While Los Angeles is the nation’s second largest city, it contains the country’s largest immigrant population. According to data provided by the California Immigration Policy Center (CIPC), 35 percent of all Los Angeles County residents are immigrants. That means that approximately 3.4 million immigrants live in Los Angeles County. Our vibrant immigrant population ensures that our community will thrive.
Four Facts About Los Angeles Immigrants
- Immigrants are families: Immigrant families come in all different shapes and sizes, though, notably, many immigrant are young families. Nearly 60 percent of the children in Los Angeles County have at least one immigrant parent. Many immigrant families are intertwined between citizens and non-citizens. In fact, the CIPC reports that 77 percent of Latino non-citizens in Los Angeles live in a house with a citizen.
- Immigrants are diverse: Immigrants come to Los Angeles from all over the world. Our community includes residents from virtually every country. The five most common countries of origin for immigrants in the Los Angeles area are Mexico, El Salvador, the Philippines, Guatemala and Korea.
- Immigrants are entrepreneurs: Los Angeles County immigrants are twice as likely to be self-employed, meaning they are creating their own jobs. In fact, 14 percent of Los Angeles immigrants report being self-employed entrepreneurs.
- Immigrants support the economy: While making up just over a third of all area residents, immigrants make up nearly half of the labor force. Forty-three percent of the area’s GDP is contributed by immigrants. Los Angeles immigrants play critical roles in many different industries, including maintenance, agriculture, construction, manufacturing and entertainment.
Immigrants in the Entertainment Industry
While there is no question that immigrants contribute to a wide variety of key industries, no conversation about the Los Angeles economy could be complete without considering the entertainment industry. The Los Angeles area is world renowned for movies, television, music, fashion and sports. In many ways, our local economy is reliant on the entertainment industry. And, of course, this industry could not remain competitive without important contributions from immigrants. Many immigrants work throughout all levels of Los Angeles entertainment. This includes many currently undocumented immigrants. Undocumented immigrants working in the entertainment industry may have the opportunity to apply for a specific work-related visa. Depending on their individual circumstances, this might include:
- O-1 Visa: Available for people who have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in a certain field of work.
- O-2 Visa: Available for the critical support personnel of O-1 visa holders in the entertainment field.
- O-3 Visa: Available for the spouse and dependent children of O-1 and O-2 visa holders.
- H1-B Visa: Available for workers employed in specialized fields, including in the entertainment industry.
Do You Need Legal Assistance?
At the Goldstein Immigration Lawyers, our compassionate immigration lawyer in Los Angeles can help. If you are considering applying for a visa due to your role in entertainment industry, or if you have any other immigration related legal issues, let our experienced team find a solution. Please do not hesitate to contact our Los Angeles office today to learn more about what our attorneys can do for you as an immigrant in L.A.
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