Policy

New Mexico: Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Innovation in the Land of Enchantment

In New Mexico, there is no doubt that immigrant entrepreneurs and innovators play an important role. Immigrant entrepreneurs bring in additional revenue, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the state’s economy. Furthermore, highly skilled immigrants are vital to the state’s innovation industries, and to the metropolitan areas within the state, helping to boost local economies.

Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute significantly to New Mexico’s economy.

From 2006 to 2010, there were 11,440 new immigrant business owners in New Mexico, and in 2010, 12.6 percent of all business owners in New Mexico were foreign-born.

In 2010, new immigrant business owners had total net business income of $389 million, which is 8.9 percent of all net business income in the state.

New Mexico is home to successful immigrant-founded companies, including two of the state’s largest supermarket chains, El Mezquite and El Paisano.

Highly skilled immigrants are vital to New Mexico’s innovation industries, which in turn helps lead American innovation and creates jobs.Read more...

Published On: Thu, Aug 22, 2013 | Download File

Texas: Immigrant Entrepreneurs, Innovation, and Welcoming Initiatives in the Lone Star State

In Texas, there is no doubt that immigrant entrepreneurs and innovators play an important role. Immigrant entrepreneurs bring in additional revenue, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the state’s economy. Highly skilled immigrants are vital to the state’s innovation industries, and to the metropolitan areas within the state, helping to boost local economies. Furthermore, local government, business, and non-profit leaders recognize the importance of immigrants in their communities and support immigration through local “welcoming” and integration initiatives.

Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute significantly to Texas’ economy. Read more...

Published On: Thu, Aug 22, 2013 | Download File

Arizona: Immigrant Entrepreneurs, Innovation, and Welcoming Initiatives in the Grand Canyon State

In Arizona, there is no doubt that immigrant entrepreneurs and innovators play an important role. Immigrant entrepreneurs bring in additional revenue, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the state’s economy. Highly skilled immigrants are vital to the state’s innovation industries, and to the metropolitan areas within the state, helping to boost local economies. Furthermore, local government, business, and non-profit leaders recognize the importance of immigrants in their communities and support immigration through local “welcoming” and integration initiatives.

Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute significantly to Arizona’s economy. Read more...

Published On: Thu, Aug 22, 2013 | Download File

New York: Immigrant Entrepreneurs, Innovation, and Welcoming Initiatives in the Empire State

In New York, there is no doubt that immigrant entrepreneurs and innovators play an important role. Immigrant entrepreneurs bring in additional revenue, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the state’s economy. Highly skilled immigrants are vital to the state’s innovation industries, and to the metropolitan areas within the state, helping to boost local economies. Furthermore, local government, business, and non-profit leaders recognize the importance of immigrants in their communities and support immigration through local “welcoming” and integration initiatives.

Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute significantly to New York’s economy. Read more...

Published On: Thu, Aug 22, 2013 | Download File

IPC Fact Sheet Used in Santa Fe Reporter Article

Published on Wed, Aug 21, 2013

In a Santa Fe Reporter article titled, "American DREAMers," a recent IPC state fact sheet and infographic were used to point out the importance of immigrants in New Mexico:

"According to Congressional Budget Office estimates, for instance, the US economy would grow by $1 trillion if immigration reforms pass.

On the flip side, state-by-state data released by the Immigration Policy Center shows that removing the 5.6 percent of New Mexico’s workforce that is unauthorized would eliminate more than 12,000 jobs and cost the local economy as much as $1.8 billion a year. "

Published in the Santa Fe Reporter

Ben Johnson Quoted in MSN News Article

Published on Tue, Aug 20, 2013

In a recent article discussing Senator Ted Cruz and his dual citizenship with Canada, AIC Executive Director Ben Johnson was quoted to verify whether or not dual citizenship would preclude Cruz from holding the Presidency.

"Ben Johnson, executive director of the American Immigration Council, said he wasn't aware of whether there are rules prohibiting a sitting president from having dual citizenship.

"I would think the optics would be more challenging," he said."

Published in the MSN News

How DACA is Impacting the Lives of Those Who are Now DACAmented

Preliminary Findings from the National UnDACAmented Research Project

by Roberto G. Gonzales, Harvard Graduate School of Education

and Veronica Terriquez, University of Southern California

As Congress continues to debate immigration reform, August 15th marks the one-year anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. While not granting a path to legalization and citizenship, DACA provides an opportunity for a segment of the undocumented immigrant population to remain in the country without fear of deportation, allows them to apply for work permits, and increases their opportunities for economic and social incorporation. This research summary presents preliminary findings on the impact that DACA has had on some of the young people who have received it.

We find that the DACA recipients we surveyed experienced a pronounced increase in economic opportunities, such as getting a new job, opening their first bank account, and obtaining their first credit card. Many seek further social integration beyond DACA. In fact, almost all DACA recipients indicate that they would apply for U.S. citizenship if given the opportunity. Our study also shows that DACA recipients are often fearful that family members and friends could be deported at any time. Overall, our research indicates that although DACA opens up some economic opportunities for young aspiring Americans, it does not address the constant threat of deportation still facing those closest to them, including mothers, fathers, and siblings.Read more...

Published On: Thu, Aug 15, 2013 | Download File

Brookings Report on DACA Cites IPC

Published on Wed, Aug 14, 2013

In their recent report, "Immigration Facts: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals," the Brookings Institution cited the IPC's estimate of the number of potentially eligible DACA Recipients.

"Estimates of the potentially eligible population calculated by the Immigration Policy Center (IPC) using age, country of birth, educational attainment and enrollment, and year of entry to the United States show approximately 936,000 immigrants were immediately eligible at the time of the announcement of the program. Eligibility criteria such as continuous residence and criminal history are much harder to approximate."

Published in the Brookings Institution

IPC Cited in the Washington Post

Published on Wed, Aug 07, 2013

Vivek Wadhwa, an advocate for reform of America's high-skilled immigration system, cited the IPC in a Washington Post article focusing on DREAMers:

"There are an estimated 1.8 million children in the U.S. who could be classified as “illegal aliens”, according to the Immigration Policy Center. They didn’t knowingly break any laws. Their parents brought them to this country to give them a better future. These “DREAMers” as they are called, grew up as Americans, believing they were entitled to the same rights and freedoms as their friends. But, because they don’t have the proper paperwork, they are forced to live in the shadows of society—as second-class human beings with limits on where they can work and study, and what they can do. Until recently, they would also fear being rounded up in the middle of the night to be deported to a land that they don’t even remember."

Published in the Washington Post

Huffington Post Arcticle Shines Spotlight on AIC

Published on Mon, Aug 05, 2013

In a recent article in the Huffington Post, Judy Rickard, who wrote the IPC publication, "Passport Pages Tell Our Tale," highlighted a report by the AIC. The article, titled, "The Glass Wall That Divides Us," cites the IPC on the demographics of immigrants in the United States.

"Information from American Immigration Council shows that immigration (documented and undocumented) includes the following cultural and ethnic groups in these proportions:

Fewer than one-third (29 percent) of immigrants in the United States are from Mexico. Roughly 28 percent are from Asia, 24 percent from countries in Latin America and the Caribbean other than Mexico, 12 percent from Europe, and 4 percent from Africa. Moreover, contrary to some popular misconceptions, most Latinos in the United States (63 percent) are native-born -- not immigrants. And 29 percent of foreign-born Latinos are naturalized U.S. citizens."

Published in the Huffington Post