Latinos Revitalizing the Great Plains

Pretty good Times piece on the rapidly growing Latino populations in the Great Plains. Of course, a lot of the local whites are outraged. On the other hand, their towns are literally dying. Latinos are bringing them back to life. The Times piece only references in passing why Latinos are migrating to these particular places–hard, dangerous jobs, particularly in meatpacking, petroleum, and ranching. The first two are the real growth generators. The meatpackers moved out here in part to escape unions and have recruited immigrant labor as low-wage replacements. The petroleum industry of course follows the resources and is currently spurring population growth across the western plains, from North Dakota to Kansas. What the article does mention is the desire for rural living among people who came from small towns in Mexico and Central America, which is interesting.