Marshallese American
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (22,434 (2010 estimate)) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Hawaii · Arkansas (mainly in Springdale) · Spokane (Washington) · Costa Mesa (California). | |
| Languages | |
| Marshallese language · American English language | |
| Religion | |
| Protestantism (Baptists) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other American groups of Micronesian origin (Chamorro, Palauans, Micronesians) |
Marshallese Americans are Americans of Marshallese descent or a Marshallese naturalized in U.S. According to the 2010 census, 22,434 people of Marshallese origin live in the United States. This country has the largest population of Marshallese outside the Marshall Islands. Most of Marshallese live in Hawaii and Arkansas (mainly in Springdale, AR).
In 1986, the Marshall Islands and the United States established an agreement, the Compact of Free Association, according to which the archipelago attained its full sovereignty. The treaty allows United States to provide defense, "social services and other benefits to the Marshall Islands" in exchange for military bases on the islands.
Under this treaty, Marshall Islanders can also travel and work in United States without having visas, although they must be legal permanent residents following the same terms that other nationalities. Because they are entitled to travel and work in the U.S., few Marshallese immigrants seek citizenship.
Immigration from the Marshall Islands to the United States began in the 1980s. Additionally, when numerous layoffs occurred in the Marshall Islands in 2000, there was a second wave of migration of Marshallese in the U.S.
Most of them emigrated to Hawaii and Arkansas. When Tyson Foods, the largest poultry meat distributor in the world, had already employed many people in the Marshall Islands, many Marshallese were relocated to Springdale, Arkansas, the world headquarters for Tyson.
Some Marshallese came to United States looking for educational opportunities, particularly for their children. Other Marshallese sought a better work environment or better health care that they could not find in the islands.
Furthermore, since 1996 many Marshallese children's were adopted by American parents. Between 1996 and 1999, over 500 Marshallese children were adopted by them. Adoption is due to social marginalization and economic poverty suffered by the population of the archipelago, as well as the understanding of Americans on the historical relations that unite both countries.
Most Marshallese Americans reside in Hawaii and Arkansas. Arkansas is home of approximately 4,300 or 6,000 Marshallese, according to different estimations, whom reside mostly in Washington County (mainly in Springdale), compared to 7,400 living in Hawaii. So, Springdale has the largest Marshallese community in the continental United States and the city's 2005 special census shows the Marshallese population in the city at about 2,000 people, although other estimates put the number as high as 6,500. Most of them migrated to Springdale to work in permanent jobs in the Tyson Chicken plant. In addition, at least, most them emigrate with legal status to United States.
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Wikipedia