Just as we came together from different places and races to build New Mexico in past decades, a strong future for our state includes immigrants.

Immigrant workers and business owners grow New Mexico’s economy

  • 194,000 immigrants reside in New Mexico. Immigrants work in low-wage, middle-wage, and higher-wage jobs in sectors across our state’s economy
  • 16% of Main Street business owners in New Mexico are immigrants, operating storefront shops that help keep downtown areas vibrant
  • 11% of New Mexico workers are immigrants, including:
    • 21% of cooks
    • 31% of college professors
    • 13% of personal care aides

It turns out that immigrant workers and business owners generate $12 billion of economic output in New Mexico. Immigrant contribution to GDP is about the same as immigrant share of the labor force.

Immigration increases opportunity for New Mexicans

When immigrants move to New Mexico, the economy grows. That means more jobs: a bigger economy means more consumers, more workers, and more business owners. Study after study shows there is no fixed number of jobs in a state. Immigration creates opportunities that benefit U.S.-born workers too.

As New Mexicans age, we’ll need more workers

As our population ages, new immigrants help keep our economy growing at a sustainable rate. Immigrants help meet growing needs for health care, home care, and supportive services that are key for older New Mexicans to have a dignified retirement.

Some people try to scapegoat immigrants to keep us divided. We don’t have to fall for it.

After decades of stagnating wages, today wage growth is starting to move in the right direction. We know how to create a good economy for workers. It requires uniting around policy choices like investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, and our care economy with strong labor standards. Regardless of race or country of birth, we all do better when we unite for policies that grow jobs and wages.