Top 10 Facts You Need to Know About Immigrants As The U.S. Celebrates Immigrant Heritage Month

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Washington, D.C. -- To mark the second annual Immigrant Heritage Month, a month when Americans celebrate their immigrant roots and tell their families’ stories of sacrifice and contribution, the Center for American Progress published a fact sheet titled 10 Facts You Need to Know About Immigrants Today, Los 10 Hechos Importantes Que Se Debe Saber Sobre Los Inmigrantes De Hoy.

CAP experts are available to elaborate on the facts presented, and to discuss the latest developments in the fight over deferred action and its economic and political implications.

Given that immigrants are an important part of the U.S. economy and American society, it remains imperative that the DACA expansion and DAPA program - which are both currently held up in the courts - move forward in order to provide a temporary but much needed sense of relief for millions of American families. Ultimately, Congress must pass a permanent pathway to citizenship, which will add an estimated cumulative $1.2 trillion to the U.S. GDP over 10 years, increase the income of all Americans by an estimated cumulative $625 billion over 10 years, and create as many as 145,000 new jobs per year. Fixing the American immigration system will ensure that all people living in the country can maximize their potential and contribute to a shared American prosperity.

Highlights include:

a) There are 41 million foreign-born individuals living in the United States.

b) The majority of the foreign-born are from Latin America and Asia, with a small number arriving from Europe and Africa.

c) Latinos and Asian Americans are a growing segment of the American electorate.

d) Across the country, there are over 904,000 LGBT adult immigrants.

e) Immigrants play a significant role in the U.S. economy.

f) There were 11.2 million undocumented immigrants in the United States as of January 2012.

g) As of March 2015, close to 750,000 people have applied for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, and 665,000 people have had their applications approved.

h) An additional 5 million parents and DREAMers will receive temporary work permits and relief from deportations under the deferred action programs.

i) The deferred action programs will significantly boost the U.S. economy.

j) Undocumented immigrants paid $11.84 billion in state and local taxes in 2012.


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