Fewer refugees to Buffalo could impact economy

Thanks to a large influx of refugees from 2000 to 2015, Buffalo's population loss was not as great as it could have been.  In turn, the refugee population has been credited with helping revive failing areas of Buffalo, such as Grant Street on the West Side and the Broadway/Fillmore neighborhood.

Statistics provided by the International Institute of Buffalo showed immigrants in the Buffalo Metro Area had a spending power of $1.4 billion in 2016.  Immigrant taxes paid totaled $629 million for the same year.

However, new restrictions by the Trump Administration have slowed the flow of refugees in Buffalo from 2,000 to under 450 in the last two years.

That is raising concerns about the impact it could have on Buffalo's economy in the future.

7 Eyewitness News Reporter Ed Reilly spent the day talking with the International Institute, former refugees and a long-time business on Grant Street in Buffalo (Guercio & Sons).

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