About Michigan
Michigan has approximately 40,000 square miles of territorial waters, second only to Alaska . Michigan also holds the record for the longest fresh water shoreline in the world, which is equivalent to the length of the Atlantic shoreline from Michigan to Florida. Michigan’s economy is primarily based in the agriculture industry. The main agricultural commodities produced include: dairy products, apples, blueberries, cattle, vegetables, hogs, corn, nursery stock, and soybeans. The main industrial sectors include: Motor vehicles and parts, machinery, fabricated metal products, food processing, chemical products, mining and tourism.

Immigration to Michigan
As of 2006, it is estimated (FAIR) that the immigrant population of Michigan is 621,060 which equates to approximately 6.4% of the state’s population. The majority of immigrants are from India (10%), China (7%), Mexico (5%), Canada (5%), and Former Soviet Union (5%). Laos, Germany, Thailand, Korea, U.K. and Poland account for approximately 68% of the immigrants to Michigan.

There has been an increase in the foreign-born population both through new immigrant residents in the state as well as through the children born to immigrants. It is estimated the immigrant population and immigrant births are adding nearly 20,235 persons to Michigan every year, equating to 81.1% of the state’s overall population increase. The 2000 Census reports 523,589 immigrant residents in Michigan, the 16th highest in the US. This is an increase of 47.3% over the 1990 foreign-born population recorded at 355,393 immigrants. This increase is significantly higher than the 5.3% increase in the native-born population for the state of Michigan.

An indication of the change in the immigrant population in Michigan may be seen from the 2000 Census where the share of non-English speakers at home increased to 8.2% up from 6.6% recorded in 1990. Additionally, 37.7% of those who said they spoke a language other than English at home also said they spoke English less than very well. Michigan’s naturalization rate of 45.8% is higher than the national average of 40.1% based upon data recorded during the 2000 Census. The data collected in the 2000 Census shows a drop in the 55.7% naturalization rate recorded 1990, indicating an influx of new immigrants, including illegal immigrants.

Illegal Immigration to Michigan
As of 2007, FAIR estimates the state’s illegal alien population to be around 200,000 persons which equates to less than two percent of the overall population. The annual fiscal cost to Michigan taxpayers for emergency medical care, education and incarceration projected by FAIR is currently $394 million and is estimated to rise to $656 million per year in 2010 and $1.1 billion per year in 2020.

Michigan Immigration Statistics

• Michigan receives on average more than 2,700 refugees per year.
• The Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (HHS) provides an average of $251 per refugee in employment training and other services programs.
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2007 Michigan’s unemployment rate is 7%, which is higher than the national average.