Immigrants Have Always Belonged In America
Immigrant Heritage Month, first established in June 2014 and observed every year since, is a time for our nation to honor, celebrate, and uplift the stories of immigrants and their communities. In honor of the month-long celebration, 30 cities and counties have launched a multilingual campaign affirming that immigrants have always belonged in America.
“You Belong,” a campaign co-led by Cities for Action (C4A) and Cities & Counties for Citizenship (CC4C) national networks, will be available in nearly 30 languages and “is intended to inspire, uplift, and support immigrant communities in our cities and the nation” during the month of June. “Chicago is a proud, welcoming, and global city shaped by the many cultures and communities that call it home,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “From every corner of the world, people have come here seeking refuge and opportunity, and together, we’ve built a city of hope, resilience, and innovation.”
“This National Immigrant Heritage Month, we want to say clearly and firmly: Chicago will always be a welcoming city. You belong here,’” he continued.
Others cities and counties participating in the “You Belong” initiative include Long Beach, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo County, CA; Aurora, Boulder, Denver, CO; North Miami, FL; Atlanta, GA; Champaign, Chicago, Evanston, IL; Louisville; KY; New Orleans, LA; Boston, Somerville, MA; Baltimore, Montgomery County, MD; Minneapolis, Saint Paul, MN; Roselle, NJ; Albuquerque, NM; New York, NY; Erie, Montgomery County, PA; Dallas, El Paso County, TX; Salt Lake City, UT; and Seattle, Shoreline, WA.
Ahead of the “You Belong” campaign launch, the Boston City Council issued a proclamation recognizing Immigrant Heritage Month and “the countless ways immigration enriches Boston’s neighborhoods, economy, and culture.”
“Immigrants make up over 28% of Boston’s population, with nearly 189,500 foreign-born residents calling the city home,” the proclamation said. “One in ten Bostonians is a naturalized citizen, and nearly 30,000 more are eligible for citizenship. Immigrants play essential roles in every sector of Boston’s workforce – from healthcare and construction to education and entrepreneurship. In fact, immigrants own 28% of Boston’s businesses and contribute billions to the city’s economy and tax base.”
“Beyond economic impact, immigration fuels Boston’s diversity and creativity,” the proclamation continued. “From cuisine and music to language and literature, immigrants bring rich cultural traditions that strengthen community ties and broaden our collective identity.”
Boston’s City of Belonging Festival plans events all month long, including a community concert and panel lifting up LGBTQ immigrants, The Bay State Banner reported. June also marks Pride Month, and is an important reminder that many of our fellow neighbors enriching and bettering our nation with their hopes, skills, and dreams are LGBTQ immigrants who are also deserving of dignity and respect.
Boston’s Office of Immigrant Advancement is also publishing a “Stories of Belonging” comic series to help illustrate the immigrant experience in Boston. One post lifts up a beloved Polish market in town:
“Boston’s immigrant communities help make Boston culturally vibrant, prosperous, and connected,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We lift up our community members by standing in solidarity with the ‘You Belong’ campaign, continuing all efforts to ensure that Boston is a safe and welcoming home for everyone.”
No matter what opponents might claim, the fact is that immigration is good for all of America. In city after city and state after state, immigrants regardless of legal immigration status make robust contributions that help sustain federal programs like Medicare and Social Security, fund schools and libraries, and boost local and national economies. This lifts up everyone, strengthens our communities, and makes for a more hopeful future for all.
In Dallas, Texas, immigrant households contributed nearly one billion in state and local taxes in 2022, the American Immigration Council said last year. Mexican immigrant Ricardo Martínez told The Dallas Morning News that he got his start “picking up trash at construction sites” before being promoted in the industry. “He eventually was one of thousands of workers who helped build Globe Life Field, the Texas Rangers’ home.” In New York state, immigrant-led households contribute more than $27 billion in local and state taxes annually.
“I think it was really important for people to know that immigrants are a big part of New York, and we play a big role in society,” Guadalupe Ramírez, a Mexican immigrant who co-owns a Brooklyn tattoo salon with her dad, told Documented NY last year. “It’s not just the stuff in the news — we also contribute to the community.”
Immigrant-led households overall “paid $524.7 billion in total taxes in 2021, a slight increase since 2019,” Immigration Impact said in 2023. “This includes $346.3 billion in federal income taxes, and $178.4 billion in state and local taxes. These tax contributions made up 15.9% of total tax revenues governments received from U.S. residents in 2021, yet immigrants make up just 13.6% of U.S. households.”
Undocumented workers also contribute, paying an astounding $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022 alone. That includes paying billions to help sustain Social Security – a literal lifeline for elderly Americans, disabled Americans, and American children who have lost one or both parents – and Medicare despite being ineligible for these programs themselves. Common sense action legalizing these essential workers would be the right thing to do for them – and our country.
Since our nation’s founding, untold numbers of immigrants have thrived after arriving here in hopes of new lives for themselves and their loved ones. But another unwavering truth has been that our nation has also thrived because of them. We’ll continue lifting up their stories through the next several weeks – and we hope you’ll join us in celebrating Immigrant Heritage Month.