Fight ignorance not immigrants

Stand with immigrants and refugees

From our founding in 1919, the International Institute of Minnesota has been driven by a firm belief in a universal idea: that every New American deserves the opportunity to achieve full membership in American life. We know that when refugees and immigrants thrive, so does our community. Minnesota benefits from the contributions of refugees and immigrants. Join us in celebrating immigrant and refugee contributions, sharing the truth, and fighting ignorance.

Purchase and Download Lawn Signs

Immigrants and Refugees Contribute

We invite you to join the movement to fight ignorance not immigrants.

Download a free image, or take a photo of your lawn sign, post to social media, and tag the International Institute of Minnesota.

Share something new you learn about immigrant and refugee contributions to Minnesota and help fight ignorance.

 

Case studies over several decades show immigrants in Minnesota display upward mobility over time in nearly all measurable socioeconomic factors; improving their levels of education, employment and workforce participation rates, income, and homeownership rates.1https://www.mnchamber.com/sites/default/files/The%20Economic%20Contributions%20of%20Immigrants%20in%20Minnesota%203.23.21.pdfhttps://www.mnchamber.com/blog/economic-contributions-immigrants-minnesota-demographic-analysis

  • 56.7%

    of immigrants

    in Minnesota are naturalized U.S. citizens1https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/minnesota/

  • 85.4%

    of refugees

    in Minnesota are naturalized U.S. citizens2https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/minnesota/

  • 253,800

    naturalized citizens

    in Minnesota are eligible to vote3https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/minnesota/

  • 72,600

    immigrants

    in Minnesota are eligible to become U.S. citizens4https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/minnesota/

Three animated people (one medium green, one orange, and one dark green) of varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds with welcoming, open arms over a background with large and small leaves. At the top of the image, in black letters, reads The immigrant journey is the American story.

 

Immigrants and refugees fuel our economy as workers, business owners, tax payers, and consumers. They bring fresh perspectives and determination to our labor force while playing outsized roles in industries where workers are urgently needed, such as healthcare.

  • $26

    billion

    contributed to Minnesota’s economy by immigrants in 20245https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2025/12/11/economist-immigrants-contribute-26-billion-to-minnesotas-economy

  • $1.2

    trillion

    will be added to the U.S. economy by immigrants from 2024-20346https://www.cbo.gov/publication/60569#:~:text=CBO%20estimates%20that%20the%20immigration,reach%20$27%20billion%20in%202034.

  • 42%

    of essential workers

    in Minneapolis during the COVID-19 pandemic were immigrants7https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/06/NAE-Brief.New-Americans-in-Minneapolis.2021.pdf

  • 4,000+

    immigrants

    trained by the Institute and working in healthcare since 19908https://iimn.org/news/celebrating-35-years-of-medical-careers-training/

Three animated people (one medium green, one orange, and one dark green) of varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds with welcoming, open arms over a background with large and small leaves. At the top of the image, in black letters, reads Immigrants and refugees are vital to Minnesota's economy.

 

Refugees do not voluntarily leave their homes. They are forced to flee due to a well-founded fear of persecution and cannot return to their home country.

They are extensively vetted prior to arrival; participating in multiple interviews, submitting biometrics and passing security checks. Many people wait a decade or longer for processing and approval.

Refugees are immediately eligible to begin working. Refugee status provides a pathway to apply for permanent residency (a green card) and later, U.S. citizenship.

  • 26,000+

    refugees

    resettled by the International Institute of Minnesota since 1975.9https://iimn.org/programs/refugee-services/

  • $1.1

    billion

    contributed in Minnesota state taxes by refugees in 2023 10https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/minnesota/

  • 99.1%

    employment rate

    for likely refugees in Minnesota11https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/minnesota/

  • 13%

    of refugees

    in the U.S. are entrepreneurs (compared to 9% for those born in the U.S.)12https://hias.org/news/deep-dive-economic-impact-refugee-resettlement/

Three animated people (one medium green, one orange, and one dark green) of varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds with welcoming, open arms over a background with large and small leaves. At the top of the image, in black letters, reads Refugees defied all odds to arrive here.

 

Immigrants act as leaders in every community across the nation. They help make Minnesota strong and vibrant through their contributions and are essential to the future success of our state and country.

  • 60%

    lower likelihood of incarceration

    for immigrants than those born in the U.S.13https://www.migrationpolicy.org/content/immigrants-and-crime

  • 97+%

    employment rate

    for immigrants in Minnesota14https://d15k2d11r6t6rl.cloudfront.net/pub/bfra/la2h29b2/p0a/ck9/uif/The%20economic%20contributions%20of%20New%20Americans%20in%20Minnesota%20February%202025.pdf

  • 18.3%

    of immigrants

    in Minnesota hold a graduate degree (compared to 13.9% for those born in the U.S.)15https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/minnesota/

  • 83%

    of immigrants

    in Minnesota are proficient in English16https://mn.gov/deed/assets/ona-report-2025-acc_tcm1045-701555.pdf

Three animated people (one medium green, one orange, and one dark green) of varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds with welcoming, open arms over a background with large and small leaves. At the top of the image, in black letters, reads Anti-immigrant rhetoric is not supported by facts.

Show your support for your immigrant neighbors and fight ignorance

Dark green background with light green tree limbs coming out of the top and bottom edges with varying dark green, light green, orange, and yellow leaves. In the middle, reads FIGHT ignorance NOT immigrants.Top half: White background with the words (in orange and dark green) reading FIGHT ignorance NOT immigrants, surrounded by dark green, light green, and yellow horizontal lines coming out of the words fight and not. Bottom half: Nine animated people of varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds (in dark green, light green, orange, and yellow) with welcoming, open arms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase and Download Lawn Signs

 

About the International Institute of Minnesota

For over half a century, the International Institute of Minnesota has successfully welcomed more than 26,000 refugees to our state. Founded in 1919, the International Institute of Minnesota offers New Americans quality services that support their journey to stability and success. The Institute’s comprehensive offerings include refugee resettlement, English education, workforce and leadership development, college preparation, and immigration and citizenship assistance. The Institute is recognized as Minnesota’s leading charitable organization dedicated to helping New Americans rebuild their lives while pursuing their personal and professional goals.

How to Help

Contributions to the International Institute of Minnesota help us fund and provide services during times of uncertainty. The Institute is grateful for the community’s support in standing with New Americans so they can find safety, stability and success. Our mission will remain possible because of the community’s generosity.

Stay informed

  • 1
    https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/minnesota/
  • 2
    https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/minnesota/
  • 3
    https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/minnesota/
  • 4
    https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/minnesota/
  • 5
    https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2025/12/11/economist-immigrants-contribute-26-billion-to-minnesotas-economy
  • 6
    https://www.cbo.gov/publication/60569#:~:text=CBO%20estimates%20that%20the%20immigration,reach%20$27%20billion%20in%202034.
  • 7
    https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/06/NAE-Brief.New-Americans-in-Minneapolis.2021.pdf
  • 8
    https://iimn.org/news/celebrating-35-years-of-medical-careers-training/
  • 9
    https://iimn.org/programs/refugee-services/
  • 10
    https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/minnesota/
  • 11
    https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/minnesota/
  • 12
    https://hias.org/news/deep-dive-economic-impact-refugee-resettlement/
  • 13
    https://www.migrationpolicy.org/content/immigrants-and-crime
  • 14
    https://d15k2d11r6t6rl.cloudfront.net/pub/bfra/la2h29b2/p0a/ck9/uif/The%20economic%20contributions%20of%20New%20Americans%20in%20Minnesota%20February%202025.pdf
  • 15
    https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/minnesota/
  • 16
    https://mn.gov/deed/assets/ona-report-2025-acc_tcm1045-701555.pdf