Carlos E. Garcia

Buscando trabajo: social networking among immigrants from Mexico to the United States

The growth of the Latino population in the United States has placed a sharp focus on immigration. Previous research on immigration has taken for granted the existence of immigrant networks. This is a significant oversight given their importance in both conveying social capital and their contribution to the growth of immigrant communities. Using data collected in the summer of 2002, the author looks at the development of an immigrant network in a rural town in northeastern Oklahoma. It is determined that the immigrant network in the community under study includes three distinct yet interconnected subnetworks, a traditional subnetwork, a church subnetwork, and a contract subnetwork. Although each of these secondary networks is made up of different social arrangements, they all provide similar services in a similar manner. The services provided within the greater immigrant network have increased the size, strength, and density of the local immigrant community.

The Role of Quality of Life in the Rural Resettlement of Mexican Immigrants.

The past 10 years have seen the continued growth of the Mexican-origin population in the United States. This growth has been accompanied by the movement of immigrants away from traditional settlement locations in the Southwest. Using data collected from 45 interviews with immigrant workers in Northeastern Oklahoma, this study explores factors that motivate the movement of Mexican immigrants to nontraditional locations. The study finds that along with economic and political variables, a search for a higher quality of life than is available in urban locations also plays a key role in relocation decisions. The availability of employment opportunities, housing, and low crime rates make rural America an attractive alternative to urban settlement.