State and Local Initiatives

State and Local Initiatives

They say all politics is local, right? While most of the debate about immigration focuses on congressional action (or inaction), local communities across the country are the ones who feel the value of immigration most tangibly. Now active in more than 50 communities – more than 80 percent of which are in conservative states – the NAE State & Local team works with policymakers, business, and civic leaders to promote policies and programs that help create jobs and drive economic growth. You can explore more of our work on the state and local level here.

The Daily Inni: Champaign County immigration impact report shows need for inclusive community

The Daily Inni: Champaign County immigration impact report shows need for inclusive community

On Wednesday, the University YMCA released the Gateways for Growth Community Data Report for Champaign County. The report was put together by New American Economy, a national organization aimed at documenting the impact of immigrants on the nation’s economy. Deborah Frank Feinan, mayor of Champaign, made an opening statement at… Read More

Dallas News: Trump backlash? Dallas, Houston and others put out the welcome mat for immigrants

Dallas News: Trump backlash? Dallas, Houston and others put out the welcome mat for immigrants

As in America, there are two kinds of Texas. One pushes a bathroom bill that targets transgender students and dismisses the hit on Texas’ business-friendly image, and the other rises up in opposition and holds off the measure. One passes a “show me your papers” law that bans sanctuary cities, and… Read More

The News-Gazette: Immigration panelists: Integration requires bridging culture-shock gap

The News-Gazette: Immigration panelists: Integration requires bridging culture-shock gap

In front of a packed room Wednesday, a panel discussed what Champaign County can do with newly-published data on its immigrant population, as well as which efforts are already underway. The Gateways for Growth Community Data Report, compiled by the University YMCA’s New American Welcome center and the New American… Read More

WCIA: County recognized for immigrant growth

WCIA: County recognized for immigrant growth

The University YMCA’s New American Welcome Center is hosting a meeting to talk about immigration impact. Members are going over results of a report showing the demographic and economic contributions immigrants in Champaign County have made. The county was recognized as a recipient of the Gateways for Growth Award; given to communities  with… Read More

Smile Politely: The University YMCA released an Immigration Impact Report

Smile Politely: The University YMCA released an Immigration Impact Report

The University YMCA, along with New American Economy, has released a Gateways for Growth Community Data report today, which details the contributions of immigrants in Champaign County (general take: they contribute a lot). Last year, the Y established a New American Welcome Center here, designed to help immigrants integrate fully… Read More

The News-Gazette: University Y's new study shows immigrants have $1.4B impact here

The News-Gazette: University Y’s new study shows immigrants have $1.4B impact here

Immigrants living in Champaign County contribute $1.4 billion to its economy and $57.2 million to the local tax base, according to a new, first-of-its kind study. The Gateways for Growth Community Data Report — compiled by the University YMCA’s New American Welcome Center and data analysts from the New American… Read More

DRC Immigrant Finds His Faith and a Path to Helping Other Immigrants

DRC Immigrant Finds His Faith and a Path to Helping Other Immigrants

César M’nyampara was a mining-industry lawyer in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but when his father, a political activist, was murdered in 2003, he decided to find a safer place for his family. In 2011, M’nyampara, his pregnant wife, and their four children came to Illinois on diversity visas. There,… Read More

Talk Business and Politics: New study highlights economic benefit of central Arkansas’ immigrant population

Talk Business and Politics: New study highlights economic benefit of central Arkansas’ immigrant population

A study published Tuesday (May 1) by the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, the City of Little Rock and a Washington, D.C.-business coalition reports that foreign-born residents contributed $2 billion annual in gross domestic product to the central Arkansas economy in 2016. The study’s release coincided with federal judge’s… Read More

Arkansas Online: Report details immigrants' effect on economy of central Arkansas

Arkansas Online: Report details immigrants’ effect on economy of central Arkansas

Immigrants living in central Arkansas paid more than $240 million in local, state and federal taxes in 2016, according to a report published Tuesday that details the economic effect of foreign-born residents. Roughly 29,000 immigrants — more than one-third from Mexico — lived in the six-county metropolitan area that year,… Read More

Without DACA, U.S. Risks Losing Country’s Educated Talent

Without DACA, U.S. Risks Losing Country’s Educated Talent

When Ben A. was a high-school senior in north Texas, he was class valedictorian, president of the school’s National Honor Society chapter, and had a full scholarship to Harvard University. But his girlfriend’s father still disapproved of their relationship because he was an undocumented immigrant. “It’s one of the most… Read More

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