After Raid, Laurel's Inter-Racial Bonds Still Strong

New America Media by Marcelo Ballvé | Oct. 13, 2008 (News Report)

Some signs of this interweaving are visible: the local Wal Mart stocks Jarritos-brand Mexican soft drinks and jars of mole sauce. Good old boys don't hesitate to recommend dinners at La Casita, one among the half-dozen or so Mexican restaurants that already outnumber barbecue spots. Full Story »

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3.6

by Jim Lang - Oct. 13, 2008

This is a well reported story on the ethnic makeup of Laurel, Mississippi and the situation and opinions after the ICE raid of the Howard Industries transformer plant. It is clearly sympathetic to immigrants but paints a good picture of their integration into society and provides counter examples to the picture of racial divide that emerged immediately after the raid.

I am personally not bothered by Hispanic immigration but agree that we shouldn't have laws that we routinely ignore. I believe that immigration from Latin America is economically driven and accommodated; therefore, any solution must start by addressing the economics. I also believe that so long as an economic driver exists, building walls and conducting raids are wasted endeavors.