Background Information
Immigration has been a controversial issue in America for nearly all of the nation’s existence. Since virtually all Americans have immigrated from one place or another either recently or in the past, cultural intolerance has and always will be an issue of confusion for many. Although a majority of immigration to America and the Fox Valley occurred before the middle of the twentieth century, issues regarding the practice still are prevalent today.
When Appleton was first settled during the nineteenth century, the masses who arrived shared virtually no similarities to each other, outside of the fact that they were primarily white. Even under such conditions, where the immigrating masses shared the same skin color, problems still arose between those who considered themselves to be natives of the new nation, and those who were new arrivals (see prohibition excerpt). Virtually all were looking for a new place to live in order to secure a better means of life. Today’s immigrants share the same dream.
In the last thirty years (from roughly 1970-present), Hmong (Laotian immigrants) and Latino immigrants have composed the two fastest growing ethnic groups in the Fox Valley. Although each group shares similar goals for their new lives in America, each presents different reasons for leaving their homelands. Sometimes, due to cultural misunderstandings, immigrants from these groups are exposed to prejudice from the surrounding community. Other community members, however, have proved to be very helpful.
Perhaps one of the largest problems facing Hmong and Latino immigrants in the Fox Valley is that for nearly one hundred years, the area has been predominantly white in composition. European settlers, as well as those from the Eastern U.S., who were first in settling the area, created a community that remained almost 100% white up until as recently as 30 years ago. According to state census reports, even up until 1970, the East Central region, which includes the cities of Appleton, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac and Waupaca, had a white population totaling over 99%.
The Hmong: Hmong immigration to Wisconsin began following America’s withdrawal from the Viet-Nam War in 1975. Hmong fighters from the mountains of neighboring Laos had been employed by America’s CIA to fight for American interests immediately outside of Viet-Nam, with the promise that they would be provided for by America’s government after the fighting was over. As sentiment against the conflict grew in the US, the American government decided to pull out of Viet-Nam, leaving Hmong soldiers who had fought for them in great danger.
The Hmong chose to help America in a conflict that they most likely would never have been involved with otherwise. Their participation prevented many American deaths as well as a possible diplomatic disaster since the areas in which they were employed to fight were outside of the conflict’s designated borders. Although some were allowed to immigrate to the U.S. in the 1970’s and 1980’s, others were made to wait in refugee camps that had been set up in Thailand. Recent decisions by the Thai government have declared that the nation’s largest camp, Wat Tham Krabok as well as many others will be shut down. Hmongs in Thailand are unable to return to their native Laos under fear of being killed by their own government. The last hope for many is to be allowed to immigrate to the U.S..
Latino Immigration: Latino immigration is most prevalently represented by Mexican immigrants in the Fox Valley. Several Mexicans have moved to Wisconsin because of the state’s abundance of jobs. Many are employed around the Wautoma area either seasonally or all year, working in the agricultural industry. Conditions in their own country are extremely bad, and many who hope to move to the U.S. to find jobs face conditions in their homeland that can be explained as appalling at best. Usually, either young people or partial and whole families immigrate to the United States in hopes of finding a better way of life.
Enough Hmong and Latino immigrants have come to the Fox Valley in the last thirty years that community support groups have been set up for both groups. Federal, and local governmental agencies have been designed to help some immigrants adjust to their new lives. At the federal level, informative services are offered to new citizens through the Department of Homeland Security, such as US citizenship and immigration services. At the local level, Appleton has created a multi-cultural center, and both government and independent agencies have converted some documents and web-sites into both Spanish and Hmong languages.
In addition, immigrants who have been in America for a while are actively trying to help new arrivals adapt socially. Services such as Latino Link, , the Hispanic Culture Coalition, and the Hmong American Alliance provide some comfort to recent immigrants by providing them with familiar aspects while adapting to a new and sometimes difficult world. Also, local churches have implemented religious services in either Hmong or Spanish as well. Two of these churches are the Hmong Alliance church at 303 North Oneida street, or St. Therese, which offers services in Spanish at 213 E. Wisconsin street.
Often when they arrive, new immigrants are not extremely familiar with the English language, but are willing to learn. It is a myth that immigrants receive a lot of government aid. Many are employed and pay taxes to the state and federal government, even to social security, which they are not entitled to receive as non-citizens. A large number of immigrants work multiple jobs in many labor areas where many “Americans” refuse or choose not to work in. Virtually all immigrants want to become American citizens, but increasing pressure has made it hard for new arrivals to obtain citizenship.
Simply arriving in the United States does not provide immigrants with citizenship. This is especially important to note in regards to Latino immigrants. Although many are “documented” (meaning they have work-visas), they are not citizens. Due to large numbers of immigrants arriving from Mexico every year, massive restrictions exist that make it very hard for many Mexicans to obtain citizenship. For many, the application process takes a very long time to formalize, anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
In some way or another, many Fox Valley residents are immigrants. With the exception of those who can claim ancestry from Native American roots, nearly everyone in the area, state, and even nation, are originally from somewhere else. America is a unique nation that is built upon ethnic diversity.
