Indiana Immigration Ratings

Hispanic Population

302,000

% of State Population

Undocumented Residents

120,000

View Ratings Information

Immigrants, Latinos, and Asians account for large and growing shares of the economy and population in Indiana. Immigrants make up 4.2% of the state’s population, and more than one-third of them are naturalized U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote. “New Americans”—immigrants and the children of immigrants—account for 2.9% of registered voters in the state.

Immigrants are not only integral to the state’s economy as workers, but also account for tens of million of dollars in tax revenue and consumer purchasing power. Moreover, Latinos and Asians wield nearly $10 billion in consumer purchasing power, and the businesses they own had sales and receipts of $3.4 billion and employed more than 26,000 people at last count.

U.S. Senatorial Voting Record:
Immigration Legislation Immigration Reform

Senator Bayh (D)

Senator Lugar (R)

	HS News Grading
Votes	Bayh	Lugar
Border Security- Vote to Deny funding to complete 700 miles of border fence.(S.Amdt 1399 to S.Amdt 1373 to HR 2892)	F	A
Deportation- Vote for Funding of Sanctuary Policies for Unauthorized Immigrants.(SAmdt.2630 to HR 2847)	A	F
Workforce- Vote to NOT mandate that all companies with federal contracts verify all employees through E-verify. (S.Amdt 1371 to S.Amdt 1373 to HR 2892)	A	F
Workforce-Vote Not to extend E-Verify for six years (S.Amdt 604 to HR 1105)	F	F
Co-Sponsored DREAM ACT- Development Relief, and education for Alien Minors Act of 2009.( S. 729)	F	A
Overall State Grade:	N

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy arm of the American Immigration Council. IPC's mission is to shape a rational conversation on immigration and immigrant integration. Through its research and analysis, IPC provides policymakers, the media, and the general public with accurate information about the role of immigrants and immigration policy on U.S. society. IPC reports and materials are widely disseminated and relied upon by press and policy makers. IPC staff regularly serves as experts to leaders on Capitol Hill, opinion-makers and the media. IPC, formed in 2003 is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor opposes any political party or candidate for office.

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State Facts

Immigrants and their children are growing shares of Indiana’s population and electorate.

The foreign-born share of Indiana’s population rose from 1.7% in 1990, to 3.1% in 2000, to 4.2% in 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Indiana was home to 263,848 immigrants in 2007, which is more than the total population of Lincoln, Nebraska.
36.5% of immigrants (or 96,401 people) in Indiana were naturalized U.S. citizens in 20076— meaning that they are eligible to vote.
2.9% (or 85,425) of registered voters in Indiana were “New Americans”—naturalized citizens or the U.S.-born children of immigrants who were raised during the current era of immigration from Latin America and Asia which began in 1965—according to an analysis of 2006 Census Bureau data by Rob Paral & Associates.

1 in 16 Hoosiers are Latino or Asian.

The Latino share of Indiana’s population grew from 1.8% in 1990, to 3.5% in 2000, to 4.9% (or 310,919 people) in 2007. The Asian share of the population grew from 0.7% in 1990, to 1.0% in 2000, to 1.3% (or 82,489 people) in 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Latinos accounted for 1.3% (or 36,000) of Indiana voters in the 2008 elections, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The number of Latino voters was greater than the margin of victory (28,391 votes) by which Barack Obama defeated John McCain in Indiana.

Latino and Asian entrepreneurs and consumers add billions of dollars and tens-of-thousands of jobs to Indiana’s economy.

The 2008 purchasing power of Latinos in Indiana totaled $6.8 billion—an increase of 548.1% since 1990. Asian buying power totaled $3.1 billion—an increase of 341.4% since 1990, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia.
Indiana’s 6,078 Asian-owned businesses had sales and receipts of $2.6 billion and employed 20,422 people in 2002, the last year for which data is available. The state’s 5,482 Latino- owned businesses had sales and receipts of $792.5 million and employed 5,824 people in 2002, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners.

Immigrants are integral to Indiana’s economy as taxpayers.

Immigrants in Indiana paid an estimated $2.3 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2007, according to a study by the Sagamore Institute, including: $1.2 billion paid by naturalized U.S. citizens. $901.7 million paid by authorized immigrants who were not U.S. citizens. $255.9 million paid by unauthorized immigrants.

Immigrants are integral to Indiana’s economy as workers.

Immigrants comprised 4.9% of the state’s workforce in 2007 (or 160,228 workers), according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Unauthorized immigrants comprised 2.4% of the state’s workforce (or 75,000 workers) in 2008, according to a report by the Pew Hispanic Center.
If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Indiana, the state would lose $2.8 billion in expenditures, $1.3 billion in economic output, and approximately 16,739 jobs, even accounting for adequate market adjustment time, according to a report by the Perryman Group.

Naturalized Citizens Excel Educationally.

In Indiana, 33.8% of foreign-born persons who were naturalized U.S. citizens in 2007 had a bachelor’s or higher degree, compared to 27.6% of noncitizens. At the same time, only 21.3% of naturalized citizens lacked a high-school diploma, compared to 36.0% of noncitizens.
The number of immigrants in Indiana with a college degree increased by 43.0% between 2000 and 2007, according to data from the Migration Policy Institute.
30.1% of Indiana’s foreign-born population age 25 and older had a bachelor’s or higher degree in 2007, compared to 21.7% of native-born persons age 25 and older.
In Indiana, 71.7% of all children between the ages of 5 and 17 in families that spoke a language other than English at home also spoke English “very well” as of 2007.