How many illegal immigrants are there in Louisiana?

The Partnership for a New American Economy, which advocates for immigration reform, estimates that 64,585 Louisiana residents are living in the country illegally. They account for about 1 percent of the state’s population.

“These individuals are far more likely than the native-born population — or even the broader foreign-born one — to be in the prime of their working years, or ranging in age from 25-64,” reads the group’s report on Louisiana.

“They also contribute to a range of industries that could not thrive without a pool of workers willing to take on highly labor-intensive roles.”

According to the group, those immigrants, 82 percent of whom are of working age, earned $1.1 billion in 2014 and paid $136.4 million in taxes — nearly $43 million in state and local taxes and almost $94 million in federal taxes.

Additionally, the group estimates that 6,378 people in the country illegally are entrepreneurs in Louisiana, accounting for 12 percent of the state’s working-age undocumented population in 2014.

“Louisiana was the rare state where unauthorized immigrants boasted higher rates of entrepreneurship than either legal permanent residents or immigrant citizens of the same age group,” reads the group’s report.

“Almost 6,400 undocumented immigrants in Louisiana were self-employed in 2014, many providing jobs and economic opportunities to others in their community. Undocumented entrepreneurs in the state also earned an estimated $105.0 million in business income that year.”

The group, which used U.S. Census Bureau data in calculating its estimates, considered immigrants to be legal residents if they met specific criteria, including if they receive public assistance, serve in the armed forces, attend college or are refugees.

Immigrants who met none of the criteria were considered undocumented.

General immigration data for the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis parishes, according to the group:

• Immigrant residents — 23,725.
• Immigrant share of population — 3.1 percent.
• Immigrant taxes paid in 2014 — $156.3 million.
• Immigrant spending power in 2014 — $487.7 million.
• Immigrant entrepreneurs — 1,098.
• Eligible immigrant voters — 7,369.
• Registered immigrant voters — 3,420.
• Homes owned by immigrants — 4,371.
• Immigrant household income — $644 million.
• Taxes paid — $156.3 million; $46.7 million in state and local taxes and $109.6 million in federal taxes.
• Total spending power — $487.7 million.

General immigration data for the 4th Congressional District, which includes Allen, Beauregard and Vernon parishes:

• Immigrant residents — 18,163.
• Immigrant share of population — 2.4 percent.
• Immigrant taxes paid in 2014 — $103.7 million.
• Immigrant spending power in 2014 — $323.7 million.
• Immigrant entrepreneurs — 618.
• Eligible immigrant voters — 6,562.
• Registered immigrant voters — 3,045.
• Homes owned by immigrants — 2,934.
• Immigrant household income — $427.4 million.
• Taxes paid — $103.7 million; $31 million in state and local taxes and $72.7 million in federal taxes.
• Total spending power — $323.7 million.

www.newamericaneconomy.org