By Lorraine Gabbert. San Jose Spotlight.
Immigrants in Santa Clara are one of the main economic drivers and contribute billions of dollars to 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 important role immigrants play in the region’s workforce, businesses and consumer spending.
New Americans in Santa Clara County, a report created by the American Immigration Council and Santa Clara County’s Immigrant Relations Office, reports that 50.3 percent of the county’s business owners in 2021 were immigrants, despite making up 40.6 percent of the population. The report shows that 42,000 immigrant entrepreneurs in the county generated $1.5 billion in revenue.
Maritza Maldonado, executive director of Amigos de Guadalupe, said she has seen an influx of asylum seekers into her office since March, including more than 100 families. Maldonado wants residents to stand in solidarity with immigrants, support advocacy efforts for comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship, celebrate their contributions and vote.
“We know how much our immigrant community has contributed,” she told San José Spotlight, “but having data that can legitimize it is really important. Now we have the facts.”
Zelica Rodriguez-Deams, manager of the county’s immigrant relations office, told San José Spotlight that there hasn’t been a specific needs assessment of the immigrant community in 23 years. She noted that the report shows the strengths, skills and experience of immigrants who are building businesses, paying taxes and enriching the cultural fabric of the region. Rodriguez-Deams noted that the county is developing a welcome 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 of 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 surrounding immigrants’ stories,” she told San José Spotlight. “They help make our community great.”
County Executive James Williams added that these residents help make the county a hub of innovation, creativity and economic growth. He said the county champions immigrant rights through its policies and services and is the first county in the country to provide health insurance for all children, regardless of immigration status. He said the county also leads the nation in sanctuary jurisdiction policy.
County Supervisor Otto Lee explained that the region is made up of different histories, 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 fair share by contributing to the economic growth of the county, the Bay Area and beyond.”
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