Texas Ranked Least Immigrant-Friendly State in New National Study

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (TXAN 24) — Texas ranked as the least immigrant-friendly state in the nation in a new 50-state analysis conducted by The Mendoza Law Firm.

The study placed Texas last among all 50 states with a score of 40.8 out of 100, citing low wages, limited public health insurance coverage for foreign-born residents and a high number of reported hate crimes.

Researchers found Texas maintains the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, significantly below the national average of $11.28. The report also noted that 19.9% of foreign-born residents in Texas receive public health insurance coverage, compared to a national average of 27.6%.

Additionally, Texas recorded 731 hate-crime incidents, the third-highest total among all states included in the analysis.

Indiana ranked second among the least immigrant-friendly states with a score of 41.5, followed by Georgia, Alabama and Nevada. Kansas, Oregon, Tennessee, Ohio and Utah rounded out the bottom ten.

The study evaluated states using multiple factors related to economic opportunity, public health coverage and reported hate-crime statistics. Researchers combined those metrics into a single score to determine overall immigrant friendliness.

Texas remains home to one of the nation’s largest immigrant populations, with millions of foreign-born residents contributing to the state’s workforce, economy and communities.