Where are all these Hispanics coming from? Most are homegrown:
The U.S. Census Bureau reports more Hispanics are born in America
than those who enter through U.S. borders. From July 2004 to July
2005, there were an estimated 900,000 Hispanic births in the U.S. In
that same time frame, there were 500,000 Hispanics who immigrated
to this country.
than those who enter through U.S. borders. From July 2004 to July
2005, there were an estimated 900,000 Hispanic births in the U.S. In
that same time frame, there were 500,000 Hispanics who immigrated
to this country.
Eight million new citizens waiting in the wings, according to agency:
According to the Department of Homeland Security, in 2004 there were
approximately eight million legal residents that could apply for
citizenship. To apply for citizenship, a legal resident has to pay $400 for
a test which focuses on civics and English proficiency.
approximately eight million legal residents that could apply for
citizenship. To apply for citizenship, a legal resident has to pay $400 for
a test which focuses on civics and English proficiency.
Did You Know?
1. Immigrants don't pay taxes
All immigrants pay taxes, whether income, property,
sales, or other. As far as income tax payments go,
sources vary in their accounts, but a range of
studies find that immigrants pay between $90 and
$140 billion a year in federal, state, and local taxes.
Even undocumented immigrants pay income taxes,
as evidenced by the Social Security Administration's
suspense file (taxes that cannot be matched to
workers' names and social security numbers),
which grew $20 billion between 1990 and 1998.
Source: National Academy of Sciences, Cato
Institute, Urban Institute, Social Security
Administration
2. Immigrants come here to take welfare
Immigrants come to work and reunite with family
members. Immigrant labor force participation is
consistently higher than native-born, and immigrant
workers make up a larger share of the U.S. labor
force (12.4%) than they do the U.S. population
(11.5%). Moreover, the ratio between immigrant use
of public benefits and the amount of taxes they pay
is consistently favorable to the U.S., unless the
"study" was undertaken by an anti-immigrant group.
In one estimate, immigrants earn about $240 billion
a year, pay about $90 billion a year in taxes, and
use about $5 billion in public benefits. In another
cut of the data, immigrant tax payments total $20 to
$30 billion more than the amount of government
services they use. Due to welfare reform, legal
immigrants are severely restricted from accessing
public benefits, and undocumented immigrants are
even further precluded from anything other than
emergency services. Anti-immigrant groups skew
these figures by including programs used by U.S.
citizen children of immigrants in their definition of
immigrant welfare use, among other tactics.
Source: American Immigration Lawyers
Association, Urban Institute
3. Immigrants send all their money back to their
home countries
In addition to the consumer spending of immigrant
households, immigrants and their businesses
contribute $162 billion in tax revenue to U.S. federal,
state, and local governments. While it is true that
immigrants remit billions of dollars a year to their
home countries, this is one of the most targeted
and effective forms of direct foreign investment.
Source: Cato Institute, Inter-American Development
Bank
4. Immigrants take jobs and opportunity away
from Americans
The largest wave of immigration to the U.S. since
the early 1900s coincided with our lowest national
unemployment rate and fastest economic growth.
Immigrant entrepreneurs create jobs for U.S. and
foreign workers, and foreign-born students allow
many U.S. graduate programs to keep their doors
open. While there has been no comprehensive
study done of immigrant-owned businesses, we
have countless examples: in Silicon Valley,
companies begun by Chinese and Indian
immigrants generated more than $19.5 billion in
sales and nearly 73,000 jobs in 2000.
Source: Brookings Institution
5. Immigrants are a drain on the U.S. economy
During the 1990s, half of all new workers were
foreign-born, filling gaps left by native-born workers
in both the high- and low-skill ends of the spectrum.
Immigrants fill jobs in key sectors, start their own
businesses, and contribute to a thriving economy.
The net benefit of immigration to the U.S. is nearly
$10 billion annually. As Alan Greenspan points out,
70% of immigrants arrive in prime working age.
That means we haven't spent a penny on their
education, yet they are transplanted into our
workforce and will contribute $500 billion toward our
social security system over the next 20 years.
Source: National Academy of Sciences, Center for
Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University,
Federal Reserve
6. Immigrants don't want to learn English or
become Americans
Within ten years of arrival, more than 75% of
immigrants speak English well; moreover, demand
for English classes at the adult level far exceeds
supply. Greater than 33% of immigrants are
naturalized citizens; given increased immigration in
the 1990s, this figure will rise as more legal
permanent residents become eligible for
naturalization in the coming years. The number of
immigrants naturalizing spiked sharply after two
events: enactment of immigration and welfare
reform laws in 1996, and the terrorist attacks in
2001.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (Bureau of Citizenship and
Immigration Services)
7. Today's immigrants are different than those of
100 years ago
The percentage of the U.S. population that is
foreign-born now stands at 11.5%; in the early 20th
century it was approximately 15%. Similar to
accusations about today's immigrants, those of 100
years ago initially often settled in mono-ethnic
neighborhoods, spoke their native languages, and
built up newspapers and businesses that catered
to their fellow émigrés. They also experienced the
same types of discrimination that today's
immigrants face, and integrated within American
culture at a similar rate. If we view history
objectively, we remember that every new wave of
immigrants has been met with suspicion and doubt
and yet, ultimately, every past wave of immigrants
has been vindicated and saluted.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
8. Most immigrants cross the border illegally
Around 75% have legal permanent (immigrant)
visas; of the 25% that are undocumented, 40%
overstayed temporary (nonimmigrant) visas.
Source: INS Statistical Yearbook
9. Weak U.S. border enforcement has lead to high
undocumented immigration
From 1986 to 1998, the Border Patrol's budget
increased sixfold and the number of agents
stationed on our southwest border doubled to
8,500. The Border Patrol also toughened its
enforcement strategy, heavily fortifying typical urban
entry points and pushing migrants into dangerous
desert areas, in hopes of deterring crossings.
Instead, the undocumented immigrant population
doubled in that timeframe, to 8 million— despite the
legalization of nearly 3 million immigrants after the
enactment of the Immigration Reform and Control
Act in 1986. Insufficient legal avenues for
immigrants to enter the U.S., compared with the
number of jobs available to them, have created this
current conundrum.
Source: Cato Institute
10. The war on terrorism can be won through
immigration restrictions
No security expert since September 11th, 2001 has
said that restrictive immigration measures would
have prevented the terrorist attacks—instead, they
key is good use of good intelligence. Most of the
9/11 hijackers were here on legal visas. Since 9/11,
the myriad of measures targeting immigrants in the
name of national security have netted no terrorism
prosecutions. In fact, several of these measures
could have the opposite effect and actually make us
less safe, as targeted communities of immigrants
are afraid to come forward with information.
Source: Newspaper articles, various security experts,
and think tanks
All immigrants pay taxes, whether income, property,
sales, or other. As far as income tax payments go,
sources vary in their accounts, but a range of
studies find that immigrants pay between $90 and
$140 billion a year in federal, state, and local taxes.
Even undocumented immigrants pay income taxes,
as evidenced by the Social Security Administration's
suspense file (taxes that cannot be matched to
workers' names and social security numbers),
which grew $20 billion between 1990 and 1998.
Source: National Academy of Sciences, Cato
Institute, Urban Institute, Social Security
Administration
2. Immigrants come here to take welfare
Immigrants come to work and reunite with family
members. Immigrant labor force participation is
consistently higher than native-born, and immigrant
workers make up a larger share of the U.S. labor
force (12.4%) than they do the U.S. population
(11.5%). Moreover, the ratio between immigrant use
of public benefits and the amount of taxes they pay
is consistently favorable to the U.S., unless the
"study" was undertaken by an anti-immigrant group.
In one estimate, immigrants earn about $240 billion
a year, pay about $90 billion a year in taxes, and
use about $5 billion in public benefits. In another
cut of the data, immigrant tax payments total $20 to
$30 billion more than the amount of government
services they use. Due to welfare reform, legal
immigrants are severely restricted from accessing
public benefits, and undocumented immigrants are
even further precluded from anything other than
emergency services. Anti-immigrant groups skew
these figures by including programs used by U.S.
citizen children of immigrants in their definition of
immigrant welfare use, among other tactics.
Source: American Immigration Lawyers
Association, Urban Institute
3. Immigrants send all their money back to their
home countries
In addition to the consumer spending of immigrant
households, immigrants and their businesses
contribute $162 billion in tax revenue to U.S. federal,
state, and local governments. While it is true that
immigrants remit billions of dollars a year to their
home countries, this is one of the most targeted
and effective forms of direct foreign investment.
Source: Cato Institute, Inter-American Development
Bank
4. Immigrants take jobs and opportunity away
from Americans
The largest wave of immigration to the U.S. since
the early 1900s coincided with our lowest national
unemployment rate and fastest economic growth.
Immigrant entrepreneurs create jobs for U.S. and
foreign workers, and foreign-born students allow
many U.S. graduate programs to keep their doors
open. While there has been no comprehensive
study done of immigrant-owned businesses, we
have countless examples: in Silicon Valley,
companies begun by Chinese and Indian
immigrants generated more than $19.5 billion in
sales and nearly 73,000 jobs in 2000.
Source: Brookings Institution
5. Immigrants are a drain on the U.S. economy
During the 1990s, half of all new workers were
foreign-born, filling gaps left by native-born workers
in both the high- and low-skill ends of the spectrum.
Immigrants fill jobs in key sectors, start their own
businesses, and contribute to a thriving economy.
The net benefit of immigration to the U.S. is nearly
$10 billion annually. As Alan Greenspan points out,
70% of immigrants arrive in prime working age.
That means we haven't spent a penny on their
education, yet they are transplanted into our
workforce and will contribute $500 billion toward our
social security system over the next 20 years.
Source: National Academy of Sciences, Center for
Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University,
Federal Reserve
6. Immigrants don't want to learn English or
become Americans
Within ten years of arrival, more than 75% of
immigrants speak English well; moreover, demand
for English classes at the adult level far exceeds
supply. Greater than 33% of immigrants are
naturalized citizens; given increased immigration in
the 1990s, this figure will rise as more legal
permanent residents become eligible for
naturalization in the coming years. The number of
immigrants naturalizing spiked sharply after two
events: enactment of immigration and welfare
reform laws in 1996, and the terrorist attacks in
2001.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (Bureau of Citizenship and
Immigration Services)
7. Today's immigrants are different than those of
100 years ago
The percentage of the U.S. population that is
foreign-born now stands at 11.5%; in the early 20th
century it was approximately 15%. Similar to
accusations about today's immigrants, those of 100
years ago initially often settled in mono-ethnic
neighborhoods, spoke their native languages, and
built up newspapers and businesses that catered
to their fellow émigrés. They also experienced the
same types of discrimination that today's
immigrants face, and integrated within American
culture at a similar rate. If we view history
objectively, we remember that every new wave of
immigrants has been met with suspicion and doubt
and yet, ultimately, every past wave of immigrants
has been vindicated and saluted.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
8. Most immigrants cross the border illegally
Around 75% have legal permanent (immigrant)
visas; of the 25% that are undocumented, 40%
overstayed temporary (nonimmigrant) visas.
Source: INS Statistical Yearbook
9. Weak U.S. border enforcement has lead to high
undocumented immigration
From 1986 to 1998, the Border Patrol's budget
increased sixfold and the number of agents
stationed on our southwest border doubled to
8,500. The Border Patrol also toughened its
enforcement strategy, heavily fortifying typical urban
entry points and pushing migrants into dangerous
desert areas, in hopes of deterring crossings.
Instead, the undocumented immigrant population
doubled in that timeframe, to 8 million— despite the
legalization of nearly 3 million immigrants after the
enactment of the Immigration Reform and Control
Act in 1986. Insufficient legal avenues for
immigrants to enter the U.S., compared with the
number of jobs available to them, have created this
current conundrum.
Source: Cato Institute
10. The war on terrorism can be won through
immigration restrictions
No security expert since September 11th, 2001 has
said that restrictive immigration measures would
have prevented the terrorist attacks—instead, they
key is good use of good intelligence. Most of the
9/11 hijackers were here on legal visas. Since 9/11,
the myriad of measures targeting immigrants in the
name of national security have netted no terrorism
prosecutions. In fact, several of these measures
could have the opposite effect and actually make us
less safe, as targeted communities of immigrants
are afraid to come forward with information.
Source: Newspaper articles, various security experts,
and think tanks
Top Ten Immigration Myths and Facts
LULAC Council 4871 - The Dallas Rainbow Council
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Deport immigrants? Construction, service industries would crumble:
The Pew Hispanic Center’s latest figures show that over half of the
country’s undocumented immigrants (around 12 million) hold jobs in
the service industry. If there was a mass deportation today, the
construction industry could lose 550,000 workers alone. The center
also reports that Nevada and Arizona have the highest undocumented
immigrant populations — seven percent of the states’ total population.
Undocumented immigrants make up 5 to 6.9 percent of the
populations of Texas, California, Colorado and Florida.
country’s undocumented immigrants (around 12 million) hold jobs in
the service industry. If there was a mass deportation today, the
construction industry could lose 550,000 workers alone. The center
also reports that Nevada and Arizona have the highest undocumented
immigrant populations — seven percent of the states’ total population.
Undocumented immigrants make up 5 to 6.9 percent of the
populations of Texas, California, Colorado and Florida.
America’s 300 millionth citizen speaks Spanish:
In the Fall 2006, the U.S. population hit 300 million. Researchers at
the Census Bureau say chances are that new baby that got us to that
milestone is Hispanic.
the Census Bureau say chances are that new baby that got us to that
milestone is Hispanic.
Forty percent of Dallas is Latino:
The U.S. Census Bureau puts the Hispanic count in Dallas County at
40 percent. Currently, there are 838,205 Hispanic residents, up from
662,729 in the year 2000. There has been a decrease in white
residents in the county, from 1.1 million in 1990 down to 867,730
white residents today.
.
40 percent. Currently, there are 838,205 Hispanic residents, up from
662,729 in the year 2000. There has been a decrease in white
residents in the county, from 1.1 million in 1990 down to 867,730
white residents today.
.
Hispanic voting data released:
In March 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau released its report on voting
participation in the 2004 presidential election, “Voting and
Registration in the Election of November 2004.” The report showed
that of the more than 27 million Hispanics in the U.S. only 16 million
are U.S. citizens. Of those 16 million, only 9.3 million are registered to
vote. In 2004, of the 9.3 million Hispanics registered to vote, only 7
million voted. Compared to other communities, the percentage of
Hispanics voting was low: 67 percent of Whites eligible to vote cast a
ballot in 2004, along with 60 percent of Blacks followed by 47 percent
of Hispanics. Asians were in fourth place with 44 percent.
participation in the 2004 presidential election, “Voting and
Registration in the Election of November 2004.” The report showed
that of the more than 27 million Hispanics in the U.S. only 16 million
are U.S. citizens. Of those 16 million, only 9.3 million are registered to
vote. In 2004, of the 9.3 million Hispanics registered to vote, only 7
million voted. Compared to other communities, the percentage of
Hispanics voting was low: 67 percent of Whites eligible to vote cast a
ballot in 2004, along with 60 percent of Blacks followed by 47 percent
of Hispanics. Asians were in fourth place with 44 percent.
On Nov. 28, 2006, the Dallas Morning News reported that 69,300
foreign-born men and women are currently serving in the U.S. armed
forces (around five percent of active-duty military). Of those 69,300
service members, around 43 percent -- or 29,800, are not U.S.
citizens. Sadly, 100 of these immigrants have died in Afghanistan and
Iraq.
foreign-born men and women are currently serving in the U.S. armed
forces (around five percent of active-duty military). Of those 69,300
service members, around 43 percent -- or 29,800, are not U.S.
citizens. Sadly, 100 of these immigrants have died in Afghanistan and
Iraq.
Immigrants defend the U.S.:
Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn reported on Dec. 8 that
the “absence of the estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants
in Texas in fiscal 2005 would have been a loss to our gross state
product of $17.7 billion.”The report also stated immigrants produced
$1.58 billion in state revenues (sales taxes and user fees), while
they used $1.16 billion in state services (public health and
education), netting the state a $420 million in profits attributed to
immigrant taxes.
the “absence of the estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants
in Texas in fiscal 2005 would have been a loss to our gross state
product of $17.7 billion.”The report also stated immigrants produced
$1.58 billion in state revenues (sales taxes and user fees), while
they used $1.16 billion in state services (public health and
education), netting the state a $420 million in profits attributed to
immigrant taxes.
Immigrants boosts Texas economy:
The Consequences of Hate
When conservative leaders spoke against immigrants last spring,
immigrants and their supporters took to the street on April 9. More
than 500,000 marched in Dallas alone.
Since the MegaMarcha, the following tragic events have occurred to
show hate toward Hispanics, as reported by the Southern Poverty
Law Center (an agency that monitors hate crime):
• On April 22, 2006, a 17-year-old Hispanic high school football
player was dragged from a suburban house party in Texas and
savagely attacked by two white assailants, one of them a neo-Nazi
skinhead. Police said the attackers were apparently enraged
because the victim tried to kiss a young girl they believed to be
Caucasian. After forcing the Hispanic youth into a backyard, they
burned his neck with cigarettes, stomped his head with steel-toed
boots, and slashed his chest with a knife, all while shouting racial
slurs. They then stripped him naked and sodomized him with a patio
umbrella pole. The skinhead kicked the pole repeatedly.
"I don't mean just a little bit," said Harris County prosecutor Mike
Trent. "He kicked it in and shoved it so far in that he has caused
major organ damage. It looks like they were really trying to kill him
and torture him anyway they could."
• On April 29, 2006, a neo-Nazi in East Hampton, N.Y., was arrested
for threatening two Hispanic teenagers he and several friends
imprisoned for 90 minutes in a shed painted with swastikas. The
skinhead reportedly held the blade of the machete to the throat of
one while threatening to kill him, and chased another around with a
running chainsaw yelling, "This is how you run across the border!"
• On May 6, 2006, the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan held an
anti-immigration rally in Russellville, Ala., that drew more than 300
Klansmen and Klan supporters, including members of the neo-Nazi
hate group Aryan Nations. At the rally, robed Klansmen burned a 22-
foot-high cross and yelled, "Let's get rid of the Mexicans!"
The first two items involved Hispanics who were citizens of the United
States. So, regardless if a Hispanic is a citizen or not, hate will be
carried out.
immigrants and their supporters took to the street on April 9. More
than 500,000 marched in Dallas alone.
Since the MegaMarcha, the following tragic events have occurred to
show hate toward Hispanics, as reported by the Southern Poverty
Law Center (an agency that monitors hate crime):
• On April 22, 2006, a 17-year-old Hispanic high school football
player was dragged from a suburban house party in Texas and
savagely attacked by two white assailants, one of them a neo-Nazi
skinhead. Police said the attackers were apparently enraged
because the victim tried to kiss a young girl they believed to be
Caucasian. After forcing the Hispanic youth into a backyard, they
burned his neck with cigarettes, stomped his head with steel-toed
boots, and slashed his chest with a knife, all while shouting racial
slurs. They then stripped him naked and sodomized him with a patio
umbrella pole. The skinhead kicked the pole repeatedly.
"I don't mean just a little bit," said Harris County prosecutor Mike
Trent. "He kicked it in and shoved it so far in that he has caused
major organ damage. It looks like they were really trying to kill him
and torture him anyway they could."
• On April 29, 2006, a neo-Nazi in East Hampton, N.Y., was arrested
for threatening two Hispanic teenagers he and several friends
imprisoned for 90 minutes in a shed painted with swastikas. The
skinhead reportedly held the blade of the machete to the throat of
one while threatening to kill him, and chased another around with a
running chainsaw yelling, "This is how you run across the border!"
• On May 6, 2006, the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan held an
anti-immigration rally in Russellville, Ala., that drew more than 300
Klansmen and Klan supporters, including members of the neo-Nazi
hate group Aryan Nations. At the rally, robed Klansmen burned a 22-
foot-high cross and yelled, "Let's get rid of the Mexicans!"
The first two items involved Hispanics who were citizens of the United
States. So, regardless if a Hispanic is a citizen or not, hate will be
carried out.
| "El que no habla, Dios no lo oye." Mexican Proverb |