The Economic Benefits of Immigration to Alabama and Mississippi – Immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are a Growing Economic Force in Alabama and Mississippi

The Immigration Policy Center has compiled research which shows that immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are an important part of Alabama and Mississippi’s economies, labor force, and tax base. Immigrants and their children are a growing economic force as consumers, taxpayers, and entrepreneurs. With the nation working towards economic recovery, Latinos, Asians and immigrants will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political future of the Yellowhammer and Magnolia States.

Highlights from Alabama include:

• Immigrants made up 3.0% of Alabamans (or 137,275 people) in 2007.
• The purchasing power of Latinos totaled $3.1 billion and Asian buying power totaled nearly $1.8 billion in Alabama in 2009.
• If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Alabama, the state could lose $2.6 billion in economic activity and $1.1 billion in gross state product.

Highlights from Mississippi include:

• Immigrants made up 1.7% of Mississippians (or 49,483 people) in 2007.
• The purchasing power of Latinos totaled $1.6 billion and Asian buying power totaled $862.1 million in Mississippi in 2009.
• If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Mississippi, the state could lose $583 million in economic activity and $259 million in gross state product.

There is no denying the contributions immigrants, Latinos, and Asians make in Alabama and Mississippi and the important role they will play in the states’ economic futures. For more data on their contributions to the Yellowhammer and Magnolia States, view the IPC fact sheets in their entirety:

• New Americans in the Yellowhammer State (Alabama)
• New Americans in the Magnolia State (Mississippi)

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