Elsmere's Latinos keep a low profile

Councilman John Jaremchuk has proposed that people encountered by the police who cannot provide proof of residency pay a fine:

Jaremchuk was inspired to pitch the plan, he says, after riding along with police officers and witnessing how often people could not provide police with a valid drivers license, identification or proof of insurance.

"It's amazing to me the number of individuals who have no legal right to be in this country," he said. Jaremchuk also cited growing gang activity and property damage.

Elsmere has growing populations of new immigrants from Africa, the Caribbean and Asia. But Latinos are the fastest growing segment.

Between 1990 and 2000, the Latino population in Elsmere grew from 205 to 701, according to the U.S. Census. It previously made up 3 percent of the total population; now it accounts for 12 percent. Most Latinos identified themselves as of Mexican or Puerto Rican descent.

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