NEW AMERICANS IN THE GREAT LAKES STATE: Michigan’s Immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are a Political and Economic Powerhouse

The Immigration Policy Center has compiled research which shows that immigrants, Latinos, and Asians not only wield tremendous political power in Michigan, but are also an integral part of Michigan’s economy and tax base. As workers, taxpayers, consumers, and entrepreneurs, immigrants and their children are an economic powerhouse–especially the Arab American community. As voters, they are a potent political force. As Michigan’s economy begins to recover, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in the shaping and growing the economic and political landscape of the Great Lakes State.

Highlights of the research include:

• Immigrants make up more than 6% of Michigan’s total population (roughly equal to the total population of Boston, MA) and nearly half of them are naturalized citizens who are eligible to vote.

• New Americans (naturalized U.S. citizens and their U.S.-born children) represent 5.2% of the state’s voting population.

• The purchasing power of Michigan’s Asians totaled $9.2 billion in 2008 and Latino buying power totaled $8.8 billion.

• Asian-owned businesses in the state generated sales and receipts worth more than $5.1 billion annually and Latino-owned businesses generated $3.2 billion in 2002.

• Arab Americans accounted for $7.7 billion in total earnings in the four counties of the Detroit metropolitan area, generating an estimated $544 million in state tax revenue and supporting an estimated 141,541 jobs.

There is no denying the contributions immigrants make and the important role they play in Michigan’s political and economic future. For more data on the contributions of immigrants to Michigan’s economy, view the IPC fact sheet in its entirety.

Read more about immigrant contributions in other states:

• New Americans in the Old Dominion State (Virginia)
• New Americans in the Tar Heel State (North Carolina)
• New Americans in the Sunshine State (Florida)
• New Americans in the Empire State (New York)
• New Americans in the Silver State (Nevada)
• New Americans in the Golden State (California)
• New Americans in the Prairie State (Illinois)

For more information contact Wendy Sefsaf at 202-507-7524 or wsefsaf@ailf.org.

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