FYI Immigrants added $3 billion to the Arkansas economy in 2004. (Vol. 2, pg. 5) Our immigrant community used $237 million in state services (mostly educational and health services) in 2004 but paid $257 million in taxes resulting in a surplus to the state budget of almost $20 million. (Vol. 2, pg. 17) If we sent all the immigrants home tomorrow, our manufacturing output would drop by $1.4 billion and factories would close across Arkansas due to an acute labor shortage. (Vol. 2, pg. 17) Immigrant spending has created 23,100 jobs that are held primarily by Arkansans born in the United States. Those jobs would disappear if our immigrant community disappears. (Vol. 2, pg. 5) Central Arkansas would alone lose $638 million in business revenues, 5,000 jobs and $143 million in payroll without its immigrant community. An even greater impact would exist in Northwest Arkansas. (Vol. 2, pg. 6) There are nine counties: Benton, Craighead, Crawford, Faulkner, Garland, Pulaski, Saline, Sebastian and Washington, which have immigrant populations with at least $50 million in purchasing power, that is, income available for spending in the local communities after taxes, savings and remittances have been subtracted. (Vol. 2, pg. 6) The education of immigrant children represents an important investment in Arkansas’ future workforce. If we permit them, many will go to college and Accelerate the economic progress their parents have started. (Vol. 1, pg. 64)

NOW what you said Ignorants