Demographics and Immigration

• Between 1990 and 2000 the foreign-born population in Kentucky grew by 135 percent making Kentucky one of 10 states with the highest percentage increase in foreign-born population.

• The Hispanic/ Latino population grew by an estimated 183.4 percent in Jefferson County between 1990 and 2000; Jefferson County has the largest number of international migrants in the state, followed by Fayette County.

• Numbers based on the U.S. census significantly underestimate the true population of immigrants, Hispanics / Latinos in particular, currently residing in Kentucky. Relying on these numbers makes a significant portion of the Hispanic / Latino population in Louisville Metro invisible.

• Some estimate that a more realistic number for the Hispanic Latino community in Louisville Metro is 50,000-55,000 and that the proportion of the immigrant and international community represented by Hispanics / Latinos is much greater than the 31.9 percent quoted in the census statistics.

• Additionally, immigrant seasonal workers flow into Kentucky in spring and fall.

• The Hispanic/Latino population is the fastest growing immigrant group in Louisville.

• Nationally, Hispanics Latinos are:
o The largest minority group in the United States.
o A heterogeneous group, including persons from every race and over twenty countries.

• Latinos/Hispanics are the fastest growing population in the U.S. and currently account for over 13% of the total population. From 1990 to 2000, Hispanic/Latino population grew from 22.3 to 35.3 million.

• Because of Kentucky’s birthrate, the state’s population would decline if not for immigration.

• By 2050, 1 in 4 women will be Latina.

• Approximately three-fourths of immigrants have legal permanent status. Of those who are undocumented, almost half overstayed their visas.

Health
o Nationally, Hispanic / Latinos are most likely to lack health insurance (32.7% versus 11.3% Whites and 19.6% African Americans) and have limited access to health services.
o The ten leading causes of death for Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S. are heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, stroke, diabetes, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, homicide, chronic lower respiratory disease, pneumonia and influenza, and birth defects.
o Additionally, Hispanics/Latinos have disproportionately high levels of asthma, HIV/AIDS, obesity, suicide, teenage pregnancy, and tuberculosis.

Housing
o Nationally, Hispanic / Latinos are less likely to own a home.
o According to the Fannie Mae Foundation, “The effect of immigration is to bring new residents to large cities…The housing and retail markets at the heart of many of our large cities are sustained by these new arrivals. And the ready supply of willing workers encourages new job creation.”

Employment
o As the non-Hispanic labor force shrinks in Kentucky, the Hispanic / Latino labor force grows and fills in the gaps.
o Nationally, Hispanic / Latinos are slightly more likely to participate in the labor force than the total U.S. population.
o The National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council concluded that in 1997 the United States reaped a $50 billion surplus from taxes paid by immigrants at all levels of government. The total net benefit to the Social Security system, if immigration levels remain constant, will be nearly $500 billion through 2022 and nearly $2 trillion through 2072.

Economy
o The rate of growth of Hispanic-owned businesses (31 percent) between 1997 and 2002 was three times that of the national average (10 percent).
o Immigrants, both documented and undocumented, contribute substantially to the economy through their purchasing power and tax contributions.

Education

• The Hispanic / Latino school enrollment experienced triple digit growth (1801in 1993-1994 to 8337 in 2002-2003) with 362 percent.

• The number of Kentucky students with limited English proficiency has grown from about 1,300 in 1990 to over 11,000 in 2005.

• About 75 percent of immigrants speak English well within 10 years of arriving in the United States. Demand for English as a Second Language classes exceeds availability.

• According to a national 2004 poll conducted by Zogby International, “Latinos are optimists, are committed to hard work, believe in the importance of learning English and getting a college education, and support the idea of Hispanics of different backgrounds working together to build political power.”