Immigration in Dutchess County, NY

Immigrants in Dutchess County

Dutchess County is home to nearly 300,000 people, about 11.2% of whom were born outside of the United States. Immigrants come from a variety of countries including the United Kingdom, China, and Sweden. 

For example, the city of Poughkeepsie is home to a substantial Mexican community, many of whom are from the state of Oaxaca in the south of the country. Oaxacans bring with them a rich culinary heritage – Oaxacan cuisine is famous for its unique and vibrant flavors, as evidenced by dishes such as mole, mezcal, and spiced chocolate. Nicknamed “Little Oaxaca” by some, Mexican immigration to Poughkeepsie has helped to stabilize the city’s population, which had been in decline.  

Immigrants in the Technology Field

Many immigrants in Dutchess County work in the county’s important technology sector. In 2022, for example, President Joe Biden visited IBM’s campus in Poughkeepsie to learn about the company’s work in semiconductors, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. The U.S. faces a shortage of high-skilled workers in these fields, and has relied on highly-skilled immigration to fill the gap through programs such as the H-1b visa and EB-1 and EB-2 green card pathways. With IBM investing $20 billion in the Hudson Valley over the next years, the firm will need to hire more highly-skilled immigrants working in the field, many of whom will call Dutchess County their home. 

Agricultural Workers in Dutchess County

Dutchess County is an important agricultural producer, with many farms, orchards, and wineries that provide healthy food for the Hudson Valley and beyond. Many of these workers are immigrants without lawful status. While official numbers are hard to come by, perhaps half of the 55,000 farm workers in New York are undocumented, with few options for legalizing any time soon. Agricultural firms rightly state that they hire immigrants because it’s difficult to find Americans willing to do the physically demanding work. 

The H-2a agricultural visa allows farms to hire temporary agricultural workers from abroad, but the program has considerable limitations. Many immigrant workers in Dutchess County face an uphill (if not impossible) battle to eventually becoming American citizens. 

Dutchess County Immigration Lawyer

If you live or work in Dutchess County and are exploring your immigration options, it’s important to speak with an experienced attorney. Please get in touch today: +1 845-288-2435 / beaconimmigrationlawyer@gmail.com. 

 

Beacon Immigration PLLC is a law firm located in the Hudson Valley of New York at 6 Eliza Street, Suite 5, Beacon, NY 12508 (Dutchess County).