migration to Florida sharply, causing many to travel to Texas instead via Mexico.

Houston Press - Immigration: Cubans Enter U.S. at Texas-Mexico Border

[bayviews]

Originally Posted by diablo234

Actually regarding the Cubans, Texas has been a huge recipient of Cuban Refugees as well in part because of the US wet foot, dry foot policy which curbed Cuban migration to Florida sharply, causing many to travel to Texas instead via Mexico.

One thing though about Cuban refugees is that wherever their resettled, be it NYC, New Jersey, New England, or Texas, etc, most end up going down to Miami to enjoy life in Little Habana.