Oregon Immigration Ratings

Hispanic Population

392,000

% of State Population

10%

Undocumented Residents

150,000

View Ratings Information

Oregon was home to 361,551 immigrants in 2007 which is nearly the population of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 34.6% of the immigrants in Oregon were naturalized US Citizens in 2007, and are eligible to vote ( 127,302 people) Nearly one in seven Oregonians are Latino or Asian. In Oregon, more than four-in-five ( or 84% of) children in immigrant families were US citizens in 2007. The 2009 purchasing power of Latinos in Oregon totaled $7.0 Billion- an increase of 660.9% since 1990. Oregon's 6,360 Latino owned businesses had sales and receipts of 1.4 billion and employed 8,272 people in 2002 ( the last year information is available.)

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

Senator Merkley (D)

Senator Wyden (D)

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

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 are essential to Oregon’s economy as workers.

Immigrants comprised 12.2% of the state’s workforce in 2007 (or 236,222 workers), according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Unauthorized immigrants are integral to Oregon’s economy as workers and taxpayers.

Unauthorized immigrants comprised roughly 5.4% of the state’s workforce (or 100,000 workers) in 2008, according to a report by the Pew Hispanic Center.

Unauthorized workers in Oregon paid between $134 million and $187 million in taxes in 2005, according to a 2007 study by the Oregon Center for Public Policy, including:

$65 million to $90 million in state income, excise, and property taxes.
$56 million to $79 million in Social Security taxes.
$13 million to $18 million in Medicare taxes.

In addition, Oregon employers paid between $97 million and $136 million in taxes on behalf of unauthorized workers in 2005, including:

$56 million to $79 million in Social Security taxes.
$13 million to $18 million in Medicare taxes.
$28 million to $39 million in state unemployment insurance taxes.

If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Oregon, the state would lose $3.4 billion in economic activity, $1.5 billion in gross state product, and approximately 19,259 jobs, even accounting for adequate market adjustment time, according to a report by the Perryman Group.

Immigrants are integral to Oregon’s economy as students.

Oregon’s 6,648 foreign students contributed $188 million to the state’s economy in tuition, fees, and living expenses for the 2008-2009 academic year, according to NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Naturalized citizens excel educationally.

In Oregon, 33.5% of foreign-born persons who were naturalized U.S. citizens in 2007 had a bachelor’s or higher degree, compared to 19.2% of noncitizens. At the same time, only 19.6% of naturalized citizens lacked a high-school diploma, compared to 43.4% of noncitizens.
The number of immigrants in Oregon with a college degree increased by 51.9% between 2000 and 2007, according to data from the Migration Policy Institute.
In Oregon, 74.1% 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.