Study: Alaska immigrants' economic role grows

JUNEAU - An immigration policy reform group says Alaska's foreign-born and minority populations have a growing presence in Alaska and its economy.

In a new publication, the Immigration Policy Center based in Washington, D.C., says one in 10 Alaskans are Asian or Latino, and those communities have more than $2 billion in buying power.

It says the information comes from Census data and economic information from other research.

The group says illegal immigrants make up about 1 percent of the state's workforce and their removal would lead to $485 million less spending, $215 million less production, and 1,980 fewer jobs.

Molly Haigh says that shows the need for pragmatic immigration reform. She heads an Alaska immigration reform group.