ABC 7 Project Immigration: The Changing Face of Arlandria
posted 6:19 pm Tue February 12, 2008 -
Anchor:
OUR PROJECT IMMIGRATION REPORT FOCUSES ON A COMMUNITY WITH A VERY HIGH CONCENTRATION OF IMMIGRANTS FROM EL SALVADOR. A FEW FAMILIES SETTLED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD DECADES AGO AND WERE FOLLOWED BY THOUSANDS OF FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. ANDREA MCCARREN TAKES US THERE.
Andrea McCarren:
THIS IS CHIRILAGUA, WHERE SPANISH IS WIDELY SPOKEN. RESTAURANTS FEATURE FOODS TYPICAL OF LATIN AMERICA AND LIVELY MUSIC DRIFTS FROM PASSING CARS AS WELL AS BUSINESSES.
Evelin Urrutia/Salvadoran Immigrant:
"When I get here, I just feel like I'm arriving to El Salvador. Everyone speaks Spanish. Almost every face you see is a Spanish person. The music is loud."
STORE SHELVES ARE LINED WITH TRADITIONAL SALVADORAN FOODS. SIGNS IN SPANISH ADVERTISE EVERYTHING FROM HAIRCUTS, TO TAX PREPARATIONS, TO PRE-PAID PHONE CARDS.
BUT CHIRILAGUA IS -NOT- IN CENTRAL AMERICA, BUT IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. OUTSIDERS REFER TO IT AS ARLANDRIA.
Andrea McCarren:There are now more Chirilaguans in Northern Virginia than in El Salvador. About 20,000 residents here, compared to fewer than 10,000 in El Salvador.
TRACK:
THE NEIGHBORHOOD EARNED ITS NICKNAME AFTER SEVERAL FAMILIES IMMIGRATED HERE FROM THE SMALL TOWN OF CHIRILAGUA, EL SALVADOR.
POLITICAL TURMOIL AND THE CIVIL WAR OF THE 1980'S DROVE THEM OUT.
Maritza Canas/Store Owner:
"This is the first place I came and I never went to another place."
TRACK:
WHEN SHOP OWNER MARITZA CANAS ARRIVED WITH HER PARENTS 25 YEARS AGO, SHE IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED SOME OF HER NEIGHBORS FROM EL SALVADOR.
Maritza Canas:
"People from Chirilagua, they know each other, they know me and they know my family."
TRACK:
THE MERINO FAMILY OPENED ONE OF THE FIRST SALVADORAN BUSINESSES HERE AND RECRUITED FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO FOLLOW THEM TO VIRGINIA.
Nery Merino/El Pulgarcito Restaurant:
"So we say okay come over here. We are all your friends right here."
TRACK:
THE AREA HAS SINCE BEEN A MAGNET FOR IMMIGRANTS. IN FACT, LIKE MANY NORTHERN VIRGINIA NEIGHBORHOODS, CHIRILAGUA IS CHANGING; ITS RESIDENTS, FACING A NEW WAVE OF IMMIGRANTS-FROM HONDURAS!
Latest Comment on ABC 7 Project Immigration: The Changing Face of Arlandria
PainfulTruth7
8:42 am on 03/01/08
This was a great story. One that shows the growth and contributiion of the immigrant community. All the businesses and money that goes into it from the community is tremendous for the economy. That place is nothing like it is was ten years ago. It has been renovated, new plazas have gone up, and new playgrounds have been made for kids to play at. Those people in that community are directly responsible for the vast growth. Some may feel uncomfortable to see there communites fill with foriegners. I know it's scary thought for some but get used to it. Times are chaning and nobody can stop that.
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