Inform. Engage. Impact.
Welcome To New Americans Initiative
Committed to assisting Kentuckiana’s immigrant population through the naturalization process and informing the community on current issues in immigration.
WHO WE ARE
We are a non-profit organization founded in 2015 by Nima Kulkarni, an immigration attorney in Louisville, Kentucky, whose own family immigrated to the United States when she was young.
WHAT WE DO
We educate the community and build awareness of immigrant related issues by facilitating engagement between our area's foreign-born population and the broader community, while keeping eligible immigrants informed of policies and changes to current immigration laws.
WHY WE DO IT
We believe that by promoting facts, reason, compassion, and humanity, we can impact the lives of foreign and native born people throughout our community, both personally and professionally.
Kentucky’s Immigrant Population
- In 2015, there were 157,336 immigrants (foreign-born individuals) comprised 3.6 percent of the state’s population (68,802 women, 70,300 men, and 18,234 children).
- In 2016, 115,969 people in Kentucky (2.7 percent of the state’s population) were native-born Americans who had at least one immigrant parent.
Top Countries of Origin
- Mexico (19.2 percent of immigrants); India (6.9 percent); Cuba (5.1 percent); China (4.5 percent); and Guatemala (3.7 percent).
Taxes Paid by Immigrants to Kentucky
- Immigrant-led households paid $719.3 million in federal taxes and $343.1 million in state and local taxes in 2014.
- Undocumented immigrants paid an estimated $36.6 million in state and local taxes in 2014 (this would rise to $52.7 million if they could receive legal status).
- DACA recipients paid an estimated $9.1 million in state and local taxes in 2016.
Immigrant Entrepreneurship in Kentucky
- 8,690 immigrant business owners accounted for 4.6 percent of all self-employed Kentucky residents in 2015 and generated $283.5 million in business income.
“I serve the community because I want to help people. I have been very fortunate in the opportunities that have been given to me and want to share that with others. I am devoted to immigrants and immigrants’ rights and feel that they should be involved and engaged members of our community and that we should all benefit and learn from each other. I strive to achieve that goal as often as I can.”
Nima Kulkarni, Founder and President of New Americans Initiative