Significant Share of Small Business Owners in Oregon and Portland Are Immigrants

This release comes from the Oregon Center for Public Policy. The Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP) does in-depth research and analysis on budget, tax, and economic issues. Our goal is to improve decision making and generate more opportunities for all Oregonians. Visit http://www.ocpp.org/ for more information

June 14, 2012

Significant Share of Small Business Owners in Oregon and Portland Are ImmigrantsAbout one out of every 11 small business owners in Oregon in 2010 was born outside the U.S., according to a national report released today by the Fiscal Policy Institute, a public policy research organization based in New York.
The entrepreneurial rate was even higher in the Portland metro area, where about one of every eight small business owners was an immigrant.
"Immigrants own a significant share of small businesses, an important engine of economic growth," said Chuck Sheketoff, executive director of the Oregon Center for Public Policy, who examined the report. "The report shows that our state and nation benefit greatly from the entrepreneurial activity that immigrants bring."
The study estimated that in the entire U.S., immigrant-owned small businesses -- those with fewer than 100 workers -- employed 4.7 million people and generated $776 billion in receipts in 2007, the most recent year for which data are available.

In metro areas and nationwide, on average immigrants were 10 percent more likely than U.S.-born workers to own a small business in 2010. On average the ratio of immigrant small business owners to U.S.-born small business owners is 1.1 to 1.
In both Oregon and the Portland metro area, however, foreign-born workers were less likely than U.S. born-workers to be small business owners. The ratio was 0.7 to 1 for Oregon and 0.8 to 1 for the Portland metro area.
Still, among those who owned a small business in Oregon in 2010, 9.2 percent of them -- about one out of eleven -- had been born abroad. For the Portland metro area, that share was 13 percent, or one out of eight.

In all, about 6,800 small business owners in Oregon in 2010 were immigrants, according to the study.
Immigrants with undocumented status, however, face particular obstacles to starting a business, to the detriment of the state and nation, according to Francisco Lopez, executive director of CAUSA, Oregon's immigrant rights coalition.

"Starting a business often requires access to capital, credit, insurance and other elements that are difficult to obtain for undocumented immigrants," Lopez said. "One of the many benefits of creating a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants would be the removal of obstacles that those with entrepreneurial aspirations face."

Besides estimating the number of immigrant-owned small businesses and share of small business owners who are foreign-born, the Fiscal Policy Institute's report also provided a detailed profile of immigrant business owners at the national level. It examined, for example, the types of businesses immigrants own, the top countries of birth for immigrant business owners and the education level of immigrant business owners.

The Oregon Center for Public Policy is a non-partisan research institute that does in-depth research and analysis on budget, tax and economic issues. The Center's goal is to improve decision making and generate more opportunities for all Oregonians.

Read the full report here: http://www.ocpp.org/media/uploads/documents/2012/immigrant-small-business-owners-FPI-20120614.pdf

Read more »

Latino Contributions to Oregon Revealed in New Report

June 1, 2012

Portland, Ore. -- On Tuesday, Causa released a new comprehensive report on Latinos and their contributions to Oregon to a crowd in Portland. 

The report, “Latino Contributions to Oregon: Strengthening Our State Economy”, examines the role Latinos play in advancing the economy of Oregon and the well being of our communities through their contributions as workers, entrepreneurs, consumers, and taxpayers. Information in the report draws primarily on data from the 2010 Census and the American Community Survey and provides Oregon-specific demographic, labor, and socio-economic data regarding the Latino and immigrant communities.

"While there are many strong reports about the Latino and immigrant community on a national level, we have often struggled to find and use Oregon-specific data," said Robin Wright, Policy Analyst for Causa. "This report is significant because it is the first step in correcting this lack of information."

Among the findings, the report revealed that:

• 1 in 5 native-born children in Oregon have at least one immigrant parent, and that Oregon had one of the top rates of growth for Latino-owned business creation in the country.
• Latinos now make up 12 percent of the state’s total population, make up more than 10 percent of Oregon’s workforce and have a combined purchasing power of around $7 billion.
• Oregon is # 6 in the nation for growth of Latino-owned small businesses and are part of Oregon’s “Mainstreet”.
• Growth in the Latino population leads directly to growth in the Oregon economy.

During the 2011 legislative session, many legislators were misinformed about immigrants in Oregon and their impact on the state. This led them to oppose good legislation like restoring drivers’ license access and promote bad legislation like mandating the fatally flawed E-verify program.

“In the last few years here in Oregon there has been rhetoric charged from both sides about who Latinos are and what they do,” said Francisco Lopez, Causa’s Executive Director.  “But we wanted to present the accurate picture and this report does that in a big way.”

Lopez added, “This report provides community organizations, elected officials, and policy-makers with a comprehensive overview of Latinos in Oregon, which will allow them to make better policy decisions that are in the best interest of all Oregon residents.”

After the report presentation, Causa was awarded with a $10,000 grant by The Oregon Community Foundation.  The grant is to go towards funding Causa’s Citizenship Program.

Those attending the yesterday’s presentation included State Representatives Lew Frederick, Alissa Keny Guyer and Jefferson Smith and members of Oregon School Employees Association, Oregon Students Association, The Oregon Community Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, Lara Media Services, Basic Rights Oregon, Working America and others. 

There were also representatives present from several elected officials including Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogan, U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley.

Causa would like to thank all those who attended and supported this release.  We would especially like to thank the Chair Jeff Cogan’s office for making the room available for the presentation and our allies at the Oregon School Employees Association for printing hard copies of this report for distribution.

GET THE REPORT:

Download the Executive Summary: http://causaoregon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Latino-Contributions-to-Oregon-Executive-Summary.pdf

Download the Full Report http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5535/signup_page/reportdownload

The following links include news coverage and resources regarding the report release event in Portland

Growth Of Latino Population Nearly Half Of State's Total (Oregon Public Broadcasting--OPB) http://news.opb.org/article/growth-latino-population-nearly-half-states-total/

Reporte: Contribución de Latinos en Oregon (Univision-Portland KUNP) http://kunptv.com/multimedia/noticias-locales/39242/6502/reporte-contribuci%C3%B3n-de-latinos-en-oregon

620 AM KPOJ Interview with Carl Wolfson http://www.620kpoj.com/cc-common/podcast/single_page.html?more_page=1&podcast=thom_hartmann&selected_podcast=CAUSA_5-30-12_1338397425_15430.mp3

Oregon's Latino Workforce Growing (KEZI Channel 9 ABC) http://kezi.com/news/local/247744


Photo Slideshow: http://s516.photobucket.com/albums/u329/CAUSAOregon/Latino%20Contributions%20to%20Oregon%20Report%20Release/?albumview=slideshow

Video: May 29th Report Release in Portland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo_WrY0MYhY&feature=youtu.be

Read more »

VIDEO: February Report from Causa's Executive Director

Check out our February video report from Francisco Lopez, Causa's Executive Director:

(in English)



(en Español)

Read more »

Undocumented Workers Are Taxpayers, Too

Today, Oregon Center for Public Policy released a report, Undocumented Workers are Taxpayers, Too (PDF). OCPP does in-depth research and analysis on budget, tax, and economic issues. Their goal is to improve decision making and generate more opportunities for all Oregonians.

Undocumented Workers Are Taxpayers, Too

It's essential that Oregonians recognize the important contribution undocumented workers make to our state's economy. Undocumented immigrants perform vital work in certain industries. Together they earn roughly $2.3 billion to $4.5 billion a year, much of it undoubtedly spent on goods and services purchased from Oregon businesses. And beside labor and purchasing power, undocumented immigrants contribute to Oregon's economy in the form of taxes.

This issue brief updates OCPP's estimates of tax contributions by undocumented Oregon workers. Specifically, OCPP estimates (1) how much undocumented workers pay in state and local income, property and excise taxes; and (2) how much they pay in federal Social Security and Medicare taxes. In addition, we estimate the taxes paid by employers in the name of undocumented workers. These include the employer's share of Social Security and Medicare taxes and the amount employers pay in state Unemployment Insurance taxes in the name of undocumented workers.

Dowload a copy of this issue brief:
Undocumented Workers are Taxpayers, Too (PDF)

Estimated annual tax contributions of undocumented workers in Oregon
Estimated number of undocumented immigrants in Oregon	110,000 – 220,000
Estimated total annual income of undocumented workers	$2.3 billion to $4.5 billion
Total of estimated taxes paid by undocumented workers:	$154 million to $309 million
State and local income, excise and property taxes	$68 million to $136 million
Social Security taxes	$70 million to $140 million
Medicare taxes	$16 million to $33 million
Total of estimated taxes paid by Oregon employers in the name of undocumented workers:	$121 million to $243 million
State Unemployment Insurance taxes	$35 million to $70 million
Social Security taxes	$70 million to $140 million
Medicare taxes	$16 million to $33 million

continue reading>> http://www.ocpp.org/2012/01/25/iss20120120undocumented-workers-are-taxpayers-too/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related materials:
Read the 2007 version of Undocumented Workers are Taxpayers, Too, also available in Spanish (PDF)

Read more »

New Report Challenges DHS on Use of Resources and Targeting of Harmless Individuals

The American Immigration Lawyers Association has just released a new report challenging the claim made by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that it is focusing its finite resources on the "highest enforcement priorities" - namely those who present threats to public safety and national security.

AILA's report, Immigration Enforcement Off Target: Minor Offenses With Major Consequences, shows 127 cases where people all over America being picked up by police for minor offences like loitering or failing to signal before changing lanes. Others have even been picked up for no offences at all.

According to AILA, the stops were so trivial as to betray the real motive for the stop—namely to question someone about their immigration status. None of the people were stopped or charged for anything that could be considered a “serious crime.” In a few cases, police said they made the stop because the person “looked illegal.”

For more on the report and AILA’s recommendations for DHS, please link here: http://immigrationimpact.com/2011/08/17/new-report-shows-dhs-way-off-target-going-after-harmless-individuals/

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, and advance the quality of immigration law practice.

Read more »

New report examines deficits, lawsuits, and diminished public safety from SB1070-type laws

Salem, Ore.--Last week, State Representative Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer, District 25) introduced several bills in the Oregon Legislature. Particularly concerning is the proposed legislation mirrors the extreme policies of Arizona's SB1070 and would create a divisive political climate and hurt minority and immigrant communities in Oregon. The legislation would also force state officials to take the role of federal agents and put an economic burden on state and local government, businesses and local law enforcement.

Your State Can't Afford SB1070

To educate the public and policy makers on the harmful effects of Arizona-style SB1070-type legislation., the National Immigration Forum has introduced a new report titled Deficits, Lawsuits, Diminished Public Safety: Your State Can't Afford SB 1070.

The report examines the legal, political, and economic cost incurred by Arizona in the wake of the passage of SB 1070. It also discusses the threat SB 1070 poses to public safety in Arizona communities. A number of states are considering similar legislation, including Oregon, and this report takes a look at the political environment in those states.

Based in Washington D.C., the National Immigration Forum advocates for the value of immigrants and immigration to the nation. Link here to download the full report from the Forum's website: http://www.immigrationforum.org/images/uploads/2010/SB1070Report.pdf

Read more »

New Study Confirms Positive Impact of Immigration on Wages of Native-Born Workers

This release comes from the Immigration Policy Center. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy arm of the American Immigration Council. IPC's mission is to shape a rational national 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.

For Immediate Release
February 5, 2010

Contact:
Wendy Sefsaf at 202-507-7524

New Study Confirms Positive Impact of Immigration on Wages of Native-Born Workers

Blaming Immigrants for Native-Born Labor Declines Doesn't Add Up

Washington D.C. - The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) yesterday released a new study, Immigration and Wages, which confirms what many other economists have found: "that immigration has a small but positive impact on the wages of native-born workers overall."

This report comes on the heels of other economic reports, from across the ideological spectrum, that explain how comprehensive immigration reform will lift the wages of U.S. workers, increase tax revenue and boost consumer purchasing power.

The EPI report affirms that foreign-born and native-born workers "complement" each other in the labor market through the differing skills and abilities they bring with them to the workplace. When one fully accounts for the many differences between foreign-born and native-born workers in terms of education, occupational experience, and English-language ability, it becomes clear that they cannot simply be swapped for one another like batteries. In fact, the presence of specialized immigrant workers in the labor force tends to increase the productivity, and therefore the wages, of their native-born counterparts.

The report makes clear, the plight of low-wage native-born workers can not be blamed on immigrants as some groups have attempted to do: "Declining job quality for the least-educated American workers is due to a host of factors aside from immigration, including declining unionization rates, the eroding real value of the minimum wage, and trade practices that expose U.S. workers with low levels of education to competition from much lower wage workers around the globe." In short, scapegoating immigrants for the nation's economic woes will do nothing to help American workers.

To read a blog post on the EPI report at ImmigrationImpact.org click here.

To read the EPI report in its entirety click here or visit www.EPI.org.

For more economic studies on immigration reform see:

An IPC/CAP study Raising the Floor for American Workers conducted by UCLA's Dr. Raul Hinojosa shows comprehensive immigration reform that includes a legalization plan for the unauthorized workers already in our economy would contribute a cumulative $1.5 trillion to the Gross Domestic Product over ten years, as more tax revenues are collected, wages increase for U.S.-born and legalized workers, and immigrant workers spend more in our economy.

The libertarian Cato Institute's report Restriction or Legalization? Measuring the Economic Benefits of Immigration Reform also shows that "legalization of low-skilled immigrant workers would yield significant income gains for American workers and households."

###
For more information contact Wendy Sefsaf at 202-507-7524 or wsefsaf@immcouncil.org

Read more »

Organized Labor Report Lays Groundwork For Comprehensive Immigration Reform

This press release comes from our allies at the National Immigration Forum. The National Immigration Forum is the leading immigrant advocacy organization in the country with a mission to advocate for the value of immigrants and immigration to the nation.

For Immediate Release
October 27, 2009

Contact:
Katherine Vargas (kvargas@immigrationforum.org)
(202) 383-5987 or (202) 641-51988 (mobile)

ORGANIZED LABOR REPORT LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM

Washington, DC - Today, the AFL-CIO, American Rights at Work and the National Employment Law Project released a report on how harsh immigration enforcement has "severely interfered with the protection of workers' rights, to the detriment of immigrant and native-born workers alike." The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum, a non-partisan, non-profit pro-immigrant advocacy organization in Washington.

Our deficient immigration system has created an uneven playing field that allows unscrupulous employers to exploit and intimidate immigrant workers and which undermines labor protections and wages, thus eroding workplace conditions for every worker.

Today's report raises the voices of organized labor - the authentic voice of working class Americans - and their support for robust regulation of labor laws and enforceable immigration laws. The labor movement realizes, as immigration reform advocates do, that improved wage and hour enforcement helps good employers and workers alike.

As long as we have 5.4% of the American workforce outside of the system and not protected by basic labor laws, good employers and American workers will continue to be out-hustled by unscrupulous employers that take advantage of our broken immigration laws.

We need comprehensive reform of our immigration system to ensure a legal workforce, protect all workers and restore fairness to the labor market.

Read more »

Anti-immigration Group Gets Called Out for Fuzzy Math

Today, the Immigration Policy Center released a report taking to task the arguments from the anti-immigration group NumbersUSA, which they say "don't add up".

In their report, Fuzzy Math: The Anti-Immigration Arguments of NumbersUSA Don’t Add Up, IPC says NumbersUSA claims immigration to the U.S. "is all about arithmetic". They say the group believes "immigration increases the U.S. population, and more people presumably means more pollution, more urban sprawl, more competition for jobs, and higher taxes for Americans who must shoulder the costs of “over-population."

Looking at the data, IPC says the math doesn't mesh and points out that NumbersUSA's argument, "is fundamentally flawed and misses the point".

“Over-population” IPC says, is not the the cause of "environmental or economic woes facing the United States", and that "arbitrary restrictions on immigration" will not create a "cleaner environment" or "healthier economy".

Read the full report here.

Read more »

Report Shows Legalization of Undocumented Immigrants Would Benefit U.S. Economy

That is what a new report out from the Immigration Policy Center says.

According to their report titled, The Economics of Immigration Reform: What Legalizing Undocumented Immigrants Would Mean for the U.S. Economy, without Comprehensive Immigration Reform the United States cannot experience full economic recovery.

Research included in the report found that:

Legalization increases government revenues by bringing more workers into the tax system.

Workers with legal status earn and spend more.

“Enforcement-only” policies are expensive and ineffective.

Legalization increases immigration’s economic benefits.

Among other things, the report shows that legalization would increase tax revenue; whereas "enforcement only" policies have served to force undocumented labor underground causing a a decrease in revenue.

What about those that already pay taxes into the system? The report states that "between one-half and three-quarters of undocumented immigrants now work “on the books” and pay federal and state income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes", however are ineligible to receive the benefits they are paying for.

This is report is just another piece of evidence why Congress needs to be swift in passing Fair and Just Immigration Reform this year.

To read the full report, please link here, or visit the Immigration Policy Center at www.immigrationpolicy.org

Read more »

Report Finds Immigrant Workers Aid State Economy

This release comes from our allies at OneAmerica. OneAmerica is committed to the vision of a unified nation with justice for all. Their mission is to advance the fundamental principles of democracy, justice, and human rights at the local, state and national levels. For more information, visit their website at www.weareoneamerica.org

OneAmerica report finds immigrant workers aid state economy

'Building Washington's Future' first to examine immigrant worker role in Washington

SEATTLE - A new OneAmerica report - to be released at a news conference Wednesday - outlines demographic trends related to immigrants in Washington; immigrant contributions to the economy through consumption, taxes, and their use of public benefits; the role of immigrants in the workforce and their direct contributions to a variety of industries as "unskilled" workers, immigrant entrepreneurs, and H-1B visa holders.

Presenters at the news conference will speak to the impact of immigrant workers on their businesses and the state economy. The report is the first state-specific report to examine Washington's contributions of immigrants to the economy. Staff will be available to discuss key findings including Washington's national rank and recent demographic changes in foreign born; data on immigrants, tax revenue, and the use of public assistance; and the role of immigrants in the aging workforce.

WHAT: News conference
WHERE: OneAmerica future offices - 1225 S. Weller, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98144
WHEN: Wed., April 8, 10 a.m.
RSVP: Please RSVP here or email Naomi Ishisaka

PRESENTERS:
Pramila Jayapal, Executive Director, OneAmerica
Sarah Curry, Policy and Research Associate, OneAmerica
Luis Fraga, Associate Vice Provost, UW, Director of Diversity Research Institute
Renee Radcliffe Sinclair, Executive Director, Congressional & Public Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Sergio Salinas, Secretary-Treasurer, SEIU Local 6
Dr. Mo Kyson, Iraqi refugee, served as U.S. Army interpreter, highly skilled dentist, underemployed in construction industry

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS
(contact information will be provided at event):
Jon Wyss, Governmental Affairs, Gebber Farms
Josh Koempel, Owner, Potentiality Farms

Read more »

Oregon University Study Shows State Aid to Immigrants Deficient

According to a report released yesterday from the University of Oregon, the State of Oregon is behind other states in helping its growing immigrant population.

In a press release from the University of Oregon on the report, researchers found that “from 1990 to 2005, Oregon's Latino population -- now 10 percent of the state's total -- doubled in 21 counties. And more Russians and Ukrainians came to Oregon and Washington than to any other U.S. region. Oregon is, according a report by University of Oregon researchers, "a leading destination point for refugees," ranking 11th nationally.”

Given the statistics, the State of Oregon, according to researchers, has failed to do enough to “expand necessary social services, improve school curriculums, promote language programs, curb work-site abuse and create local and state task forces.”

Their recommendations:

▪ Policymakers should consider extending statewide a variety of existing successful local-based programs that provide comprehensive, coordinated services for immigrants and refugees.

▪ Rural communities with growing immigrant populations should expand bilingual and multilingual services, encourage greater coordination of existing outreach programs and develop closer liaisons among existing institutions and immigrant populations.

▪ Culturally sensitive family-focused approaches should be incorporated into school curricula to enhance intervention efforts with Latino youth. Latinos account for 16.8 percent of Oregon students enrolled in public schools. At the current growth rate, the Oregon Department of Education projects that 28 percent of student enrollment will be Latino by 2020.

▪ Community task forces should be created that bring together key stakeholders to develop programs and policies that address the needs of immigrants and which create working relationships between newcomers and long-time residents. Such a model, the authors note, is the Portland Task Force on Immigrants and Refugees.

▪ A statewide task force of key stakeholders should be convened to develop an overall strategy aimed at helping immigrant workers to become more economically and socially integrated.

▪ State legislation should be pursued to strengthen protections for all workers in Oregon. Such legislation would address abuses arising from nonstandard employment relationships that allow employers to avoid responsibility and liability for their actions.

▪ Legislation that provides a pathway to citizenship or some form of legal status, and support for programs that increase access to English-language instruction, would do much to promote labor-market success and facilitate acculturation for immigrants. The report notes that an estimated 125,000 to 175,000 of foreign-born residents in Oregon currently are categorized as unauthorized.

Read the full report here (download: english/espanol)

Reference
UO's immigration report reviews historical record and offers recommendations, University of Oregon, Public and Media Relations

Read more »