Immigration in Nebraska
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Agricultural Leadership, Education & Strategic Discussions for Nebraska Communication Department 2008 Immigration in Nebraska Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/sdn "Immigration in Nebraska" (2008). Strategic Discussions for Nebraska. 3. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/sdn/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Strategic Discussions for Nebraska by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. STRATEGIC DISCUSSIONS FOR nebraska Immigration in Nebraska KFSBOPFQVLCB?O>PH>¨ FK@LIK LIIBDBLC LROK>IFPJ>KA >PPLJJRKF@>QFLKP @HKLTIBADBJBKQP Strategic Discussions for Nebraska is grateful to its funding organization – the Robert and Ardis James Family Foundation in New York. Their financial support and their guidance have made this project possible. Strategic Discussions for Nebraska benefits from the involvement and advice of an external advisory board. We wish to express appreciation to the board members: Jonathan Brand, J.D., President of Doane College in Crete Dr. Eric Brown, General Manager of KRVN Radio in Lexington Dr. Will Norton, Jr., Dean of the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications Dr. Frederik Ohles, President of Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln Dr. Janie Park, President of Chadron State College, Chadron Harvey Perlman, J.D., Chancellor of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln James Seacrest, Retired Newspaper Publisher, Lincoln Jose Soto, J.D., Vice President of Affirmative Action, Equity and Diversity, Southeast Community College Area, Lincoln Lyn Wallin Ziegenbein, J.D., Executive Director, Peter Kiewit Foundation in Omaha We also wish to thank the ex-officio external board members: Terry Fairfield, Vice Chairman University of Nebraska Foundation Ralph James, Executive Director of Executive Education Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Massachusetts Dr. Robert James, President Enterprise Asset Management, Inc., New York, New York Cathy James Paglia, Director Enterprise Asset Management. Inc., New York, New York Strategic Discussions for Nebraska also appreciates the advice and involvement of the faculty and staff of the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications and of Associate Professor Frauke Hachtmann’s Campaigns class in the fall semester of 2007. The collaborative involvement of both faculty and students from this college have helped add perspective to this complex topic. We are grateful to the committee of College of Journalism and Mass Communications faculty who advised us on this project: Tim Anderson; Dr. Charlyne Berens; Kathy Christensen; Michelle Hassler; Dr. Will Norton, Jr.; Dr. Linda Shipley; Amy Struthers; Front cover images from left to right: and Dr. John Wunder. Crete, Nebraska Omaha, Nebraska Lexington, Nebraska Scottsbluff, Nebraska B>OB>ABOP Immigration Strategic Discussions for Nebraska is a grant- funded research project located in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass in Nebraska Communications. The project began July 1, 2007, and performs studies on topics of national interest and how they affect Nebraska and the people who live here. Group discussions in selected communities encourage the public to be involved in improved statewide communication. PROJECT OVERVIEW Through these qualitative studies and discussions, we 4 . Introduction hope Nebraska can be a key player in raising national 6 . Nebraska Demographics awareness and thus, affecting national policy on these topics. 7 . Definitions We researched immigration for the project’s initial 8 . Nebraska’s Immigration History study. We selected Scottsbluff, Lexington, Crete and 10 . Covering the New Nebraska Omaha and looked at the impact immigration has had on 12 . Immigrants and Refugees those communities. We selected these communities for specific reasons: 13 . An Employer’s View t4DPUUTCMVČoCFDBVTFPGJUTHFPHSBQIJDBOEQFSDFJWFE cultural distance from the capital of the state, but also because its history with immigration goes back for nearly 150 years FOUR NEBRASKA COMMUNITIES t-FYJOHUPOoCFDBVTFPGUIFDIBOHFTUIBUDPNNVOJUZ 14 . Scottsbluff has experienced since the Tyson meatpacking plant 16 . Lexington located there in 1990 18 . Crete t$SFUFoCFDBVTFPGUIFTNBMMTJ[FPGUIFDPNNVOJUZ the changes it has experienced since the Farmland 20 . Omaha meatpacking plant located there in 1975, and also because of Doane College’s long academic presence in the community t0NBIBoCFDBVTFPGJUTTJ[F IJTUPSZXJUIEJWFSTJUZ IMMIGRATION RESEARCH federal designation as a primary resettlement site for 22 . Reading List on Immigration refugees and also because of its geographic and perceived cultural distance from other parts of Nebraska 23 . Other Organizations We spent hundreds of hours, traveled thousands of miles and conducted scores of interviews from many perspectives in each community. We studied the long history of immigration in Nebraska and used it as a comparison to today’s issues. The summary of our findings, selected stories and a STRATEGIC DISCUSSIONS FOR nebraska list of additional readings are included in this magazine. This is only part of the information collected during this Director. Mary H. Garbacz Design . Adam Wagler study. Please go to our website: www.unl.edu/sdn to read Research . Jalele Erega all the stories written from interviews across the state, as Zenebe Beyene well as view photographs and video clips. As you read and view this information as a whole, consider whether you Strategic Discussions for Nebraska still believe immigration is a problem in Nebraska, and College of Journalism and Mass Communications also consider possible solutions. We suggest you contact 133 Andersen Hall the officials on the community, county, state and national University of Nebraska–Lincoln levels and share your thoughts and possible solutions with Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0443 them. I welcome your comments on this study and your Tel: 402.472.3075 suggestions for future studies. Fax: 402.472.8597 If you would like additional copies of this magazine, www.unl.edu/sdn please contact me. Sincerely,y Mary GarbaczGarbacz, Coordinator Strategic Discussions for Nebraska [email protected] 402.472.3075 IMMIGRATIONIntroduction Summary of Qualitative Research Findings After visiting with nearly 100 individuals and hosting several Charles Isom, Communications Director for Congressman conversations statewide about immigration, the Strategic Discus- Adrian Smith, who represents the 3rd District; and with Josh sions for Nebraska research team has learned some interest- Moenning of Congressman Jeff Fortenberry’s office – Forten- ing information. A summary of this information follows here; berry represents Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District. The SDN overviews of Scottsbluff, Lexington, Crete and Omaha are in- team also visited with David DiMartino, then-Communications cluded, along with a selection of the collected stories – they were Director for Senator E. Benjamin Nelson, and with Todd Wilt- selected because the information may help to understand the gen, State Director for Senator Chuck Hagel. All are very much depth and breadth of the issue in Nebraska. Additional stories, aware that the “one-size-fits-all” approach to immigration does video clips and still photographs may be found on our website: not work for Nebraska, or for states similar to Nebraska. www.unl.edu/sdn. Two of the major issues are fortifying the border with Mexico Federal data indicate that, of today’s immigrant worker popu- and identifying the people who are already in the United States lation, 50 percent come to the U.S. from Mexico; 25 percent from and what they are doing here. Since September 11, 2001, much of Latin America; and 25 percent from Europe, Asia and Africa. the focus has been on terrorists possibly coming into the U.S. via Some are able to work in the U.S. legally; some are not. Public the country’s southern border. In addition to determining wheth- perception is based on superficial knowledge, SDN research er undocumented entrants into the U.S. have terrorist ties, federal shows, and the fear of the unknown or unfamiliar may have a authorities are looking at drug smugglers, traffickers in humans, great influence on the topic of immigration. The public can’t tell gang activity and people who bring in and sell counterfeit goods. the difference between a worker who is in the country legally and Conversations about building a wall across the border be- one who is not; they can’t tell the difference between people from tween the U.S. and Mexico draw varied comments. One Lincoln Mexico and people from Guatemala, for instance, even though employer asked “who will they get to build the wall?” knowing there are major differences. In addition, the public may be dis- that immigrant labor is used for much of U.S. construction. seminating and perpetuating myths through the newest technol- Chuck Karpf of Scottsbluff is Discovery Program Director for the ogy and techniques available. John N. Harms Advanced Technology Center of Nebraska, and commented recently, “If they’re going to close the border with Media Influence Mexico, they should close the Canadian border, too.” The immigration issue is far larger and more complex than most people can imagine, both in Nebraska and nationwide. Understanding Words, Culture There is a lack of education