10 critical facts on immigration

Between President Donald Trump’s family separation policy, ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and his attacks on communities of color, immigration is shaping up to be a crucial issue in the midterm elections. Before we head to the polls, let’s get the facts straight.

1. Immigration touches the lives of millions in Texas: 4.1 million people in Texas were native-born Americans who had at least one immigrant parent in 2016.
2. Texas is ground zero for the immigrants' rights movement, with 1,254 miles of shared border with Mexico and 16 percent of residents identifying as foreign-born.
3. Immigration courts bring into light the failure of our criminal justice system. In 2013 alone, 83 percent of people deported from the U.S. were not even given a hearing before a judge.
4. Texas legislators continue to target the Hispanic communities with racists laws that profile immigrant communities. As such, Hispanic motorists are 33 percent more likely to be searched than their white counterparts.
5. The failed criminal justice system disproportionately targets communities of color, studies show the federal government spends more on immigration enforcement, like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), than on all the major law enforcement agencies combined.
6. Trump’s attacks on DACA program have a disproportionate effect on Texas families, with more than 110,000 DACA recipients residing in the Lone Star State.
7. Immigrants are a vital part of the Texas economy, with immigrant-led households paying $20.4 billion in federal taxes and $8.7 billion in state and local taxes in 2014.
8. This held true for undocumented immigrants, who paid $1.6 billion in state and local taxes in 2014. Their contribution to state coffers would increase to $1.7 billion if only they received legal status.
9. Immigrants are an economic powerhouse. In 2014, Texans in immigrant-led households had $89.6 billion in spending power.
10. Deportations have dramatic effects on families, friends, and communities of those sent to a country many of them have never called home. Every day, more than 1,000 deportations occur and tear at the fabric of our communities.

The lives of immigrant families who call Texas home are on the ballot in the coming days, will you show up to support our neighbors?