Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Question for Bolivianists

I am doing work on Latin American immigration to the South. Looking at the latest DHS statistics on naturalization, Bolivians do not show up, except for Virginia. In fact, the number of Bolivians becoming naturalized citizens is second only to Salvadorans in Virginia.

Why is that? Obviously, VA includes the DC suburbs, but does that affect Bolivians more than people from other countries? Or is there some particular attraction in VA? Or just chain migration?

8 comments:

Miguel Centellas 4:54 PM  

Second to Salvadorans? Huh. I thought we (Bolivian-Americans) were first in that area.

To answer your question: I'm not entirely sure. Certainly there are a number of political emigres (including both those who fled dictatorships and those who have stayed after diplomatic appointments ran out). But the relatives I have in the area don't fit that bill (they just came like most immigrants: looking for a better life). It is, however, a very tight knit community. So people tend to move up there, bring large extended families, and then settle.

But I also don't know. I just always knew that it was a HUGE community. Also, that Raquel Welch is Bolivian-American.

Greg Weeks 5:05 PM  

OK, I will have to dig a bit more. It is not a major point, but was something I wanted to explain. From your description, it may be largely chain migration.

Didn't know Raquel Welch is Bolivian-American.

Anonymous,  7:36 PM  

I too wondered why so many Bolivians in Greater DC (lots in MD side as well). There are, apparently, a good number in Chicago as well, and smaller community in Miami (my first experience with Bolivians in the US), but the size of those communities pale in comparison to DC's. I heard it say that most Bolivians in Northern VA are Cochabambinos and, also, that literally entire communities from Bolivia's boondocks were reconstructed over the years in Northern VA (I think that last was Bolivian hyperbole, but who knows?). From my experience, Bolivians in the greater DC area tend to be of lower socio-economic class than the ones in Miami. All I really know for sure is that they have great soccer leagues and that you can't walk a block in Arlington or Annandale without tripping over a saltena that some gringo threw down in messy frustration. If you ever find out the answer to your question, please post it.

Anonymous,  9:53 PM  

Greg: What is the upshot of your study? A book, paper, article? Fascinating stuff. Would love to have a read when you're done. I imagine you'll wind up posting at least some of the findings here(?)

Viva Raquel. Hermosa todavia.

Greg Weeks 7:42 AM  

It is a book, the draft of which is roughly 3/4 done, and should be done by the end of the year. It looks at the intersection between demography and politics--search for "demography" in the blog for posts that mention it. Also, many of the issues I've raised in posts on immigration are finding their way into the book in one way or another.

Boli-Nica 6:17 PM  

That is (relatively) recent. When Bolivia classified for World Cup 94 the celebration in some Virginia suburbs caught the cops totally by surprise.

There is a sizeable Bolivian contingent in Santa Ana in Orange County and in the LA area. There were Bolivians established in Southern California when my dad moved to his aunt's in the early 60's. That is around the same time Mr. "stand and deliver" also moved to that part of the US.

Chicago and Houston. There is an old line, with quite a bit of truth to it: "There are more Bolivian doctors in (pick one) Houston/Chicago than in Bolivia."

Anonymous,  8:13 PM  

"There is an old line, with quite a bit of truth to it: "There are more Bolivian doctors in (pick one) Houston/Chicago than in Bolivia."

Must be true. The only two Bolivians I've ever met from Chicago are both doctors.

But maybe the scales have tipped thanks to the influx of Cuban doctors to Bolivia. :)

Miguel Centellas 10:46 AM  

There is actually a well established Bolivian Medical Association in Chicago.

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