DEMOGRAPHICS
Arrivals

*Data source: Refugee Processing Center: Admissions and Arrivals, excludes Special Immigrant Visa holders (SIV) from Afghanistan and Iraq.

21,095 newcomers make up 2% of the population.

**Data source: New American Economy: Refugees in Montana

DIVERSITY CONTRIBUTION
Top Newcomer Languages
  • French
  • Tigrinya
  • Tigre
  • Arabic
  • Swahili
  • Kikongo
  • Lingala
  • Kuanama
  • Somali
  • Oromo
  • Afar
93.3%
Speak Host Country's Language
ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION
$167.2M
Immigrant Federal Taxes Paid
$55.5M
Immigrant State Taxes Paid

`*Data source: New American Economy

$851.5M
Immigrant Household Income
$628.9M
Total Spending Power
21,095
Total Immigrant Residents

*Data source: New American Economy

*Top 3 Fields of Labor

Architecture & Engineering

9.7%

Building and Ground Cleaning

5.5%

Ground Transportation & Material Moving

4.6%

*Top % share of the immigrant labor force in Montana.

*Data used: Ammerican Immigration Council

$20,000
Raised from Refugee Weekly Meal Program
SOCIO-FAMILIAL STABILITY CONTRIBUTION
Unaccompanied Children Released to Sponsors
# OF IMMIGRANT (REFUGEE & ASYLEE) FAMILY REUNIFICATIONS

*Data not available

COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION CONTRIBUTIONS
Local Refugee Entrepreneurs & Heroes
  • Sawyer Company
    Albers Family
  • Outdoor Outfitters
    Cheffs Family
  • Mayor of Helena
    Wilmot Collins

*Data source: Forbes

53.3%
Naturalized Immigrants in MT
1,000+
Missoulans March for More Refugee Resettlement

"Unless you can trace your lineage back to Sophie (Elder of the Salish Tribe) and her people, ... you're an immigrant, ... we're all children of immigrants, and all our relations came her fleeing someplace else." - Dave Strohmaier (Missoula County Commissioner)

*Data source: Missoula Refugee Resettlement

Wilmot Collins - former Liberian refugee now serving as Mayor of Helena, Montana

September 8, 2023

Holidays are an important time to include newcomers. Newcomers are often aching for the traditions and holiday magic they knew at home - and the connections with family and friends. The Garcias* came from a strong family and community that knew generous and giving holiday traditions. I knew, when I met our new friends from Venezuela, the rich bond we would have; this was a kindred spirit family. Even though we have been bad at communicating (Google Translate is such a false hope), it was easy to find connections that helped us love each other.

Volunteers
Sherianne
Director of Advocacy
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