During a gathering in Pennsylvania, vice presidential hopeful Tim Walz remarked that Pennsylvania and Minnesota share a “long history of being home to Puerto Rican and Latino families who opted to establish their lives in our states and boost our economy.”
“The presence of these families in our state and our nation enriches us every day. And during this Hispanic Heritage Month, Vice President (Harris) and I honor the collective contributions of Puerto Ricans and the broader Latino community,” he added.
Puerto Ricans embraced in Minnesota
In Minnesota, there are approximately 20,000 individuals of Puerto Rican descent, with 65% residing in the Twin Cities. Nearly all of them are proficient in English, and 60% communicate only in English. Their median yearly income is around $65,000, with 24% earning $100,000 or more. An impressive 93% of adults have graduated from high school, and 38% hold college degrees.
Puerto Ricans rank as the second-largest demographic within Minnesota’s Hispanic community, following Mexicans. Nevertheless, the percentage of Puerto Ricans in Minnesota remains relatively small. Some individuals migrated from Puerto Rico to Minnesota during the 20th century when it was typical for agricultural laborers to divide their year between the Midwest and the Island for the winter months. There was also some influx during the mid-20th century as Minnesota’s industrial cities sought manufacturing labor.
Most of the Puerto Ricans currently residing in Minnesota, however, relocated to the northern state following Hurricane Maria.
The climate in Minnesota often proves to be a daunting adjustment for those from Puerto Rico, and new arrivals today report facing challenges when attempting to use their Puerto Rican identification with local businesses whose employees are unaware that Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. But Minnesota’s businesses view the arrival of new Puerto Rican residents as a potential remedy for the state’s worker shortage. Recruiting workers in Minnesota offers economic prospects to those feeling constrained in Puerto Rico and injects diversity into rural Midwestern communities. A Minnesota government website advises outreach efforts also target Puerto Ricans residing in Florida, given that “that state also endured the devastation from hurricane Irma, and its economy and education systems may face difficulties due to the influx.”
The website further states, “Other early settlement areas, such as the New York-New Jersey region or Hartford, Connecticut, also lag behind Minnesota in terms of economic opportunities. The outreach initiative aimed at Puerto Rican families on the island should be expanded to encompass Florida and other states where challenging local conditions may drive these newly arrived families to seek relocation elsewhere.”
Tim Walz
Governor Tim Walz, who is currently campaigning as the running mate for presidential candidate Kamala Harris, has a notable record of advocating for Puerto Rico. While serving in Congress, he co-sponsored a bill for the Island’s statehood admission and championed disaster aid. Governor Pierluisi of Puerto Rico acknowledges that Tim Walz “has consistently been a friend to Puerto Rico.”
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