A new study says North Carolina's foreign-born population has nearly doubled in the past four years despite an economy that might discourage some from moving here.
The report was released by the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington-based group that favors tougher restrictions on immigration. It was based on US Census Bureau figures. The report found that North Carolina's immigrant population jumped from 373,000 in 2000 to 641,000 as of March. The center's research director, Steven Camarota, says immigration is a complex issue that's driven by many more things than the economy.
The report doesn't show where North Carolina's immigrants came from, but the 2000 census found that 40% came from Mexico. Experts in the state say Mexico is still the top country of origin, probably due to word-of-mouth from people who have moved here, then told their friends back home that it's a good place to live.
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