Immigration Law

Hispanic Population Continues To Increase

By Robert Kraft

As reported in today's Dallas Morning News, the growth of the Latino population in the United States and in Texas is continuing at a rapid pace. Here are excerpts:

The percentage of Hispanics in Texas and the nation grew again last year, continuing a trend that has endured throughout the decade, new statistics show.

Today, the U.S. Census will release population estimates showing that Hispanics in the U.S. numbered 45.5 million in 2007, an increase of 1.4 million during the yearlong period beginning in July 2006. In Texas, the number of Hispanics has grown to make up 36 percent of the state's population, up from 32 percent in 2000.

Among the census' other findings:

• Hispanics made up 15.1 percent of the 301 million U.S. residents in 2007, compared to 12.5 percent eight years ago.

• In terms of births and migration into the United States, Hispanics arrived in numbers three times those of non-Hispanic whites.

• Since the last census, Texas has added 1.9 million Hispanics, or five of every eight new Texans.

Moreover, experts say, the trend won't end soon: The median age of non-Hispanic whites in Texas last year was nearly 40 years old, compared to about 27 for Hispanics. The disparity in most other states was larger.

Also, as immigrants learn English, they'll assimilate in terms of American culture and friends, and marry non-Hispanics, the experts said.

Full post as published by Immigration Law Answers Blog on May 01, 2008 (boomark / email).