More help urged for immigrants

$25 mil. needed to teach English, study says

Illinois would boost its economy and lead the nation if it rolled out the red carpet to the state's estimated 1.75 million foreign-born residents and their 1.5 million U.S.-born children, according to a study released Wednesday.

The state's New Americans Advocacy and Policy Office and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights found that immigrant workers drive Illinois' labor force growth in both low- and high-skilled jobs.

The authors of the study -- a collection of immigrant rights groups, academic scholars and state social service departments -- say immigrants make up 12.6 percent of the state's population but represent 17 percent of the state's total workers and more than 27 percent of workers with doctoral degrees.

"Immigrants are an asset in a rapidly changing economy," said Joshua Hoyt, executive director of the coalition. "We can either invest in it or let it be and hope for the best."

The report lists statewide policy changes that could help immigrants integrate.

The authors, who presented their findings to the Blagojevich administration Wednesday, called on the governor to set aside $25 million for English language education services.

Grace Hou, assistant secretary of the Department of Human Services, said English classes could benefit illegal immigrants as much as legal ones, but most state programs are open only to legal immigrants.

"But only about a quarter of the 1.7 million immigrants in Illinois reside here illegally," Hoyt said.

ecepeda@suntimes.com