INDIANAPOLIS — Immigrants living in Indiana reacted positively to the Supreme Court’s ruling on Arizona’s anti-immigration law.

“It was good news. We definitely agree with the court’s decision. We are pleased,” Marlene Dotson, president and CEO of the Indiana Latino Institute, told RTV6’s Jenna Kooi.

The ILI is a nonprofit organization that focuses on health and education issues affecting Latinos in the state.

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“I think people believe that ‘oh, these immigrants are stealing all these jobs,’ ” he said. “We don’t see that here.”

Malenke said there’s a real need for laborers — in dairies, hog confinements, poultry farms and general construction, too.

Not only are immigrants helping buoy the farm economy, but their children are American citizens — they’re part of church communities and schools and sports teams.

“There’s a lot of progress in these communities, I mean in Sioux Center they’re going to build a hospital, a $48 million hospital.  And that’s the kind of things that are happening in these communities, which tells you that businesses are doing well,” he said.

And when communities do well — it gives everybody options. The kids of these immigrant workers – just like other rural kids in the Midwest, are not all going into farm work.  Some want to be doctors, teachers and business owners.  And just like generations before — because of their parents’ hard work, they’ll have that opportunity.

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“I think people believe that ‘oh, these immigrants are stealing all these jobs,’ ” he said. “We don’t see that here.”

Malenke said there’s a real need for laborers — in dairies, hog confinements, poultry farms and general construction, too.

Not only are immigrants helping buoy the farm economy, but their children are American citizens — they’re part of church communities and schools and sports teams.

“There’s a lot of progress in these communities, I mean in Sioux Center they’re going to build a hospital, a $48 million hospital.  And that’s the kind of things that are happening in these communities, which tells you that businesses are doing well,” he said.

And when communities do well — it gives everybody options. The kids of these immigrant workers – just like other rural kids in the Midwest, are not all going into farm work.  Some want to be doctors, teachers and business owners.  And just like generations before — because of their parents’ hard work, they’ll have that opportunity.

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Minnesota Food Association’s  Executive Director Glen Hill describes his organization’s efforts as a “small business incubator.’’ Since 2007 they have taught 100 immigrant and minority persons how to operate financially viable organic farms and will expand on that at their Spring Open House  May 12.

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As the debate over immigration continues to roil the Republican presidential field, a substantial majority of Americans say they would prefer to allow some or all illegal immigrants to remain in the United States, the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll has found.

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When asked what should be done with the roughly 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, just 25 percent of those polled said that they should all be deported “no matter how long they have been in the U.S.”

“It used to be that something happened in Beardstown, and people would blame it on a Mexican,” Walters said. “But, if you look at the numbers, there’s really no difference in the rate of crimes between Hispanics and whites in our city. It’s just not the case.”

Researchers Mark Mather and Kevin Pollard of the Population Reference Bureau, a nonpartisan research organization, say that Latino immigration has helped revive the populations of small townssuch as Beardstown all across the Midwest and Great Plains. Between 2000 and 2006, the researchers found that total population in small towns and rural areas increased only by 3 percent, while Hispanic population grew by 22 percent. Since 1990, the Hispanic population in small towns and rural areas has more than doubled.

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MUNCIE, Ind. (WANE) – A Ball State University study shows Indiana adults – especially women, Hispanics, African-Americans and the poor – are suffering from asthma in record numbers…[more]