CNBNews

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2020—The American Immigration Council released new data on New Mexico’s immigrant population and their contributions to the state. The New Mexico state fact sheet includes data on population size, occupation, and tax contributions, as well as data on undocumented immigrants and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients in the state.

While the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the critical role immigrants are playing on the front lines and stimulating our economic recovery, it remains crucial for the public to understand the broad range of contributions immigrants make to communities in New Mexico.

The Council's fact sheet, Immigrants in New Mexico, shows that 9% of New Mexico’s residents are immigrants. Foreign-born residents are vital members of New Mexico’s labor force, with immigrants accounting for 40% of the state’s fishers, farmers, and foresters, and 24% of employees in the construction industry.

The fact sheet also reveals that immigrants in New Mexico represent 12% of the state’s labor force and paid $603.1 million in federal taxes and $393 million in state and local taxes in 2018. As consumers, immigrants spent $3.2 billion on New Mexico’s economy. Immigrant entrepreneurs in New Mexico generated $319.5 million in business revenue. 

As of 2019, New Mexico was home to 5,800 active DACA recipients, and 70% of DACA-eligible immigrants in the state had applied for DACA. New Mexico DACA recipients and DACA-eligible individuals paid an estimated $16.5 million in state and local taxes in 2018.

Undocumented immigrants comprised 3% of New Mexico’s total population and 4% of the state’s workforce in 2016. Undocumented immigrants in New Mexico paid an estimated $49.5 million in federal taxes and $40.5 million in state and local taxes in 2018.

Drawing from U.S. Census data and other sources, the Council developed 50 state fact sheets—including infographics—that provide the latest demographic and economic contributions of immigrants in each U.S. state and can be accessed here.