Maine's immigrant population is on the whole relatively stable and well integrated.
That's the conclusion of a new report by the Migration Policy Institute, a national, nonpartisan think tank. It found that nearly 75% of immigrants in Maine are either green card holders or naturalized citizens, and about half have lived in the state for 20 years or more.
Pulling largely on Census data, the report says that about 75% are proficient in English, and about two thirds own homes.
Co-author Valerie Lacarte says that reflects the state's longstanding Canadian, European, Asian, and African communities.
"Overall, the immigrant community in Maine is fairly well integrated and well settled," Lacarte said.
On the other hand, Lacarte said newer arrivals, mainly from Africa and Latin America, face more acute struggles with affordable housing, transportation, and language proficiency.
"That has been perhaps the most visible aspect of the immigrant community in Maine," she said. "But it's not what is representative of the overall immigrant community."
Lacarte says the Institute decided to focus on Maine as a case study on what integration looks like in a state with a relatively small immigrant community. The report estimates that there are about 53,000 immigrants in Maine, which equates to roughly roughly 4% of the state's population.
