Immigration in Utah—Fast Facts
by LAUNI DAHL
From Canadian and European Mormon pioneers to Chinese and Irish immigrants who came to work on the Transcontinental Railroad, Utah is rich with immigrant history. We hear about immigration every day on the news, but many people still don’t understand exactly how it works. Here’s a quick rundown of immigration and how it applies to our own community in Utah.
How Many Total Immigrants are in Utah?
According to the American Immigration Council, “Over 8 percent of Utah’s population was born in another country, and a similar proportion of residents are native-born Americans with at least one immigrant parent” (Source: Immigrants in Utah). This translates to approximately 248,529 immigrants in Utah, with 140,753 of these immigrants in the Salt Lake Metro Area (Source: Map the Impact).
Where Are Utah’s Immigrants Originally From?
Currently, the top countries represented by Utah’s immigrants:
Mexico: 43.2% of Utah immigrants
El Salvador: 4.1% of Utah immigrants
Canada: 3.5% of Utah immigrants
Vietnam: 2.9% of Utah immigrants
Philippines: 2.9% of Utah immigrants
(Source: Immigrants in Utah)
What Processes Do Immigrants Have to Go Through to Become Legal Citizens?
(You can review a more detailed outline of this process HERE.) Immigrants and their family members must complete the following steps to become legal citizens:
Petition: They must have a U.S. based sponsor, whether it be a family member or future employer, who will write a petition on their behalf.
Visa Processing: If the petition is approved, they can officially begin the process of obtaining a visa/passport. This includes submitting visa application forms and other related documents, such as financial records, and submitting fees.
Collecting & Submitting Documents: After documents and fees have been processed and approved, the immigrant will receive a date and time for an interview.
Interview: Immigrants will have their fingerprints taken and receive a medical examination. The interviewer will go over documents, such as birth certificates, financial records, marriage certificates, current passports, etc.
After the Interview: If approved, immigrants will receive a visa and a packet of documents that is to remain sealed until presented to U.S. Customs.
(Source: Immigrant Visa Process).
What Draws Immigrants to Utah?
In 2016, Utah was listed 10th in the nation for its number of undocumented immigrants (Source: Davidson). One of the biggest reasons for this is economic opportunity. Senior economist Mark Knold, of the Utah Department of Workforce Services says one of the main reasons undocumented immigrants are drawn to Utah is because “The local population doesn’t want to fill these [lower paying] jobs to the fullest and, therefore, this is an open door for them’” (Davidson). Another reason he cites is climate, observing how immigrants from Mexico “‘are coming into areas where the culture and climate is very much the same as where they come from, in contrast to something like Maine or Michigan" (Davidson).
What Are Some of Utah’s Immigration Laws?
To learn about Utah immigration laws in more detail, click HERE.
According to Utah State Immigration Laws, undocumented immigrants are granted certain rights under state law. Some of these rights include the following:
“Undocumented immigrants may be lawfully employed as part of Utah's guest worker program,” although this program, “lacks many of the labor protections afforded to citizens and legal residents” (Source: Utah State Immigration Laws).
Undocumented immigrants are also allowed to receive a driver license or a non-driver ID.
Voting: Immigrants may vote, if they can provide the required identification.
(Source: Utah State Immigration Laws)
How Can YOU Get Involved?
Government officials are not the only ones addressing immigration. Here are some local programs where you can get involved, whether it's meeting Utah’s immigrants or helping them make an easier transition to life in their new home:
Know Your Neighbor Program: Based in Salt Lake City, the goal of this organization is to help members of the community meet Utah’s refugees and develop friendships with them. They organize many fun and educational opportunities to integrate refugees into our community. Some of their recent events include helping refugees study for the U.S. citizenship test and teaching English, and other skills, to refugee women to help them become more self-sufficient. Check out their Facebook page HERE.
Refugee & Immigrant Center—Asian Association of Utah: The Refugee & Immigrant Center is also located in Salt Lake City. Founded in 1977, their goal is to improve the lives of refugees and immigrants in Utah. You can get involved by volunteering as an English teaching assistant, providing ESL childcare support, being a refugee family mentor, working with refugee youth after school, volunteering with the TIP center (Trafficking in Persons), or even providing administrative support in their office. Find out more HERE.
Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “Remember, remember always that all of us ... are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.” So, next time you hear the latest news in immigration, remember that it’s happening in your own hometown and that it affects everybody, whether you were born in the United States or not. Getting educated and involved in Utah’s immigration and refugee programs is a great way to reach out and make meaningful relationships with our immigrant community.
SOURCES:
Davidson, L. (2016, November 4). Utah ranks No. 10 for share of undocumented immigrants in workforce. Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved from http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=4541055&itype=CMSID
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Remarks to the Daughters of the American Revolution. Washington, D.C. - April 21, 1938. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=15631
Immigrant Visa Process. (n.d.). Retrieved August 22, 2018, from https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/petition.html
Immigrants in Utah. (2018, May 08). Retrieved August 22, 2018, from https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/immigrants-in-utah
Map the Impact. (n.d.). Retrieved August 22, 2018, from https://www.newamericaneconomy.org/locations/
Utah State Immigration Laws. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://immigration.findlaw.com/immigration-laws-and-resources/utah-state-immigration-laws.html