http://www.texastribune.org/2014/02/21/amarillo-struggles-handle-influx-refugees/

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More international refugees were resettled in Texas in 2012 than in any other state, according to the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Now local officials are worried that Amarillo’s refugee population is straining the Panhandle city’s ability to respond to 911 callers who speak numerous languages and to help schoolchildren learn English and adapt to a new culture.

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quote:

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Many find work at area meatpacking plants, which often pay $14 an hour, Lohony said.

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A year or two ago, a carload of just-off-the-boat Somalis, turbans and all, drove out to the local meat packing plant to apply for jobs. Not speaking or reading English, they just headed out NE of Amarillo and joined the line of cars entering the gate.

Unfortunately for them, that particular line of cars was headed in for the day's work at the Pantex Nuclear Weapons Plant.

Welcome to America! Now sit there on the curb in handcuffs staring into an M-16 while the nice men go through your car from top to bottom.

Canyon,

knowing the geographics involved in your story. That is one funny story. And having grown up with some of the folks who carried those weapons out there, it makes it even funnier. I am sure they made quite a presentation of the incident.

Try etter

This is rough on the schools, one school has kids with around 60 different native languages

My mom has taught in AISD for nearly 30 years in a predominantly spanish speaking elementary and has told me that they are having trouble keeping up with new languages coming in as of late. My younger brother is an Americorps student and works on the NE side of town. His school has something like 14 different languages spoken at it.

because of Route 66 and the RR Amarillo always had a lot of "transients". What is now Amarillo Blvd (NE 8th St) was bumper to bumper inexpensive motels from the days of the Dust Bowls until I-40 was built... Then, that entire area kinda wilted.

For some reason the AISD allowed themselves to be encompassed by many other school districts and now finds themselves trapped with no expansion opportunities.