Venezuelans in Houston - Is the community growing? (Galveston, Spring: home, school)

[RCH99]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

If the INS can't even give accurate numbers how do you expect me to give you an exact number? The only thing that is garbage is your naiveness to thinking the government keeps track of every single immigrant from a country that is currently experiencing an exodus. Explain to me exactly how the INS is keeping track of all Venezuelans moving here since you think they know everything.

And for the Venezuelans moving here from Miami, that's something well known within the Venezuelan community. I don't expect you to know this, as this community is likely unrelated to you, but it is still the truth of the matter.

What you don't seem to get, is that no one gives a rip. You have no swag.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

If the INS can't even give accurate numbers how do you expect me to give you an exact number? The only thing that is garbage is your naiveness to thinking the government keeps track of every single immigrant from a country that is currently experiencing an exodus. Explain to me exactly how the INS is keeping track of all Venezuelans moving here since you think they know everything.

And for the Venezuelans moving here from Miami, that's something well known within the Venezuelan community. I don't expect you to know this, as this community is likely unrelated to you, but it is still the truth of the matter.

Two things:


1) NO ONE is arguing that people don't move from Venezuela to Miami and then beyond. No one.


2) INS has the exact number of people who move to Houston legally from any country on earth. That number isn't up for discussion. You can debate the number from the census. It has a margin of error of 10%. But as far as the actual number of immigrants that move directly from Venezuela to Houston legally, that is completely known.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by Cowboys fan in Houston

Two things:


1) NO ONE is arguing that people don't move from Venezuela to Miami and then beyond. No one.


2) INS has the exact number of people who move to Houston legally from any country on earth. That number isn't up for discussion. You can debate the number from the census. It has a margin of error of 10%. But as far as the actual number of immigrants that move directly from Venezuela to Houston legally, that is completely known.

Ready your #2 one more time and capitalize Legally. Venezuela's crisis has brought many people here way more illegally than legally. And again, no government agency can keep track of even a remotely close number to that.

[SenorChip]

yes they can, just have to check airport entrances versus exits. is not easy but doable.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by SenorChip

yes they can, just have to check airport entrances versus exits. is not easy but doable.

No they can't. They can catch some but not most. And the numbers the INS give out don't include that group, which makes up the majority.

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by SenorChip

yes they can, just have to check airport entrances versus exits. is not easy but doable.

A lot of people just overstay visas. They are legal when they enter, but their visas expire and become illegal. Airport staff can stop someone if they think they're not serious about the reason they're entering, but that can only go so far.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

No they can't. They can catch some but not most. And the numbers the INS give out don't include that group, which makes up the majority.

The American Fact Finder would catch that group though. They dont distinguish between legal and illegal.

[lipbalm]

Originally Posted by Vicman

A lot of people just overstay visas. They are legal when they enter, but their visas expire and become illegal. Airport staff can stop someone if they think they're not serious about the reason they're entering, but that can only go so far.

This. Probably more people enter the country this way then being smuggled across the border. You really have to be desperate to try sneaking across. It's expensive, dangerous, and no guarantee you will make it. Overstaying a visa is so much easier and low risk.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by lipbalm

This. Probably more people enter the country this way then being smuggled across the border. You really have to be desperate to try sneaking across. It's expensive, dangerous, and no guarantee you will make it. Overstaying a visa is so much easier and low risk.

This is how we get most of our illegal immigrants. Its also why any notion of a border wall is stupid.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Anyway, on another note, here's what brings so many Venezuelans to Houston. The oil industry of course brought a lot of people to Houston in the early days (and it still does to a certain degree). And also Houston was a popular place to send people for medical reasons. I remember my family would talk about how much people they knew that got sent to Houston for its medicine. Those two things, and the fact that Spanish is spoken widely, and how Houston is close to the southern border made it a popular destination for Venezuelans wanting to get into USA.

Over the years, the community established more and more up until how it is today.