HELENA — Retired U.S. Ambassador Lisa Kubiske sat down with individuals in Helena to discuss immigration and its economic impact in the United States.
The Montana World Affairs Council invited the ambassador to speak at their series luncheon. Kubiske specifically focused on Central America migration and states that immigration in the U.S. is increasing.
She says roughly 1-in-10 immigrants start their own business and, according to a 2015 survey, that can generate about $65 million in income for the economy. However, not many Central American immigrants have reached Montana.
“Those people, for the most part, have not reached Montana, as far as I can see, but if you go back to the story of trade, there are opportunities for Montana to increase the kind of trade with Central America, particularly because Montana exports wheat and they need wheat,” says Kubiske.
The Montana World Affairs Council is a non-profit organization with a goal of providing opportunities for Montanans to engage in conversation about international affairs.
