Just curious, why so many migrants & refugees in the twin cities? (Minneapolis: unemployment rate, high school)

[harrishawke]

I did notice quite a diverse group of people from around the world stopping by MSP. Is there a proactive movement in the local government to sponsor them vs other cities?

https://www.twincities.com/2018/01/1...ugee-cutbacks/

[Ghengis]

Originally Posted by harrishawke

I did notice quite a diverse group of people from around the world stopping by MSP. Is there a proactive movement in the local government to sponsor them vs other cities?

https://www.twincities.com/2018/01/1...ugee-cutbacks/

they were first asked if they wanted to be placed in Seattle but said they didn't care for the damp and gloomy environment around there

[my54ford]

Originally Posted by harrishawke

I did notice quite a diverse group of people from around the world stopping by MSP. Is there a proactive movement in the local government to sponsor them vs other cities?

https://www.twincities.com/2018/01/1...ugee-cutbacks/

Minnesota has a long (my lifetime) recent history of welcoming refugees......

Hmong in Minnesota | Minnesota Historical Society

(of course this is my opinion but I think we owed it to them to give them a place to live after Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.)

I'm not sure how the Somalis got a foot in the door but here's what WIki says...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histor...0%93Saint_Paul

[Glenfield]

They’re placed here. https://www.lssmn.org/services/refugees/services

[Citykid3785]

In general, MN has always been more of a welfare state, refugee or not.

I remember working in restaurants in high school, all of the kitchen staff was from Mexico or Latin America. I asked them...."why MN and not closer to home, like Texas?" Simply put, wages. He claimed they were paid 2x as much as they would be paid for low skilled jobs in the south. And their sole goal was make as much money as they could and send a portion of it back "home". As for the large Hmong and Somali populations, I can't speak to the specific history there but it looks like others have posted some good resources.

[Hulsker 1856]

Let's see...

Minnesota is welcoming.

Minnesota's economy is excellent - we're a high-wage state with a median cost of living and a diverse economy that invariably has a significantly lower unemployment rate than the national average.

High quality of life (education, health care, parks, etc.).

Sure, the weather sucks much of the time, but I don't think your average refugee who just spent four years in a camp in some third-world hellhole is too concerned about some snow and cold.

[The Old Scowl]

There is a book that was published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press titled "They Chose Minnesota", that while not current (it was published in 1981), can shed some light on earlier immigrant and refugee groups.

[treemoni]

It allows Minnesotans to believe they're hospitable and welcoming without having to do the actual work of being hospitable and welcoming. It also helps them artificially inflate those "diversity" percentages so they can avoid discrimination lawsuits. It's a perfect plan when you think about it. Helps the "liberal" facade as well.

[Thedosius]

Originally Posted by Hulsker 1856

Let's see...

Minnesota is welcoming.

Minnesota's economy is excellent - we're a high-wage state with a median cost of living and a diverse economy that invariably has a significantly lower unemployment rate than the national average.

High quality of life (education, health care, parks, etc.).

Sure, the weather sucks much of the time, but I don't think your average refugee who just spent four years in a camp in some third-world hellhole is too concerned about some snow and cold.

Minnesota also has a population that is very civic-minded in relation to the rest of the country and there are large numbers of organizations (often church-based/related) ready to assist recent immigrants. Also, the Center for Victims of Torture is based here- https://www.cvt.org/where-we-work/minnesota - and since refugees often come from war zones handling survivors of torture is taken into consideration when they are placed.

[nickerman]

People always tried to be different from everywhere else. They allow all those refugees in and vote for two muslim political leaders. When people wonder why all this is happening the Minnesotan just smiles knowing that he or she doesn't know either.