Immigrants are one of Santa Clara County's key economic drivers, bringing billions of dollars into the community.
Approximately 765,800 immigrants contributed $255 billion to the county's gross domestic product in 2021, according to a recent report that reveals the significant role immigrants play in the region's labor force, businesses and consumer spending.
New Americans in Santa Clara County, a report created by the American Immigration Council and Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations, reports that 50.3% of the county's business owners in 2021 were immigrants, even though they comprised 40.6% of the population. The report shows 42,000 immigrant entrepreneurs in the county generated $1.5 billion in income.
Maritza Maldonado, executive director of Amigos de Guadalupe, said since March she's seen an influx of asylum seekers in her office, including more than 100 families. Maldonado wants residents to stand in solidarity with immigrants, support advocacy efforts for comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship, celebrate their contributions and vote.
"We know how much our immigrant community has contributed," she told San Jose Spotlight, "but to actually have data that can legitimize it is really important. Now we have the facts."
Zelica Rodriguez-Deams, manager for the county office of immigrant relations, told San Jose Spotlight a needs assessment specific to the immigrant community hasn't been done in 23 years. She said the report shows the strengths, skills and expertise of immigrants who are building businesses, paying taxes and enriching the region's cultural fabric. Rodriguez-Deams said the county is developing a welcoming and belonging plan for new immigrants and surveying existing communities to assess their needs from housing and education to language access and legal services.
Julie Ramirez, manager for Santa Clara County's Division of Equity and Social Justice, said the study highlights the contributions of immigrants and the need to diversify services and make them accessible.
"We hope to demystify and counter the negative narrative that surrounds the stories of immigrants," she told San Jose Spotlight. "They help make our community great."
County Executive James Williams added that these residents help make the county a center for innovation, creativity and economic growth. He said the county stands up for immigrant rights through its policies and services and is the first county in the nation to provide health insurance for all children, regardless of immigration status. He said the county also leads the nation on sanctuary jurisdiction policy.
County Supervisor Otto Lee said the region is made up of different stories, backgrounds, cultures and families from around the world.
"Silicon Valley offered immigrants opportunity and hope," Lee said, "and in return, these hard-working immigrants did more than their share contributing to the economic growth of the county, the Bay Area and beyond."
This story, from Bay City News Service, was originally published by San Jose Spotlight.
Comments
Registered user
another community
on Sep 24, 2023 at 11:22 am
Registered user
on Sep 24, 2023 at 11:22 am
Hispanic Americans send nearly $60B to their relatives in Mexico and this concerted effort is commendable.
Other ethnic immigrants should consider doing the same.
Registered user
Green Acres
on Sep 24, 2023 at 1:48 pm
Registered user
on Sep 24, 2023 at 1:48 pm
"immigrants, even though they comprised 40.6% of the population. "
This is pretty exciting to me!
Registered user
Community Center
on Sep 24, 2023 at 4:35 pm
Registered user
on Sep 24, 2023 at 4:35 pm
It would be nice to know how many of these immigrants were legal vs illegal immigrants.
Registered user
College Terrace
on Sep 25, 2023 at 12:53 am
Registered user
on Sep 25, 2023 at 12:53 am
Billions of dollars into the economy of the rich and literally pennies in return investment. Even Calif called out as “charity” from PACC dais. Institute 2000 home for put most weary & fore lorn.
SCCounty has turned its back for decades on the sweat equity of a “migrant” workforce, hoping the language barrier will shield the responsibility of housing, food, fuel and other necessities essential to human sustainable living.
We’ll “take care of the rest”. Phooey . Like Nina Simone sings,
Ty “we are all going to die, and die like flies”. Unless u can afford an electric heat pump jump from council, Pat Burt.
It’s an economic and SOCIAl solution. Forget your SFHome remodel, second/third home purchase, vacation home elsewhere or a Tesla commute.,
Get busy, get going, get involved and active. We can solve our tri-fecta of human driven disparities together . SFHo unite.
Note:
Tents visible are really our underbelly of truth. Calif is in ruin. The 9th circuit v Boise is protection for our very democracy: house, to serve, protect our residents of local ill prepared civic endorsements.
And in contrary. The Gov, then Prez, institutionalized , cemented Reaganonics — 50 years ago, is on us now.
A true Back to the Future economy prevails. I personally have never felt so trapped. There is no wiggle room to salvation. The weight of bombs for Non NATO Ukraini is killing the last vestiges of any American dream that once existed. Retire l, “retires” to our Pacific Coast? Very few.
Registered user
Charleston Meadows
on Sep 25, 2023 at 8:36 am
Registered user
on Sep 25, 2023 at 8:36 am
This is good news. But as an earlier commenter stated, it would be good to know if this is referring only to legal immigrants. Undocumented immigrants are, from my experience, very hard working, too, but this report doesn’t explain whether they are included in these statistics.
Registered user
University South
on Sep 25, 2023 at 9:31 am
Registered user
on Sep 25, 2023 at 9:31 am
I believe immigrants in this report refers to people living here who report themselves as foreign born. This foreign born count does not distinguish how the residents arrived here. And how they arrived here does not affect the results of the study about the impact of immigrants in our local economy.
Registered user
Menlo Park
on Sep 25, 2023 at 11:33 am
Registered user
on Sep 25, 2023 at 11:33 am
If you are here illegally or legally and were born elsewhere. It just seems to me, this is the way it should be. Not to congratulate those who have crossed legally or illegally. They want what we have. America and it is ours. They should pay. Stop shaming the Americans who are here. You don't see this in any other democracy that exist. Why do we always have to be the "Unicorn" of decency?
Registered user
Midtown
on Sep 25, 2023 at 2:17 pm
Registered user
on Sep 25, 2023 at 2:17 pm
I recently retired from a construction company. For decades we have had workers with fake social security numbers. Many of them managed to solve the problem of becoming legal residents. My point is that whether they were undocumented or not, their taxes were paid to the U.S. and to the State of California. A lot of those social security dollars paid in will never be credited to them when they are old. Visit any kind of construction site and you will hear lots and lots of Spanish.
Registered user
another community
on Sep 25, 2023 at 4:14 pm
Registered user
on Sep 25, 2023 at 4:14 pm
" A lot of those social security dollars paid in will never be credited to them when they are old."
Don't come here illegally and don't use fake social security numbers. And quit hiring workers who are here illegally. It's against the law. Problem solved.
With the exception of Native Americans, we're a nation of immigrants. But most of us came here legally. And that's the way it should be. Dreamers can "dream on." Great song!