Immigration Doesn't Hurt Jobs, New Study Finds

Immigration has been a political wedge issue, and many myths have circled about how immigrant labor allegedly reduces job prospects for local residents. A report released by the Wisconsin Policy Research center found that immigration doesn't affect local employment opportunities, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette. The study, based on 2000 census data, found that immigrant households consumed between $4 million and $18 million, most of which were in public education. The report comes six months after Green Bay passed an ordinance that allowed the city to revoke the license of any business found to be employing undocumented workers. "The question you have to ask is that while on the short term it will cost some money, in the long term will this solve a problem for the work force," James Miller, president of the Thiensville-based institute that studies public-policy issues in the state, told The Associated Press.

Read Latino Population Growth in Untraditional Areas Shows Benefit to Economy to learn more about these contributions.  

Black, Latina Youths Redefine View of Leadership

A survey conducted by The Girls Scouts of America, the nation's largest organization for girls, with 2.6 million members, found that the majority of Black girls and boys and Latina girls viewed themselves as leaders; only half of white youths viewed themselves in the same way, reports The Washington Post. The survey, which sampled 4,000 youths, found that boys were more likely to cite fewer personal reasons for not wanting to be a leader and that Black and Latina girls were surer about their capabilities. Some experts explain that usually Black and Latino girls have more responsibilities, either at home or in the community, than whites, reports the Post. Researchers also say the study provides some insight into how the next generation will view leadership.

U.S. Immigration Service Relaxes Green-Card Provisions 

The United States Immigration Service announced it will temporarily stop denying green cards for immigrants from groups that sought to overthrow foreign dictatorships, reports The Washington Post. Analysts hope the decision will move along hundreds of green-card applications that have been delayed in processing by the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department. The two departments have been criticized by both Congress and nongovernmental immigration groups, and in December, Congress passed legislation to broaden the wavier provisions for people under certain circumstances, reports the Post.

Anti-Immigration Law Costs State $1.8B

As more states enact increasingly harsh undocumented-immigration laws, some organizations are studying the impact such legislation has on the local economy. A new study released by the Economic Impact Group projects that Okalahoma's anti-immigration policy would cost the state $1.8 billion in economic losses, reports The Associated Press (AP). The projection, commissioned by The Oklahoma Bankers Association, examined how the leaving of 50,000 workers both documented and undocumented who were fearful of or discouraged by the bill would cause a 1.3 percent reduction in gross state product over the next few years. Oklahoma, which is one of the states with the harshest immigration laws, currently has a foreign-born population between 111,000 and 175,000. Fifty thousand to 75,000 are estimated to be undocumented workers, according to the AP. Read How Does Your State Measure Up on Immigration? to learn about the immigration laws in your state.

First Black, Transgender Delegate Named to DNC Convention 

Marisa Richmond will make history this year as the first Black, transgender delegate named to the Democratic National Committee, reports Washington Blade. Richmond, who transitioned in 2001, is a Middle Tennessee State University professor and a registered lobbyist for transgender-equality issues. On Super Tuesday, Richmond was elected to the Davidson County Democratic Committee representing District 23 and became the first openly transgender person to win an election in Tennessee. Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean also named Diego Sanchez to one of the convention's committees, making him the first transgender person selected by the chair of the DNC.

Immigrant Women Open More Businesses Than Native-Born Women

A report released by Intuit, the personal-finance company that owns QuickBooks, Quicken and TurboTax, shows that immigrant women start more businesses than native-born women. The study, which looked at a three-year period, examined the number of start-ups operated by women and found that 310 out of every 100,000 immigrant women started a business versus 220 of every 100,000 native-born women, reports WiredPRNews.com. The study also found that immigrant workers saw starting their own businesses as a way to "have greater flexibility in raising children, to avoid barriers found in traditional jobs, or to make use of skills that aren't in demand in corporate America," reports WiredPRNews.com. Find out about a new technology-based resource that levels the playing field for small business.

For more information on micro-finance and starting your own business with the help of the Small Business Administration, check out the March 2008 issue of DiversityInc magazine.

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