New York Immigration Ratings

Hispanic Population

3,147,000

% of State Population

16%

Undocumented Residents

925,000

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Immigrants, Latinos and Asians account for large and growing shares of the economy and the electorate in New York. Immigrants account for more than one in five residents of New York—and more than half of them are U.S. citizens eligible to vote.

“New Americans”— immigrants and the children of immigrants—account for 17.9% of all registered voters in the state. Latinos and Asians account for nearly 25% of New Yorkers and wield $126.6 billion in consumer purchasing power. At last count, the sales and receipts of businesses owned by Latinos and Asians totaled more than $42.7 billion and employed more than 230,000 people. New York’s immigrants are responsible for $229 billion in economic output. Not only is New York one of the most ethnically diverse states in the nation, but it is also a historic gateway for immigrants from virtually every part of the world. Immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are a political and economic powerhouse in New York.

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

Senator Gillbrand (D)

Senator Schumer (D)

	HS News Grading
Votes	Gillbrand	Schumer
Border Security- Vote to Deny funding to complete 700 miles of border fence.(S.Amdt 1399 to S.Amdt 1373 to HR 2892)	A	F
Deportation- Vote for Funding of Sanctuary Policies for Unauthorized Immigrants.(SAmdt.2630 to HR 2847)	A	A
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	A
Workforce-Vote Not to extend E-Verify for six years (S.Amdt 604 to HR 1105)	A	A
Co-Sponsored DREAM ACT- Development Relief, and education for Alien Minors Act of 2009.( S. 729)	A	A
Overall State Grade:	A

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 account for more than one in five residents of New York—and more than half of them are U.S. citizens eligible to vote.

The foreign-born share of New York’s population rose from 15.9% in 1990, to 20.4% in 2000, to 21.8% in 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. New York was home to 4,205,813 immigrants in 2007, which is more than the total population of Los Angeles, CA
52.3% of immigrants (or 2,198,838 people) in New York were naturalized U.S. citizens in 2007—meaning that they are eligible to vote.
17.9% (or 1,457,574) of all registered voters in New York are “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.

Latinos, Asians, immigrants, and the children of immigrants comprise a powerful share of the New York electorate.

The Latino share of New York’s population grew from 12.3% in 1990, to 15.1% in 2000, to 16.4% (or 3,403,870 people) in 2007. The Asian share of the population grew from 3.8% in 1990, to 5.5% in 2000, to 6.9% (or 1,331,543 people) in 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Latinos comprised 9.8% (or 743,000) of New York voters in the 2008 elections, and Asians 3.3% (or 248,000), according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
In New York, nearly nine-in-ten (or 89% of) children in immigrant families were U.S. citizens in 2007, according to the Center for Social and Demographic Analysis at the University of Albany.

Immigrants are essential to New York’s economy.

“New York’s immigrants are responsible for $229 billion in economic output in New York State,” or 22.4% of the total New York State GDP, according to a 2007 study by the Fiscal Policy Institute.
If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from New York in 2008, the state would lose $28.7 billion in economic activity, $12.7 billion in gross state product, and approximately 137,013 jobs, even accounting for adequate market adjustment time, according to a report by the Perryman Group.

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

The 2009 purchasing power of New York’s Latinos totaled $76.0 billion—an increase of 223% since 1990. Asian buying power totaled $50.6 billion—an increase of 317.2% since 1990, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia.
New York’s 145,108 Asian-owned businesses had sales and receipts of $30.4 billion and employed 164,316 people in 2002,19 the last year for which data is available. The state’s 163,588 Latino-owned businesses had sales and receipts of $12.3 billion and employed 70,183 people in 2002, 20 according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners

Immigrants are integral to New York’s economy as students.

New York’s 74,934 foreign students contributed $2.2 billion to the state’s economy in tuition, fees, and living expenses for the 2008-2009 academic year, according to the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA).

Naturalized Citizens Excel Educationally.

In New York, 31.1% of foreign-born persons who were naturalized U.S. citizens in 2007 had a bachelor’s or higher degree, compared to 25.3% of noncitizens. At the same time, only 22.2% of naturalized citizens lacked a high-school diploma, compared to 32.2% of noncitizens.
The number of immigrants in New York with a college degree increased by 34.1% between 2000 and 2007, according to data from the Migration Policy Institute.
In New York, 77.4% 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.