In contrast to what anti-immigrant activists would have citizens of North Carolina believe, Latin American immigrants make a hugely positive impact on the city and state, according to statistics released today by the Charlotte Latin American Coalition.

Here are excerpts from a press sheet the organization released, taken from the website NCPolicyWatch.org:

The 2010 purchasing power of North Carolina’s Latino population totaled $14.2 billion — an increase of 1,601.2% since 1990. The state’s 21,301 Latino-owned businesses had sales and receipts of $4.2 billion and employed over 19,000 people.

With 5.4% (or 250,000 workers) of North Carolina’s workforce comprised of unauthorized immigrants, the assumption of many residents, including State Representatives in Raleigh, is that unauthorized immigrants are a burden to the economy and resources of our state. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Unauthorized immigrants in North Carolina . . . paid $317.7 million in state and local taxes in 2010. These taxes, vital sources of revenue for the state of North Carolina, include state income taxes, property taxes (even if they rent), and sales taxes. North Carolina ranks 10th in the nation as a state that receives the most tax revenue from households headed by unauthorized immigrants . . . In spite of the fact that they lack legal status, these immigrants — and their family members — are adding significant value to the North Carolina economy; not only as taxpayers, but as workers, consumers, and entrepreneurs as well.

Read the entire press release here.