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Economy
According to UNC researchers, North Carolina's rapidly growing Hispanic population contributes more than $9 billion to the state's
economy through its purchases, taxes and labor.
If recent migration trends continue, the total economic impact of Hispanic spending in the state could increase to $18 billion by
2009.
Immigrants pay taxes. Annually, they contribute about $756 million in taxes (direct and indirect) while costing the state budget
about $817 million annually for K-12 education ($467 million), health care ($299 million) and corrections ($51 million), for a net
cost to the state of about $61 million, or $102 per Hispanic resident.
Johnson and Kasarda claim that, "Above and beyond their direct and indirect impacts on North Carolina business revenues, Hispanic
workers contribute immensely to the state's economic output and cost competitiveness in a number of key industries."
Education
The current NC Community College System has an open enrollment policy as of November 7th, 2007. This policy states that all
qualified students regardless of citizenship status are eligible to enroll at all community colleges across the state.
Undocumented youth must pay out-of-state tuition rates at both community colleges and four-year public universities in North
Carolina, and are eligible for no federal or financial aid. Thus, they pay significantly more money than their educations cost the
state of North Carolina. In short, undocumented students subsidize public universities, as they pay more than their educations
cost.
North Carolina's state and local governments, businesses, and industry are currently recruiting college graduates from outside the
state, as well as outside the US, to fill shortages in the fields of business, education, and health services. A number of students
who will benefit from the Community College System policy change have the potential to satisfy many of these essential job needs in
NC.
Education is one of the most effective interventions for improving our social and economic future for individuals, communities,
states, and the country as a whole. Given the changing nature of the global marketplace, the high school diploma is no longer
sufficient for individuals seeking good jobs, nor for communities building a vibrant economy.
In the last six years, bills to provide in-state tuition have been enacted in 8 states: California, Illinois, Oklahoma, New York,
Texas, Utah, Kansas, and Washington. No states have enacted repressive legislation barring qualified undocumented youth from
attending college.
Links to resources:
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