NEW AMERICANS IN THE PELICAN STATE

Continuing its distribution of information about the impacts of immigration on the various states, the Immigration Policy Center has compiled research which shows that immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are an important part of Louisiana’s economy and tax base. As workers, consumers, taxpayers, and entrepreneurs, immigrants and their children are a growing economic force. As the state works towards recovery, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political landscape of the Pelican State. Highlights from Louisiana include:

• Immigrants make up 3.3% of Louisiana’s total population.

• More than 43% of immigrants in Louisiana are naturalized U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote.

• Latino workers contributed to making 86.9% of houses inhabitable after Hurricane Katrina across six parishes.

• The purchasing power of Louisiana’s Latinos totaled $4.0 billion and Asians totaled $2.2 billion in 2008.

• If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Louisiana, the state would lose $947 million in expenditures, $421 million in economic output and approximately 6,600 jobs.

There is no denying the contributions immigrants, Latinos, and Asians make and the important role they will play in Louisiana’s political and economic future. For more data on their contributions to Louisiana, view the IPC fact sheet in its entirety. Download New%20Americans%20in%20the%20Pelican%20State%202009[1]

KJ