The Importance of Immigrants to the Economy of Ohio

Dave Malaska writes for HiVelocityMedia.com:

In the wake of the Arizona immigration law rancor and anti-immigration rhetoric, Cleveland civic activist and author Richard Herman finds himself shaking his head a lot these days.

An immigration attorney and author of a book touting immigrants’ role in the new global economy, Herman says many people falling back on old memes is disappointing and short-sighted.

“People who say that immigrants are a drain on the economy or the old boogeyman, ‘they’re taking our jobs,’ they’re missing the point,” says Herman. “In fact, if you look at the studies, cities with thriving immigrant populations… they’re the cities that are thriving economically. Contrary to common perception, immigrants aren’t a drain on the economy. They’re what fuels growth.”

With Ohio facing a near-stagnant population — the state’s population has increased only 1 percent this decade, far below the 7 percent national average and trailing 46 other states — and the loss of traditional “rust belt” industrial jobs, the state is suffering from a void of human resources.

The answer to the statewide problem, Herman says, lies in the waves of foreign-born nationals looking to start a new life in the U.S. Click here for the whole story.

bh