In 2002 planning began for the Second National Consultation of CMFN.  Several key changes were envisioned since the first Consultation that was held in 1996:
1) To included rural immigrants, as well as Migrant Farmworkers, since in many rural areas over 50% of immigrants do not work directly in agriculture;  2) To actively recruit from the farmworker and rural immigrant leadership that CMFN had worked with over the last decade--this meant extensive fundraising to provide travel for over 3/4 of the participants; 3) To prepare the groundwork for the Consultation with a National Survey to both dioceses and individual immigrants; and 4) Create a highly participatory process to give voice to farmworkers and rural immigrants.

National surveys were sent out, several times from 2004 through 2006, due to changes in personnel within dioceses and CMFN.  It took nearly two years to collect the information. In the end there was a response from 67 dioceses and over 2,000 individuals.

Results from the surveys reflect the reality for rural immigrants across the United States.  Both the diocesan and individual surveys indicated that overwhelming numbers of rural immigrants are from Mexico--between 65% to 76%.   Even though this is an extremely young population - the median age is slightly less than 29 years - the majority of those surveyed were married (58.5%).   Yet most live in the United States as solitary individuals--nearly 40% do not have a spouse present and 59% of both men and women live apart from one child or more.  The consequences of split families are devastating on both sides of the border.

The growing population of new immigrants in the rural United States, particularly in new regions in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Central Plains States, are nearly all newcomers.  Fifty percent have been in the United States five years or less with 59% in the United States for the first time.  The vast majority indicate that they plan or hope to return home but nearly 30% hope to stay in the United States indefinitely.  Many immigrants interviewed--over 35%--indicated that they would be returning home but did not know when.

Table 1.
Occupations of Migration for Migrants and Rural Immigrants,
CMFN national Survey 2004-06

Agriculture                 29.5%
Factory                      14.6%
Slaughter Houses       11.3%
Processor                  11.0%
Construction                9.6%
Restaurant                  7.4%
Cleaning Services        6.0%
Livestock                     5.1%
Home                          2.2%
Other/None                  3.3%                    

As highlighted by the above table, the occupational composition of rural immigrants is changing dramatically.  Gone are the days when rural immigrants were synonymous with farmworkers.  Now the varied occupations of new immigrants are expanding as family farms are decreasing and urban sprawl is increasing.

The following table is the result of the needs assessment of the 2004-2006 study:


Table 11.
Needs Assessment for Migrants and Rural Immigrants,
CMFN national Survey 2004-06

English (ESL Classes)            68.7%
Immigration Assistance         60.2%
Wage Increase                     48.3%
Education General                42.9%
Legal Assistance                   41.2%
Spiritual Growth                   39.5%
Transportation                      39.1%
Health Assistance                 30.6%
Housing                               28.8%                         

The full report from the study will be published in the next CMFN newsletter and in the final report from CMFN Second National Consultation.