Interesting Facts about Ohio's Illegal Immigration

About Ohio
Ohio has the nation’s 10th largest highway network and is within a single-day drive for half of North America’s population. Ohio contains 70% of the country’s manufacturing capacity. The state links the Northeast and Midwest; thus, much business and cargo traffic passes through its borders on this well-developed highway network. Ohio’s economy is primarily based in Agriculture and Industry. The main agricultural commodities produced include: soybeans, dairy products, corn, hogs, tomatoes, poultry, cattle and eggs. The main industrial sectors include: transportation equipment, food processing, machinery, fabricated metal products and electric equipment.

Illegal Immigration to Ohio
The 1990 census found a 14.1% decrease of immigrants to the state from 1980. Overall, Ohio’s immigrant population was only 2.4%, much lower than the US average of 7.9% for the same period. Over 25% of Ohio’s immigrant population in 1990 arrived in the decade between 1980 and 1990.

In the period of 1980 through 2000, the immigrant population to Ohio came primarily from India, China, Germany, Mexico and the Soviet Union. Each country accounts for approximately 6.5% of the immigrant population for a total of 33%. According to the 2000 Census, the naturalization rate of immigrants is much higher than the national average. Ohio has a naturalization rate of 49.9% compared to the national average of 40.1%. Although higher than the national average, this is still significantly lower than the nationalization rate a decade earlier of 59.8%.

Through the 1990s and into the mid-2000s, Ohio maintained a strong economy, a relatively low cost of living and plenty of jobs. As a result, the state became a magnet for immigrants and refugees. As of 2007, however, this changed drastically as the unemployment rate in Ohio climbed above the national average. The educational level of Ohio residents is above the US average for high school graduates, but below the US averages for all higher education, according to data collected in the 2000 Census.

Educational Summary for Ohio:

• High school graduates: 83.0% (US Average 80.4%)
• Some college or more: 46.9% (US Average 51.8%)
• Bachelor’s degree or more: 21.1% (US Average 24.4%)
• Advanced degree: 7.4% (US Average 8.9%)

Illegal Immigration to Ohio
As of 2007, FAIR estimates the state’s illegal alien population to be around 115,000 persons. This equates to less than 10% of the overall population, and is higher than the national average of 7.9%. The annual fiscal cost to Ohio taxpayers for emergency medical care, education and incarceration projected by FAIR is currently $224 million and is estimated to rise to $372 million per year in 2010 and $627 million per year in 2020.

Although Ohio’s illegal immigration rate is higher than the national average, unlike some other states, Ohio has not enacted legislation to curb illegal immigration. The well-traveled highway infrastructure into the state makes it easier for illegal immigrants to arrive and stay in the state.

Ohio Immigration Statistics
Nearly 72% of the total population growth between 2000 and 2006 in Ohio was directly attributed to the immigrant population. There has been a sharp increase in the number of foreign-born students attending school in Ohio from 1960 to 2000. In 1960, there were fewer than 2000 immigrant students in Ohio. By 2007 the number has increased to over 18,000. As of 2000, 5.5% of the population in Ohio consisted of non-English speaking households.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Ohio has an unemployment rate of 5.7%. This can be compared to the national average of 5.0%.

Original article found at http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/ohio.html