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Welcome to the Governor's Office of New Americans (ONA) Website

The Governor’s Office of New Americans (ONA) is an advisory office codified by The Governor’s Office of New Americans Act (15 ILCS 55/1-10), which first went into effect on January 1st, 2014. The central charge of ONA is:
 

“To welcome and support immigrants and refugees in the State of Illinois.”

About ONA

Learn more about the Governor’s Office of New Americans and read research and annual reporting.
Language Access

Learn more about ONA’s efforts to improve access to state services no matter what language you speak and create your own “I Speak” card to carry with you.
Resources

Learn more about resources available to support immigrants in Illinois whether you are a New American or an organization that serves immigrants.

*Note: By law, individuals seeking services from the State of Illinois have the right to free translation and interpretation services in their language of choice. You have the right to an interpreter at no cost to you. 

Who are New Americans in Illinois?

Illinois is home to almost 2 million immigrants. In other words, 15%, or one in seven Illinoisians, are new Americans. As family members, neighbors, business owners, taxpayers, workers, and more, immigrants are an essential part of our Illinois communities.

Per 2023 data…

  • Illinois is home to 1,880,500 immigrants, of which 98,800 are children. In addition, 922,400 US-born residents live with at least one immigrant parent.
  • Immigrants in Illinois have contributed $27.4 billion in federal, state, and local tax contributions, and have a collective spending power of $68.5 billion.
  • Immigrants make up 18.5% of Illinois’ workforce, representing:
    • 25.8% of employees in the manufacturing industry.
    • 25.6% of employees in the construction industry.
    • 24.3% of STEM workers.
    • 23.4% of employees in the transportation and warehousing industry.
    • Immigrants make up 27.2% of Illinois’ entrepreneurs collectively generating $3.8 billion in business income.

 

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