Alabama’s Immigrants, Latinos and Asians: An Economic and Demographic Snapshot

PRESS RELEASE

September 30, 2011

Washington D.C. - This week, portions of Alabama’s harsh new immigration law, HB 56, take effect in Alabama. While the governor of the state proclaimed that this is the toughest immigration law in the country, Alabama businesses, state agencies, and taxpayers will ultimately pay the price for this economically damaging legislation.

In order to provide the latest economic and demographic information on immigrants, Latinos, and Asians in Alabama, the Immigration Policy Center has updated its Alabama state fact sheet, New Americans in the Yellowhammer State.

Highlights of the data show that immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are a growing and important part of Alabama’s state economy as workers, taxpayers, and consumers. For example:

Immigrants are important to Alabama’s economy as workers.

Immigrants comprised 4.9% of the state’s workforce in 2010 (or 111,670 workers), according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Unauthorized immigrants are important to Alabama’s economy as workers and taxpayers.

Unauthorized immigrants in Alabama paid $130.3 million in state and local taxes in 2010, according to data from the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy. This includes:

$25.8 million in state income taxes.
$5.8 million in property taxes.
$98.7 million in sales taxes.

Unauthorized immigrants comprised roughly 4.2% of the state’s workforce (or 95,000 workers) in 2010, according to a report by the Pew Hispanic Center.
If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Alabama, the state would lose $2.6 billion in economic activity, $1.1 billion in gross state product, and approximately 17,819 jobs, even accounting for adequate market adjustment time, according to a report by the Perryman Group.

To view the fact sheet in its entirety, click on the headline or see: http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/new-americans-yellowhammer-state
New Americans in the Yellowhammer State (IPC Fact Check, September 30, 2011)
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For more information contact Wendy Sefsaf at 202-507-7524 at wsefsaf@immcouncil.org