Immigrant Integration and Naturalization

Overview

Oct 31 2008

While anti-immigrant forces raise fears that recent immigrants resist integration into American society, progressives should emphasize that all available evidence shows quite the opposite - if given a chance, most new immigrants are eager to become full members of our communities. Studies by research groups like RAND have shown that Latino immigrants, for example, are assimilating into the economy at the same rate as earlier waves of European immigrants.

Politically, progressives can promote legislation that helps all immigrants better integrate, which will unite the interests of legal and undocumented immigrants along with the members of their communities who are already voting citizens. Especially if anti-immigrant politicians oppose policies that help legal immigrants, it will emphasize that all the rhetoric about the problem being "illegal" immigration is empty, and the bigotry is aimed at the whole racial or ethnic community.

Illinois has created the most comprehensive "New Americans Policy," involving business, religious and community leaders to expand English language programs, welcome centers, jobs programs and document translation programs aimed at new immigrants; but a number of states have promoted a range of legislation to better integrate new immigrants.

Core immigration integration and naturalization legislation should include:

From the Dispatch

State Policymakers Need to Respond to Growing Clout of Latino Voters Nationwide

Feb 18 2010

A recent report from the advocacy group America’s Voice highlighted the growing power of Latino voters in the upcoming 2010 elections. Latino voters played a critical role in 2008 to propel President Obama to victory in several key swing states that previously trended Republican, including Virginia. Latino voter registration and turnout rates have exploded over the past few years: roughly 10 million voted in the 2008 Presidential election alone, a 2.5 million increase from 2004 and 4 million person increase since 2000. Latino voter registration grew by over 54% between 2000 and 2008, and turnout grew 64% over the same time period.

Arizona Defeats All Anti-Immigrant Bills

Jul 09 2009

In the 11th hour, in what was the last step before HB 2280 would have been transmitted to the Governor for her approval, Republicans and Democrats alike in the House of Representatives voted the bill down, after it had previously been approved in the State Senate.

DREAMing of a Better Tomorrow: In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants

Apr 16 2009

In contrast to the drumbeat of anti-immigrant attacks in past legislative sessions, this year has seen states across the country proposing in-state college tuition rates for undocumented students, a move mirrored by Congress' proposed DREAM Act, which was re-introduced at the federal level on March 25th.