La Colina briefs for November 25

Group to examine the founding of center

A group examining the possibility of establishing a Latino center at the university met for the first time on November 13.

The group consists of nine students, seven faculty members and five administrators who will discuss the growth of cultural and ethnic groups at the university.

The group set five goals, the first four of which deal with promoting diversity at the university and the last has to do with determining the role of cultural centers, like a Latino center.

Ron Strauss, the president of the group and the associate executive provost of the unviersity, said that a Latino center will exist at UNC, but he still doesn't know in what form.

The center will probably use existing space at the university, instead of having its own building, Strauss said.

The group will have more meetings this year and will send recommendations to Chancellor Holden Thorp at the end of the school year.

Illegal immigration appears to be decreasing

According to various state and national indicators, illegal immigration in North Carolina is decreasing.

According to a new report from the Pew Hispanic Center, the national population of undocumented Latinos was lower this March, as compared to 2007.

In North Carolina there are various signs that the growth in the illegal population in the last ten years is diminishing.

The sheriffs' departments across the state have deported more than 3,000 undocumented immigrants this year.

There have also been more people seeking passports from the Mexican consulate in Raleigh.  A passport makes returning to a country easier for its citizens.

The drop in undocumented immigrants this year is being attributed mostly to the lack of jobs frequently filled by Latino immigrants.