Talking West Virginia & Immigration
A really simple statement that has been getting a really strong response both online and on radio programs: West Virginia needs more West Virginians
If you haven’t already read, shared, and responded to my latest at West Virginia Watch that I’ve been privileged to do some media for, here is an excerpt from What West Virginia Needs Is More West Virginians
Statistically, however, West Virginia sees shockingly little of immigrants these days, or new U.S. citizens. Or immigrants of any type. Or, for that matter, much population growth of any kind. While illegal immigration and undocumented people remain the hottest of hot button issues, the Mountain State is far behind the rest of the country in legal immigration. The Department of Homeland Security reports West Virginia ranks 50th out the 50 states and four territories in naturalizations, 51 in lawful permanent residents, 50th in new arrivals, 52nd in nonimmigrant arrivals, 51st in those granted or legally pursing asylum and 51st in “adjustment of status” lawful permanent residents
Those rankings stand out for a state that was the only one in the latest census to lose population. Births are trailing deaths in West Virginia, which has the third highest average age of citizen, by just under 34,000 in the three year census period. There is some good news in that the net migration of folks coming and going has creeped to the positive by a bit, but every little bit helps.
Still, the reality is the Mountain State doesn’t have enough people and faces having even less with each passing year. Declining population has obvious downsides, like the loss of a congressional district and that representation and voting power in Washington, D. C. and in the economic impact of not having businesses or the workers to run them. But the ripple effect of the population loss is the undercurrent to most of the major issues in West Virginia like the constant consolidation of schools, fights over funding public services and PEIA, and the balance of funding and servicing an electorate that contributes less and less revenue from fewer and fewer citizens.
While the answers to West Virginia’s population woes should be “all of the above” to try and solve the people problem, immigration and naturalized citizens is a good place to start.
Read the whole thing here:
Anywho, the media:
I really enjoyed this conversation with Howard Monroe on the Watchdog Network morning show:
Dan Heyman had me join him on his Mountain State Update show on community radio WTSQ 88.1FM in Charleston, WV. We go for almost half an hour on immigration and West Virginia here. Great conversation.
