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RESOURCES ON THE RESPONSE
OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO IMMIGRANTS
Arranged in order of publication date with the most
recent on top. Scroll down for all entries. Although potentially useful, these resources are not necessarily endorsed by Diversity
Dynamics. | Implementation of an effective immigrant integration strategy requires the establishment
of centers of leadership, coordination, resource management, and accountability within state government. A number of states
have established such centers. These reports provide background information about, and reports related to, the development
and operation of such centers. |
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Examining Maryland's Views on Immigrants and Immigration,
University of Baltimore Law Forum, 33 pp.
Author: Elizabeth Keyes
This paper finds that Maryland's
response to immigration has been both complex and contradictory. While the state eventually passed legislation granting in-state
tuition to undocumented high school students (by referendum in 2012) and continues to attract high-skilled immigrant workers in health care and technology,
jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction enforcement of immigration law varies widely. The geographic split mirrors divisions that existed
in the state over the issue of slavery in the 19th century. Frederick County, for example, uses local police
to enforce immigration law and participates in the federal government‘s 287(g) partnership, while the City of Baltimore
refrains from such cooperation and actively works to attract immigrants. This paper examines Maryland's "split personality"
on immigration against the backdrop of federal actions and inactions. In the absence of federal immigration reform, the state's
divergent policy reactions fail to resolve "the federal-level contradictions but simply shifts their playing field."
The author concludes that congressional paralysis on immigration "has inexcusably moved a contentious political conversation
to a level of government with no authority to address its real substance." Maryland's inability to find uniform solutions
to the challenges of immigration offers a cautionary tale making it all the more essential that the federal government create
a more sustainable and rational immigration policy. (Denzil Mohammed) Restrictive State and Local Immigration Laws: Solutions in Search of Problems,
American Constitution Society for Law and Policy, Issue Brief,
November, 2012, 18 pp.
Authors: Pratheepan
Gulasekaram & S. Karthick Ramakrishnan
This study challenges the assumption that restrictive state and local
immigration ordinances are driven by demographic and other changes on the state and local level, e.g. growth of the immigrant
(especially undocumented) population, and the "failure" of the federal government to combat the problem. One of
the better-known proponents of this view, according to the authors, was Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who wrote in
his dissent to the 2012 Arizona v. United States decision that "Arizona bears the brunt of the country's illegal
immigration problem..." Reinforcing the pervasiveness of this view has been the emphasis on "new destinations"
in the immigration narrative, which suggests that local communities without a recent migration history have been overwhelmed
by the arrival of new immigrants. Through the authors' study of over 25,000 local jurisdictions in all 50 states, they found
that the demographic explanation had "no predictive power." Indeed, "what most subfederal jurisdictions
with immigration enforcement laws share is not economic stress or overconsumption of public goods or heightened violent crime,
but rather a partisan composition within their legislative and executive branches that is highly receptive to enforcement
heavy proposals." Cities in Republican-majority areas are four times more likely to pass restrictive ordinances,
whereas cities with Democratic majorities are four times more likely to pass pro-immigrant measures. Fearful of antagonizing
Republican primary voters who "care intensely about immigration," elected Republican officials are either voted
out by more conservative challengers or embrace restrictive positions. At the same time, "restrictive issue entrepreneurs,"
such as the leaders of FAIR and NumbersUSA "purposefully promote legislative gridlock at the federal level, and then
cite the very national legislative inaction they helped foment to justify restrictive solutions at the local level."
The authors also take issue with Professor Peter Spiro's "steam-valve" theory, which posits that the passage of
local restrictive ordinances relieves pressure on the federal government to pass similar legislation. Finally, they
predict that these political dynamics, despite the results of the 2012 presidential election, will make national legislative
change "difficult to achieve" and even if national immigration reform passes, anti-immigrant politicians may
continue to proliferate restrictive legislation on the local level as a way of holding on to power. The Partisan Fallout from Arizona's Immigration Battle: Applying Lessons from California,
Binghamton University & Boise State University, September, 2012, 33 pp.
This study seeks to predict
the political future of Arizona after passage of SB 1070, a law aimed at identifying, prosecuting and deporting undocumented
immigrants, most of whom are from Mexico. Critics of the law have argued that both documented and undocumented Latino residents
would be subject to racial profiling. Sixteen years earlier, voters in California supported Proposition 187, a referendum
that sought to deny government services, such as public education and health care, to undocumented immigrants, primarily Latinos.
According to the authors, "the memories of Prop 187 were long lasting for many Latinos who came of age and became politically
active during this time period." California Latinos shifted toward the Democratic Party "and have never shifted
back." As a result, this episode has decisively altered the political landscape of the state. The authors note that "half
of Arizona's Latino citizens are 18 or under" suggesting a significant demographic shift in the state's electorate "just
as immigration politics are boiling over." The likely consequence of SB 1070, therefore, will be to end longstanding
Republican dominance in Arizona "as early as 2020." (Denzil Mohammed) The Economic Case against Arizona's Immigration Laws,
Cato Institute, September 25, 2012, 20 pp.
This study examines the social, demographic and economic
effects of Arizona's immigration laws, specifically the Legal Arizona Workers Act of 2007 (LAWA) and SB 1070 law of 2010.
The author contends that such stringent immigration laws have hurt Arizona's economy and that this unforeseen result should
be weighed by other states mulling the possibility of mimicking Arizona's laws. Both the LAWA and SB 1070 focus on curbing
a rise in illegal immigration to the state. LAWA mandates the use of E-Verify, which checks the status of employees, and revokes
business licenses for employers who hire unauthorized workers. SB 1070 authorizes local police to enforce immigration laws.
The author uses data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census and Federal Trade Commission to probe the effects of these
laws. The E-Verify system has proven to be a regulatory obstacle for businesses. The threat of license revocation burdened
business-owners with costly employee verification hurdles. Employers scaled back legal hiring, moved out of Arizona or turned
to the informal economy. The effects of SB 1070 were to drive some unauthorized immigrants from the state thereby lowering
Arizona's population, restricting the labor market, accelerating residential property price declines and exacerbating "the
Great Recession in Arizona." (Denzil Mohammed) The States of Immigration,
William & Mary Law Review, June 14, 2012, 54 pp.
In seeking to understand the recent "avalanche
of state activity" on immigration-related issues, the author of this paper argues that state policy-making, both laws
seeking stricter enforcement of immigration laws, e.g. Arizona SB 1070, and laws seeking leniency, e.g. in-state tuition laws,
are examples of what the author calls "venue-shifting," i.e. attempts to influence the outcome of federal policy
debates by incubating policy initiatives at the state and local level. The traditional view of state policymaking is that
the states serve as policy laboratories or that they tailor policy to local circumstances. However, through the long
course of American history, state initiatives in immigration have been rarely enforced. "They are either enjoined or
struck down, or they are not prioritized." The author discusses two case examples to support his argument: state
legislative activity leading up to the passage of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and the Illegal Immigration
and Immigrant Responsibilities Act of 1996. State activity preceding passage of these acts "became the baseline for the
federal laws that followed." He concludes that "state laws cannot always be taken at face value; sometimes
their most important function is as a means of shaping policy at the federal (or local) level."
A History and Analysis of Recent Immigrant Integration Initiatives in Five States,
Diversity Dynamics, 2012, 35 pp.
During a three-year period from 2005 to 2008, governors in five
states (Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington) issues executive orders launching ambitious projects
to integrate immigrants into the economic, civic, and social life of their states. This study examines the genesis of these
projects, their goals, methodology, and outcomes. The study includes an analysis of the strengths and "vulnerabilities"
of these projects and concludes with a series of recommendations to ensure that such projects are not "shipwrecked by
the emotionally charged politics surrounding immigration." In preparing this study, the author Dr. Nicholas V. Montalto,
reviewed the extant literature and interviewed key informants in the five states. This study is based on a paper presented
at the International Metropolis Conference in The Hague in 2010.
The Myth of Self-Deportation: How Behavioral Economics Reveals the Fallacies behind "Attrition
through Enforcement,"
Immigrant Policy Center, April, 2012, 10 pp.
This report cites research findings from cognitive
psychology and behavioral economic that cast doubt on the validity of the "attrition through enforcement"
philosophy, which predicts that undocumented immigrants will "self-deport" to their home countries if sufficient
enforcement pressure is applied on the state and local levels. In states and localities where such enforcement has been
tried, there is a dearth of hard evidence that self-deportation actually occurs. According to the author Alexandra Filindra,
"expected utility theory" from classical economics fails to explain the behavior of unauthorized immigrants, who
"hate to lose a lot more than they like to win." So that even if you pile up potential losses in the future,
resulting from the greater risk of incarceration, deportation and loss of livelihood, immigrants are unwilling to sacrifice
their past gains, including the jobs they have , the homes they may own, the networks they have developed, and the children
who have been raised and educated in the U.S. The author concludes that "laws such as those of Arizona and Alabama...will
lead to the development of a racialized, marginalized caste of people with no rights - a shameful development for a country
that prides itself on its democratic and inclusive institutions."
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the New Alabama Immigration Law,
University of Alabama, January, 2012, 9 pp.
This study seeks to determine whether the benefits of the
2011 Alabama law on immigration -- the Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act -- are worth its costs.
The author discusses four types of potential benefits including (a) saving funds used to provide public benefits to unauthorized
immigrants, (b) increased safety for citizens and legal residents, (c) more business, employment, and education opportunities,
and (d) ensuring the integrity of various governmental programs. These factors are analyzed against potential costs
including (a) implementation, enforcement, and litigation expenses, (b) increased costs and inconveniences for citizens, other
legal residents, and businesses, (c) fewer economic development opportunities, and (d) the economic impact of reduced aggregate
demand due to population loss. The analysis suggests that anticipated benefits across all four categories are minor
compared to projected costs, and that many of the benefits may not even be realized. The author gives special consideration
to the impact of reduced aggregate demand, as aggregate demand serves as the basis for economic growth. For FY 2012,
the author gives high-end estimates of $5.8 billion dollar loss in individual earnings, $10.8 billion dollar loss in state
Gross Domestic Product, $264.5 million dollar loss in state income and sales taxes, and $93.1 million dollar loss in local
sales tax. Although "the law is well-intentioned," the reduction in aggregate demand alone seems to negate
the potential benefits of the law. (Patricia Lundgren)
One Year Later: A Look at SB 1070 and Copycat Legislation,
National Council of La Raza, April 18, 2011, 15 pp.
Since Arizona SB 1070 was signed into law on April
23, 2010, attempts to pass similar legislation in many states appear to have stalled. This report analyzes the forces
that have slowed the advance of this type of legislation. So far in 2011, eleven of 24 states considering copycat legislation
have defeated such bills or denied them consideration. In several states, cost factors seemed to have weighed heavily
on legislators' minds. In Kentucky, for example, the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission issued a fiscal impact statement
estimating the cost of implementation at $89 million per year. In other states, the business community exerted pressure on
state legislators, contending that key industries, such as agriculture in Georgia and ranching in Utah, would lose workers
and suffer huge losses.
Lessons from the 2007 Legal Arizona Workers Act,
Public Policy Institute of California, March, 2011,
29 pp
In
2007, Arizona passed the legal Arizona Worker Act (LAWA), which requires employers to use E-Verify, a national identity and
work authorization verification system. This study examines the labor market impacts of this law, through comparisons with
neighboring states without such legislation. The study attempts to control for the impact of the recession. The researchers
find that the law had both intended and unintended consequences. On the one hand, it reduced the number of unauthorized workers
in the state by about 92,000, or 17% - the stated goal of the legislation. On the other, it increased the self-employment
rate by about 8%, or a "LAWA-induced increase" of roughly 25,000 self-employed Hispanic non-citizens - the demographic
group with the largest numbers of unauthorized workers. These "findings raise questions about the unintended effect of
LAWA in expanding underground economies." The authors speculate that an E-Verify mandate for the entire country -- reducing
options for interstate migration -- would lead not only to reduced illegal migration into the country and increased emigration,
but also to a marked shift toward less formal employment.
Annual Report to the People of New Jersey,
New Jersey Commission on New Americans, December, 2010, 10 pp.
Established
by executive order on January 12, 2010, the New Jersey Commission on New Americans is obligated to report annually to the
governor and legislature. This is the first report of the Commission. Each of the Commissions four committees: education,
labor and workforce development, social services and health care, and immigrant integration, were asked to make recommendations
that could be implemented at "no cost or low cost." The report concludes with seven major recommendations,
two of which pertain to the role of One-Stop Career Centers in New Jersey.
A Case Study of Color-Blindness: The Racially Disparate Impacts of Arizona's SB 1070 and
the Failure of Comprehensive Immigration Reform,
University of California, Davis, Legal Studies Research Paper Series, October, 2010, 42 pp.
This paper argues
that the use of "race-neutral" language in the immigration debate, i.e. terms like "illegal alien" and
"what part of illegal do you not understand?" cloaks the racist intent, or at the very least "disparate racial
impact," of measures like Arizona SB 1070. As it is no longer socially acceptable in the United States to voice overtly
racist views, the "coded" discourse on immigration advances the same racist agenda and explains the passion and
vitriol that surround the immigration issue. "One might even view the enforcement of the U.S. immigration laws as a facially
neutral - and thus presumably legal and legitimate - form of racial discrimination." The author also comments on
the racial impact of the failure of comprehensive immigration reform over the last decade. Inaction on federal immigration
legislation allows for "the maintenance of a racial caste of undocumented immigrants...denied the fundamental protections
available to other workers under federal labor, and...subject to continued exploitation in the workplace."
Rising to the Immigrant Integration Challenge: What States are Doing - and Can Do,
National Governors Association (NGA), Center for Best Practices, November 4, 2009, 19 pp
Noting that
many governors are beginning to realize "that states can facilitate successful (immigrant) integration" and thereby
bring about "tremendous economic and social benefit" to their states," this report reviews some recent steps
that states have taken to pursue this goal, including innovations in cross-departmental leadership, workforce development,
entrepreneurship, and English and citizenship education. The report concludes with some specific strategies that seem to hold
the greatest promise of success, including: raising the visibility of immigrant integration as an issue; gathering good data
to inform policy development; maximizing partnerships with local government, nonprofits, and the private sector; facilitating
government access and collaboration; and designing an effective communication strategy.
A Plan for Today, A Plan for Tomorrow: Building a Stronger Washington through Immigrant
Integration
A Year One Report from the Washington New Americans Policy Council, October, 2009,
48 pp.
Established through an executive order issued by Governor Christine O. Gregoire in February of 2008,
the 15-member Washington New Americans Policy Council was charged with developing policy recommendations on issues such as
citizenship promotion, English language acquisition, and skill recertification. This report summarizes the Council's
nine key recommendations, which include a three-year "We Want to Learn English" campaign; public funding and employer
incentives to promote naturalization; strategies to provide "one stop" information to immigrants; issuance of a
language access executive order requiring all state agencies to assess their effectiveness in reaching and serving language
minorities, with oversight and technical assistance provided by an Office of Language Access; strategies for career
re-entry for immigrant and refugee professionals, including a review of licensing board procedures; trust-building measures
with law enforcement agencies; and public celebrations of immigrant contributions to the state. A final recommendation asks
the Governor to continue the Policy Council for at least one more year "to work with state agencies to implement year
one srecommendation" and to address other important issues which the Council did not have sufficient time to consider.
Massachusetts New Americans Agenda,
The Governor's Advisory Council for Refugees and Immigrants (GACRI), October
1, 2009, 54 pp.
Made up of 30 people representing 11 state agencies and 19 community groups or constituencies,
GACRI was created by executive order of Governor Deval Patrick on July 9, 2008 and charged with developing "a comprehensive
and strategic statewide approach to successfully integrate (the state's) immigrant and refugee populations..."
The New Americans Agenda contains 131 recommendations in 12 topical areas: civil rights, adult English language proficiency,
economic development, education, public safety, employment and workforce development, access to state services, citizenship
assistance, health, refugees, youth, and housing and community development. The publication of the Agenda constitutes
the "first phase" of an expected, long-term process of state government reform. Upon receipt of the Agenda, the
Governor appointed a special 15-member interagency work group to develop implementation plans within 90 days. Coordination
and support for plan implementation will be provided by the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants (MORI).
A Fresh Start: Renewing Immigrant Integration for a Stronger Maryland,
The Report of the Maryland Council for New Americans, August, 2009, 65 pp
In December of 2008, the Governor of Maryland created by executive order the Maryland Council for New Americans
and charged it with producing a report that would "review and recommend new policies and practices to expedite immigrant
integration into the economic and civic life of the State." The Council's report contains 15 "general recommendation"
in four broad areas: workforce, citizenship, financial services, and governmental access. A series of "best practice"
vignettes are scattered throughout the document. The Council considers its "primary recommendation" to be the establishment
of a Cabinet-level Office for New Americans "empowered to oversee implementation of reform and compliance in coordination
with the Governor's priorities."
Report to New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine,
The Governor's Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Immigrant Policy,
March, 2009, 119 pp.
On August 6, 2007, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed
an executive order creating a Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Immigrant Policy charged with making "recommendations for
a comprehensive and strategic statewide approach to successfully integrate the rapidly growing immigrant population in New
Jersey." Over the course of 18 months, the panel, consisting of 34 members (seven representatives of state departments,
25 public members, and two legislators) studied a broad range of issues, considered testimony at three public hearings,
and produced a report with 98 recommendations in four broad topical areas: social services, labor and workforce issues, education,
and state and local government. The panel also published an executive summary and appendices in separate files. The appendices are more than 300 pages in length
and include a study on in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants and a proposal for the creation of a Governor's Commission
on New Americans. In addition, transcripts of the testimony delivered at the three public hearings are available on the web site of the New Jersey
Department of the Public Advocate.
In 2004, the Portuguese government opened two "National Immigrant Support Centers," in the
cities of Lisbon and Porto, in an effort to implement a "one-stop-shop," or "welcome center" approach
to immigrant integration. In 2007, the European Commission funded the development of an international network to assess the
Portuguese model and "to examine the feasibility of its implementation in other EU member states." This Handbook
presents the results of this study. In general, the handbook speaks glowingly of the model, although acknowledging the need
to adapt it to local circumstances. The report covers such issues as the out-stationing of government employees at the centers,
the role of "cultural mediators" and immigrant organizations in center operations, and the financial and human resources
necessary for implementation.
Final Report, Governor's Commission on Immigration,
State of Virginia, January, 2009, 26 pp + appendices.
Created in 2007 by the Virginia
Assembly, the 20-member Virginia Commission on Immigration was charged with examining the impact of immigration on the state
educational system, health care, law enforcement, service accessibility, and the economy. The Commission's final report contains
24 recommendations, half of which are directed to the federal government and half to state government. Among the state government
recommendations are: shortening the Medicaid eligibility requirement for legal immigrants, charging in-state tuition for the
children of undocumented immigrants, establishing an "office of immigrant assistance services," and developing a
comprehensive state plan "to address the needs of the foreign-born population in a consistent/uniform manner."
Submitted to the Governor and Maryland General Assembly, January 1, 2009, 56 pp.
Created by the Governor of Maryland in 2008 and motivated by the belief that the preservation of immigrant
languages will "maintain America's competitive edge in such vital sectors as trade and national security," this
task force presented a series of nine "feasible and cost-effective" recommendations to preserve and develop the
language skills of Maryland's residents. Among the recommendations were: the awarding of high school credit by exam for students
who attend non-public heritage schools, the enhancement of library collections of children's literature in heritage languages,
and the development of more dual language programs in the public schools. This task force may be the first state-sponsosred
task force on heritage languages ever established in the United States.
State Laws Related to Immigrants and Immigration in 2008,
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Immigrant Policy Project, January, 2009, 32 pp.
NCSL
conducts an annual inventory of state legislation addressing immigration issues. With 1305 pieces of legislation introduced
in 2008, of which 206 were enacted in 41 states, the 2008 inventory found a small reduction in the level of activity compared
to 2007. Although some states continue to be focused on punitive approaches, e.g. imposing sanctions on employers who hire
unauthorized workers and/or mandating that employers participate in the E-Verify program (Mississippi, Virginia), other states
are adopting integrative approaches, including a California law to use monetary fines imposed upon perpetrators of domestic
violence to fund domestic violence prevention programs in immigrant communities, a Connecticut law creating an Asian Pacific
American Affairs Commission to develop new programs promoting service access, a Maryland law creating a Task Force on the
Preservation of Heritage Language Skills, a Missouri law providing funding for naturalization assistance, and an Ohio act
creating an African immigrants Commission. The Anti-Immigrant Movement that Failed:
Positive Integration Policies by State Government Still Far Outweigh Punitive Policies Aimed at New Immigrants,
Progressive States Network, Sept., 2008, 24 pp. Using a six category system to
rank states from "punitive" to "integrative" in their policies towards immigrants, this report finds that
integrative state policies are much more common than media coverage would suggest. Seven states are classified as "integrative,"
and ten, including New Jersey, as "somewhat integrative." The report features a state-by-state policy assessment.
For the Benefit of All: Strategic Recommendations to Enhance the State's Role in the Integration of
Immigrants in Illinois,
Report of the New Americans Policy Council, Year Two, June, 2008, 34 pp.
On November 19, 2005, Illinois
Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the new Americans Executive Order, an attempt to adopt a coherent, strategic, and proactive
state government approach to integrate the rapidly growing immigrant population of Illinois. The Executive Order created a
New Americans Policy Council comprised of prominent Illinois business, faith, labor, community, philanthropic and governmental
leaders. This report, covering the issues of housing, police-community relations, and economic development/entrepreneurship,
is the second and final report of the Council.
Managing Diversity in Corporate America: An Exploratory Analysis,
The Rand Corporation, 2008, 26 pp.
This paper challenges the "cookbook" approach to diversity
management and argues that the benefits of diversity will be realized only when corporate leaders address the larger
issue of organizational change. The paper has implications for state and local officials seeking to create more inclusive
and effective governmental administrations. As an engine of diversity, immigration should be seen as part of the context in
which modern organizations, both public and private, operate.
Selected Testimony to the New Jersey Governor's Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Immigrant Policy,
2008, 15 pp.
Formed by executive order in August, 2007, the panel is charged with developing recommendations
for a comprehensive and strategic statewide approach to successfully integrate New Jersey's rapidly growing immigrant population,
including consideration of such issues as: civil rights, citizenship status, education, employment/workforce training, fair
housing, healthcare, language proficiency and other key areas as identified by the Panel.
State Immigration Project: Policy Options for 2008,
Progressive States Network, December, 2007, 23 pp.
Seeking to mobilize "forward-thinking state
policymakers, legislative staff, and non-profit organizations," to achieve attainable reform in the immigration arena,
the Progressive States Network developed this platform for common action on the state level. The platform includes four
major elements: strengthening wage law enforcement, promoting naturalization and other integration policies, designing
smart policing policies, and counteracting misinformation about unauthorized voting and the use of public benefits by undocumented
immigrants. Pro-Immigrant Measures Available to State or Local Governments: A Quick Menu of Affirmative Ideas,
National Immigration Law Center, September, 2007, 6 pp.
This is a list of 71 policy recommendations designed
to "more effective incorporate immigrants into their communities." Many of them have been successfully implemented
in communities around the country.
Marshaling Every Resource: State and Local Responses to Human Trafficking,
Policy Research Institute for the Region (Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University) and the Vera Institute of Justice,
2007, 76 pp.
This document is a collection of three essays analyzing state and local initiatives to combat human
trafficking. The authors compare and contrast the approaches taken by the 24 states, including New Jersey, that had
passed legislation on trafficking as of October, 2006. One essay examines the role of advocacy groups in shaping policy reform.
The appendix includes a summary of discussions that took place at a conference on trafficking on December 1, 2006.
For the Benefit of All: Strategic Recommendations to Enhance the State's Role in the Integration of
Immigrants in Illinois,
Report of the New Americans Policy Council, Year One, December, 2006, 28 pp.
On November 19, 2005, Illinois
Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the new Americans Executive Order, an attempt to adopt a coherent, strategic, and proactive
state government approach to integrate the rapidly growing immigrant population of Illinois. The Executive Order created a
New Americans Policy Council comprised of prominent Illinois business, faith, labor, community, philanthropic and governmental
leaders. This report, covering the issues of citizenship, education, human services and health care, is the first report of
the Council. Immigrant Integration: Improving Policy for Education, Health and
Human Services for Illinois' Immigrants and Refugees,
New Americans Interagency Task Force Report, December, 2006, 42
pp. (INACTIVE LINK)
This report summarizes recommendations developed by an Interagency Task Force convened by
the Office of New Americans Policy and Advocacy in the State of Illinois. The Task Force developed seven recommendations to
enable immigrants to access services, contribute to their communities and enhance their lives and the lives of those around
them.
Out of the Many, One: Integrating Immigrants in New Jersey,
National Immigration Forum, 2006, 64 pp.
Produced by Diversity Dynamics in collaboration with the New
Jersey Immigration Policy Network, this report constitutes a blueprint for a comprehensive immigrant integration agenda in
the State of New Jersey. It contains 51 recommendations and covers topics as wide-ranging as education, training and
employment, health care, language access, police-community relations, and immigrant civic participation.
Acclimation of Virginia's Foreign-Born Population,
Report of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, Commonwealth of Virginia, 2004, 104 pp + appendices
This is a comprehensive report on Virginia's foreign-born population with special attention to best practices and
opportunities for state and local initiatives to promote immigrant integration. Commission staff found that the state's immigrants
have three primary needs: access to English learning opportunities, access to information and services in native languages,
and access to affordable health care.
Latinos and the State of New Jersey: A promising Partnership for a Better Future,
Hispanic Advisory Council, 2003 Policy Report, Submitted to Governor James E. McGreevey, October 27, 2003, 31 pp.
Pursuant to a governor's executive order, a 14-member council was established to provide guidance to the administration
in serving New Jersey's burgeoning Latino population. Three sub-committees (economic development, education, and health) produced
a series of recommendation for consideration by the state.
We the People: Helping Newcomers Become Californians,
State of California, Little Hoover Commission, June, 2002, 92 pp.
A bipartisan, independent state body,
the Little Hoover Commission called for a "coherent strategy for accelerating the integration of immigrants into the
economy and their communities." Recognizing the challenge presented by the state's 2 million undocumented immigrants,
the commission's report moves beyond the distinction between legal and illegal immigration, and in its place, introduces the
more practical distinction between responsible and irresponsible community members. The report then goes on to outline the
responsibilities of immigrants to the larger community, and the responsibilities of the larger community towards immigrants.
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Immigrants and State Government
(For link descriptions, go to Links page)
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News and Opinion
Immigrants and State Government |
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The Boston Globe, July 22, 2010
Times of Trenton, January 23, 2010
Aug. 22, 2008
Aug.
22, 2008
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