FAQs about the Immigrant Community In Westchester County
Westchester County is a diverse and vibrant community. Approximately 25% of the population is foreign born. This includes people born in countries around the world, but the largest portion (55%) come from Latin America. In addition to a large population of new immigrants, Westchester is home to an ethnically and racially diverse population. 25.9% of the county population is Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% is African American, and 6.6% is Asian.
Q: How many of the immigrants in Westchester are undocumented?
A: The Migration Policy Institute estimates that 54,000 people living in Westchester County are undocumented. This is approximately 5% of the county’s total population of 1 million people.
Q: Are children of undocumented immigrants considered US citizens? Why?
A: Yes, any child born in the United States is a US citizen. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that there are 17,000 undocumented parents in Westchester currently living with at least one child who is a US citizen.
Q: Why do immigrants settle here in Westchester County instead of the city?
A: In recent years, more employment opportunities for new immigrants have become available in the suburbs. These jobs include low-wage domestic work in supporting dual-income families, landscaping, construction, restaurant work, and other service jobs.
Q: If immigrants are undocumented, do they pay taxes?
A: Undocumented immigrants in the United States paid an estimated $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022. $59.4 billion, was paid to the federal government while the remaining $37.3 billion was paid to state and local governments. In 2022, undocumented immigrants paid $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes, funding a critical government program that they cannot even access due to their legal status. In New York, undocumented immigrants contribute over $3.1 billion in state and local taxes annually.