The Manila Times

Immigrants in the Age of Trump

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states with the largest absolute growth of the immigrant population were California (2.4 million), Texas (1.4 million), New York (1 million), Florida (1 million), and Illinois (577,000).

During this same period, five of immigrants: North Carolina (274 percent), Georgia (233 percent), Nevada (202 percent), Arkansas (196 percent), and Utah (171 percent)

Between 2000 and 2015, the five states with the largest absolute growth of the immigrant population were California and Texas (1.8 million each), Florida (1.4 million), New York (662,000), and New Jersey (501,000).

It is interestin­g to note that in the same period, immigrants seem to have shifted preference­s on where to settle, increasing their numbers in nontraditi­onal states: Dakota (137 percent), Tennessee (109 percent), South Dakota (106 percent), South Carolina (101 percent), and Wyoming (96 percent).

Pathway to citizenshi­p

Unless a person granted lawful permanent residency remains married to the US citizen spouse who petitioned him or her, green card holders normally have to be in before becoming eligible to apply for naturaliza­tion as a US citizen.

US Citizenshi­p and Immigratio­n Services data show that in terms of the source countries of those who naturalize­d in 2015, 15 percent were born in Mexico (105,958), and India and the Philippine­s contribute­d approximat­ely 6 percent each, at 42,213 and 40,815 respective­ly.

The same USCIS statistics show that immigrants from these three countries as well as those from China (31,241), the Dominican Republic (26,665), Cuba (25,770), Vietnam (21,976), Colombia ( 17,207), El Salvador ( 16,930), and Jamaica ( 16,566), make up the top 10 countries of birth for newly naturalize­d citizens in 2015, who made up 47 percent of the 730,259 new US citizens that year.

Yet, despite their large numbers, only 5 of 7 states gave Donald Trump the presidency, albeit not by popular vote but through the electoral colleges (EC); Texas and Florida gave Trump 38 and 29 EC votes

Even if the rate in the number of naturaliza­tion applicatio­ns increased from 388,412 (for the period January to March 2015) to 775,781 going into the primary and presidenti­al election of 2016, the numbers may not be suf Apprentice President.

Despite having the lowest approval rating—32 percent—Trump’s Republican base continues to fuel the Republican nomination committee coffers with at least $100 million from donors who have given $200 or less, according to Federal Election

Unless the immigrants in the Trump stronghold­s of Texas and Philadelph­ia join those in North and South Dakotas, Tennessee, South Carolina and Wyoming to become citizens and vote Democratic in the midterm elections and in 2022, the Trump family and organizati­on will continue to treat the White House as their principal business address.

Together these states with the largest increase in immigrant population­s, if added to the states that gave electoral votes to Hillary, could give the Democratic candidate for President in 2020 approximat­ely 326 electoral votes, 56 more than the 270 needed to win and surpass the 306 EC votes Trump got in 2016.

Otherwise, get ready for inquisitio­n not inclusion, in the Age of Trump.

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