The Importance of Immigrants - New York City's Renaissance
The Importance of Immigrants - New York City's Renaissance
Immigration is responsible for reversing New York City’s population decline, helping the economy to bounce back and reducing the city’s crime rate, reveals a new study by AS/COA.
Immigrants are largely responsible for reversing New York City’s population decline, helping the economy bounce back and reducing the city’s crime rate, according to a study released by the Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS/COA).
The study, titled Immigration and New York City: Contributions of Foreign-Born Americans to New York’s Renaissance, 1975-2013, quantifies the impact immigrants have had on New York for nearly four decades. The study found immigrants have provided a socioeconomic boost for the city, increasing economic opportunity in areas that may have otherwise remained stagnant. Without generations of immigrants, the city’s property tax base would be $500 billion lower than it is today, according to the report.
Additionally, crime rates have gone down in areas with greater numbers of immigrants. The study found over the past two decades, police precincts in high-immigrant areas have seen fewer crimes. For every 1 percent increase in a precinct’s immigrant population, an average of 966 fewer crimes are committed each year – translating to a two-thirds reduction in the city’s overall crime rate....
