New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is out with a report on immigration in New York. Speaking with WAMC's Capital Region Bureau Chief Dave Lucas, DiNapoli notes immigrants have played a significant role in shoring up what would otherwise be flagging populations in several upstate cities, including Buffalo, Utica and across the Mohawk Valley.
“Immigrants are nearly a quarter of our population. While the vast majority live in New York City, many are reshaping our suburban and upstate communities and helping revive our main streets,” New York State Comptroller DiNapoli said. “Our report found that most immigrants in New York are well-educated and actively participate in the workforce. Their rich diversity of cultures and experiences help make our state strong.”
As of 2014, the number of immigrants in New York was surpassed only by California at nearly 10.3 million. Most are long-established residents of the United States; two-thirds entered the country before 2000. New York also ranks third as a harbor for refugees admitted to the United States, behind Texas and California.
More than 92 percent of all New York’s immigrants reside in New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley, according to the report. For those immigrating to New York state from 2010 to 2015, nearly 75 percent of the 631,000 immigrants settled in New York City. Another 73,000 made their homes in upstate cities, primarily Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.