Supporters of unjust immigrant policies are often deeply uninformed and simply repeat anti-immigrant messaging that they’ve heard through media and other sources. Sometimes those echoing such sentiments are closer to us than we know, but luckily, they know you and you’ve got the opportunity to engage with them and share the truth about who we are.
We developed handy, downloadable cards with the below stats and facts that can better inform those who need a clearer understanding of the impact immigrants and refugees make in North Carolina. Also, we have information for your allies on the legislation that they should support or oppose if they stand with you!
Share the Truth About Immigrant & Refugee North Carolinians
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Immigrants make up 11.1% of North Carolina’s labor force and support the state’s economy in many ways.
- Immigrants account for 14.4% of the state’s entrepreneurs,17.2% of STEM workers, and 7.8% of nurses in North Carolina
- 11% of state taxes are paid by immigrants ($9.8 billion)
- Immigrants spend nearly $30 billion in North Carolina each year
- Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute $1.6 billion to the state economy
- Immigrant workers fuel many of the state’s top industries: construction, agriculture, professional services, manufacturing, and general services
- An estimated 2.8 percent of North Carolina’s population is undocumented and pays nearly $900 million in taxes with a spending power of $7.1 billion.
- North Carolina’s more than 50,000 refugees pay nearly $400 million in taxes and spend $1.3 billion across the state.
SAFETY
Immigrants and refugees make our North Carolina communities safer and stronger for everyone.
- A 2017 study in the Journal of Migration and Human Security found that immigrants, particularly undocumented ones, are less likely to commit crimes than their native-born counterparts.
- A 2015 Migration Policy Institute study (“The Relationship Between Immigration and Crime: A Review of the Evidence”) suggests that areas with significant immigrant populations are likely to have lower crime rates.
- There is no research proving any direct causal link between synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and immigration.
For the 2024 election, help our communities by taking a stand on two pieces of state-wide legislation:
Vote FOR HB 1013 (House Bill 1013)
which will allow immigrant and refugee teachers to obtain a license to teach in North Carolina as well as mandate that the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provide materials in Arabic, Chinese, Dari, French, Hindi, Pashto, Spanish, Swahili, and Tegulu.
Vote AGAINST HB 10 (House Bill 10)
which would require local law enforcement to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and mandate that it investigate the immigration status of anyone brought to a North Carolina jail, regardless of whether or not they have been charged with a crime. This can subject undocumented North Carolinians to greater surveillance, detention, and deportation.
Vote FOR candidates who support:
- DACA
- Rational voter ID laws
- Pathways to citizenship
- Funding for refugee resettlement
Your choice for every candidate—from president to city leaders—makes an impact on immigrant and refugee livelihoods. The only vote that doesn’t count is the one not made!
