Revival and Opportunity: Immigrants in Rural America

Revival and Opportunity: Immigrants in Rural America details the pivotal role immigrants play in reviving rural communities across the United States. The report utilizes U.S. Census and American Community Survey data to reveal demographic trends in rural areas, specifically population loss, and how immigrants fill the need for taxpayers and workers to spark much-needed economic revival. The report also examines the local policies that facilitate economic and social integration of newcomers – an outcome deemed to be beneficial to the entire community. Immigrants not only stave off population decline but also fill critical roles in various sectors of the economy, both niche and general. Immigrants, for example, supply an indispensable workforce for industries such as meat processing, dairy, and fruit and vegetable farming. Moreover, foreign-trained health professionals are among some of the only people providing care in these areas. The report finds that communities that focus on English language learning, educational access and social inclusion help immigrants to better integrate and thrive in their new communities, and help these communities adapt to new cultural norms and traditions. Understanding how rural America is adapting to sudden demographic changes can help inform wider immigration policy throughout the U.S. (Sam Jones for The Immigrant Learning Center's Public Education Institute)

View online.