Arkansas immigrants Naomi Turner
grow in diversity, numbers and influence Over the last ten years, the immigrant population in Arkansas has almost doubled, but according to research commissioned by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, immigrants still represent only 5% of the state’s total population. “The Foundation’s primary goal with this report,” says Dr. Sherece West-Scantlebury, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation President and CEO, “is to provide relevant data to help community, business, and policy leaders better understand the population of immigrants and Marshall Islanders in Arkansas.” The three-volume report, A Profile of Immigrants in Arkansas 2013, describes the demographic characteristics of the state’s immigrant population, their economic and fiscal impact, and the state’s Marshallese community. The report – produced by researchers from the Migration Policy Institute, the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Arkansas – is a follow-up to a similar study in 2007. Volume 1 of the report notes that Arkansas ranked fourth among states in immigrant population growth in the 10year period ending in 2010. The state’s foreign‐born population rose by 82 percent during that decade. Approximately two-thirds of Arkansas’s immigrants come from Latin America, and Latino immigrants and their children comprise the state’s fastest-growing demographic group. Families from the Marshall Islands, from Asia, Africa and Europe are also among the state’s increasing immigrant population. “The diversity of many communities in our state has increased exponentially over the past 10 years, “says West-Scantlebury. “That means we have to pay attention to all members of our community having access to the same opportunities to succeed.” The percentage of children of immigrants in Arkansas doubled from 5 percent to 10 percent over the 10-year period ending in 2010. The number of
Latino children in the state grew by 38,000 while the number of white children fell by 23,000. The study noted that 82 percent of children with immigrant parents were US-born citizens. State Chamber of Commerce CEO Randy Zook says the immigrants represent more than just new residents. “They are an important part of the state’s economic future,” he says. The state’s relatively strong economy and low cost of living attracts immigrants and eases their integration into Arkansas life. While 30 percent of Latino immigrants live below the poverty line, Arkansas immigrants are just as likely to own their own homes as immigrants are nationally. Half of the state’s Latino immigrants and two-thirds of other immigrants own their own homes. “The economic benefit is only part of the story we want to tell,” says WestScantlebury. “Immigrants are long-term residents of the state and are contributing to stronger neighborhoods and vibrant communities.” Nearly half of Arkansas’s immigrants—44 percent—reside in the three Northwest counties of Benton,
Jason Miczek
Marshallese girls pick fresh herbs during a special cooking week.
Arkansas’s relatively strong economy and low cost of living attracts immigrants.
Washington and Sebastian. Many live in the cities of Rogers, Springdale, Fayetteville and Fort Smith. Another 17 percent live in Pulaski County, home to the state’s capital city of Little Rock. Over half have been in the state more than 10 years. A handful of rural communities in Yell, Sevier and other western counties have also seen a significant influx of immigrants. Most counties in Arkansas’s south and east have foreign-born resi-
dents that account for less than two percent of their overall populations. “We encourage our state’s community leaders and policymakers to use the report to engage in data-driven conversation about the positive impact of immigrants on our state’s communities and economy,” says Dr. West-Scantlebury. “We need to invest in the future of immigrants if the state is to benefit from their culture, productivity and economic contributions.”
wrfoundation.org - a special supplement from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation | A PROFILE OF IMMIGRANTS IN ARKANSAS - 2013 — 3