Read the full Texas report as a PDF
In partnership with the Immigration Research Initiative (IRI), Every Texan released a new analysis demonstrating asylum seekers and new immigrants make significant contributions to our communities and economy. Once provided a work permit, new immigrants earn an average of $20,000 in their first year, which increases to $29,000 by their fifth year living in Texas. As part of a national project examining the economic and social value of new immigrants to our communities, The Economic Projections for Asylum Seekers and New Immigrants report analyzes the latest America Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The report reinforces decades of social science and economic research showing that immigrants, even those lacking legal access to work, are essential members of our communities who earn more than the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) in their first year post-migration. Hard-working Texans – both old and recent arrivals – are united in pursuit of a better, more prosperous life. The Economic Projections for Asylum Seekers and New Immigrants report maintains that this centuries-old reality continues to be true today.
These findings directly contradict the baseless claims made by anti-immigrant voices, including the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Texas. While our highest elected officials use fallacious rhetoric to advance personal gains, Every Texan and IRI prove that immigrants in Texas support the continued growth and prosperity of our state. For every 1,000 workers, immigrants and asylum seekers contribute $2.6 million to state and local taxes within their first year of eligibility. Far from a burden on Texas communities, newly arrived immigrants and asylum seekers are as essential to our state’s economy as they are to our families and communities.
Quantifying immigrants’ contributions to our state and nation is necessary to combat rampant misinformation used to demonize asylum seekers and pit states against one another. Texas’ highest elected officials and our Congressional representatives should use this data to recognize the importance of new immigrants and asylum seekers to our economy.
Read the full Texas report as a PDF
Read the national IRI report with additional state-by-state data