Today’s guest columnist is Carlos E. Alemán
Birmingham is losing population.
Jefferson County is losing population.
The population of our seven county metro area is stagnant.
It is obvious to me, but not necessarily to everyone, that immigration will likely save our Birmingham region and possibly our state.
If you take a close look around today, you’ll see the impact of immigrant contributions.
From the growing student population in Birmingham City Schools to the buzzing of construction sites to the rising number of businesses led by immigrant entrepreneurs, the seeds of future success are already taking root. Immigrants are not just part of this city’s history; they are key to its future.
Like we have across the nation, immigrants have helped boost job growth and stave off a recession. Alabama would do well to welcome immigrants as part of its strategy for workforce development and economic innovation.
When I speak to audiences across Birmingham, I often share a truth that might surprise some: Latinos and Southerners—folks from Birmingham—have more in common than one might initially think.
We share a profound appreciation for family, a deep-rooted sense of faith, and yes, a shared love of pork. While that last one is meant to draw a smile, it speaks to something deeper: a connection that transcends cultural differences.
What unites us is our shared desire for a better future. Immigrants, like so many others in our community, seek good schools for their children, safe and welcoming neighborhoods, and well-paying jobs where they can build lives with hope and purpose.
This is where the story of Birmingham and its immigrant population begins to converge. The Hispanic community, along with other immigrant populations, is growing and playing a pivotal role in shaping the city’s future.
I moved to Alabama in 2013 and have been witness to the incredible growth of our community’s Hispanic population. As the CEO of the Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama (¡HICA!), I have had the privilege of working with our community to build prosperity and inspire hope.
Birmingham has a storied history of immigrants. Since the turn of the 20th century Greek, Italian, Jewish, and Middle Eastern immigrants have made their impact on the Magic City. More recently, we’ve seen the tremendous success stories of folks like Shegun Otulana, Sanjay Singh, and others.
Now, Hispanics make up the largest percentage of immigrants in our community. We have seen the incredible success of business leaders like Mike Suco, CEO of Coca Cola United, Wendy Padilla-Madden, who owns Santo Coffee shops, Dulce Rivera, who runs her family grocery business Mi Pueblo, and Jesus “Chuy” Mendez and Jose Medina, who have established downtown hotspot Adios. Among them we must also include social entrepreneur and ¡HICA! founder Isabel Rubio.
The demographics are clear: the Hispanic population in Birmingham has been on the rise, bringing new energy, ideas, and vitality to the city. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Hispanic population of the Birmingham MSA has grown over 57 percent in the last 12 years to a total of over 71k. If current trends hold, the population can be expected to grow at a rate of 4 percent each year.
And this comes at a critical time as we face a workforce crisis. Employers are struggling to fill positions, and businesses are seeking skilled, motivated workers to fuel their growth. This is where the immigrant community steps in, as we see more immigrants contributing to workforce participation and entrepreneurial activity, areas that are essential for Birmingham’s economic revival.
At ¡HICA!, we have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the dynamism of Hispanic entrepreneurs. Since 2013, we have helped over 200 individuals obtain their business licenses, and since 2019, we have deployed over $800,000 in small business loans to support more than 70businesses. Remarkably, we’ve only had one small loan default, under $5,000. This speaks to the strength, resilience, and reliability of our immigrant entrepreneurs—people who are creating jobs, driving innovation, and contributing to the vitality of our economy.
As we talk about Birmingham’s “comeback,” we must recognize that this comeback will be incomplete without the full inclusion of Hispanics and immigrants. The next chapter of Birmingham’s story must be one of unity and collaboration, where we work together to build a more inclusive and prosperous future.
The city’s strength has always been its ability to welcome new people, new ideas, and new opportunities. If we lean into that legacy, I have no doubt that Birmingham’s best days are ahead.
Carlos E. Alemán, Ph.D., is a historian, former professor, Homewood city councilor, and chief executive officer of ¡HICA!, the Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama. Dr. Alemán serves on the boards of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, REV Birmingham, Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, the National Partnership for New Americans, and serves on the advisory board for the Alabama Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs
David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).
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Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. dsher@comebacktown.com
Well said Carlos! What makes America great is its diversity.
That has always been the American story. We should embrace it.
Adelante juntos!
I read the article twice and I could not determine whether the author Carlos is referring to “legal” immigrants or anyone who just walks across our border illegally. The Hispanics are hard working, wonderful people and I think most Alabamians would welcome legal immigrants coming from anywhere. We have basically had an open border for the last 4 years and I am opposed to that. Everyone needs to be vetted before entering the country and that has not been happening. I have been debating whether or not to respond to this article because I will be called a racist and xenophobe, which I am not. My grandparents came through Ellis Island legally. That is the point I am trying to make–legal versus illegal.
Great post Carlos! I agree fully with the spirit but the question is “what” (not just “who”) because the answer includes everyone. All are included. All are welcome. The answer involves education; access to lots of high quality education, and especially a culture that reveres and celebrates education for its essential importance to unlocking the true power of diversity for social and economic posterity. It’s as true here/now in Comeback Town (Greater Birmingham) as it was in Classical Greece, the Tang Dynasty in China, the Italian Renaissance, Lisbon during the Age of Discovery, France in late 18th century, Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871, and Fin-de-siècle Vienna. Thinking globally and acting locally make our community and country strong and immigration is part of that strength.
RE: “Birmingham has a storied history of immigrants. Since the turn of the 20th century Greek, Italian, Jewish, and Middle Eastern immigrants have made their impact on the Magic City.” Agreed and also the Irish, Scots, Iberian Spanish, and northern Europeans. The deep south (eventually) even made room for Asians.
The south did not make room for Black,, formerly enslaved, individuals who were once property. Our immigrants were not started on the same foot. During Reconstruction, Blacks were litigated and physically and socially fought against.
As a long-time citizen of Pelham, Homewood, and Mountain Brook, our Latino and Hispanic citizens have it made compared to our Black citizens…and it hasn’t been fair. At least our Black citizens speak English, and do not create or maintain their own cultural, custom and language “carve-outs,” like 100% Spanish radio stations and grocery stores without English/Spanish co-signage.
Bottom line – to me – immigrant treatment isn’t equal, and never has been. There are plenty of far-right individuals and politicians who would love to have 100% White, European populations and if they deny it, they’re lying.
Great article! Legal immigration is a “plus” for Birmingham, Alabama, and the US.
I totally agree that LEGAL immigration is a plus for everyone. So far, no previous comment has addressed the issue of legal versus illegal immigration. Do the people who made the previous posts care whether the immigrants are legal or illegal? Maybe I am the person out of touch that the United States should have open Southern and Northern borders. Maybe it’s time to change the immigration laws and allow everyone into the country.
I agree totally with you Phil. There is an elephant in the room that weighs about 150X10 million. All talk about immigration harkens back to the actual history of those who did it legally, which until very recently was at least 95% of the total!
Surely. It is so unfortunate that the Republican Party has blocked comprehensive immigration reform proposals for the last 2 decades, most recently earlier this year when a bipartisan group of senators came up with a proposal that Donald Trump urged all Republicans to reject. Very sad. Maybe people should hold their far right congresspeople to account at the ballot box if they are serious about immigration. Otherwise, maybe they could stop being hypocrites, knowing that a broken immigration system actually is great for many because it provides tons of cheap labor for Republican business owners and cheap produce, goods, and services to the entire American population.
That bill “only allowed 5,000” illegals a day to come into the country. In my opinion, the number of illegals per day should be 0. Has nothing to do with Republican or Democrat. Again, if this country wants to change the laws and have open borders, then change the laws that are on the books.
Reading all the comments about legal vs. illegal and I laugh and shake my head. It was illegal for my father to sit at the lunch counter at Loveman’s, Pizitz, and Woolworths when he graduated high school in 1963. Nothing has changed. People will use the argument of legal vs. illegal to hide their racism and sin.
John: That goes both ways, one side is just as racist as the other side. The difference is one side is violent and the other is not. We must get over that part before we will ever be successful. In the meantime the Latinos are trying to take over and really need to speak English like everyone else.