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.
Republican Senator: My State’s Economy Needs Immigration Reform
Before becoming a United States senator in 2015, Thom Tillis led North Carolina’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives during a time when the state unemployment rate dropped after the Great Recession, from 10.4 percent, in 2010, to 4.5 percent, in 2017. Now, however, the state is facing a… Read More
‘Imagine the Growth’ that Legalizing Immigrants Would Bring, Says Policy Analyst
“Immigrants have such great economic potential,” says Mexican-born economist and healthcare consultant Luis Arzaluz. “They come here, they learn the language — they buy cars — and they could contribute even more.” Why did he mention buying cars? Because Arzaluz has the automotive industry to thank for his U.S. citizenship. Read More
Immigrants in Phoenix Held $5 Billion in Spending Power; Paid $535 Million in State and Local Taxes, New Study Shows
Phoenix, AZ – Today, New American Economy, in partnership with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, the International Rescue Committee, and AT&T, released a report documenting the economic impact of immigrants in Phoenix, Arizona. Accounting for 20 percent of the total population, the immigrant population in Phoenix was responsible for… Read More
The Journal Record (OK): Opinion: Enhancing legal immigration pays dividends
It’s time for Americans to rethink the stigmatized dialogue surrounding immigration. With the often inflammatory rhetoric that tends to surround this issue, the value that immigrants bring to the business interests in our country is lost in the noise. Many of our national leaders, including President Donald Trump, are considered… Read More
MLive (MI): Immigrants drive economy, ease population decline in Detroit, study shows
Immigrants in Detroit are helping to drive business activity and ease the city population decline, according to a study of demographic and economic impact of immigration in the Motor City. The study by Global Detroit and New American Economy found immigrant-owned businesses in Detroit generated $15.5 million in business income in 2014. “Detroit is an early pioneer in the… Read More
Pakistani Aid Worker is Citizen of the World but Calls Oregon Home
When Amarah Khan arrived at the Houston airport from Pakistan as a fresh-faced 23-year-old student, immigration officials detained and questioned her for five hours, she says. “You can imagine what a rude awakening this was for me. This was my first time on a plane, and I thought I was… Read More
The Knoxville Mercury (TN): In Knoxville, World Refugee Day is so big it lasts a week
“Y’all means all” is the motto for Knoxville’s upcoming World Refugee Day and a week of films, games, and other opportunities to interact with local refugees. The festivities were planned by Bridge Refugee Services to celebrate the contributions of immigrants who fled persecution in foreign countries to resettle in Knoxville The… Read More
Connecticut Mirror: English Learners: Other Places Are Showing What Works
Donación Garcia wanted what was best for his daughter Gabriella, so he enrolled her in an English-only classroom and declined his district’s offer to also provide instruction in Spanish, a language his family often uses at home. “We thought she needed English,” said Garcia, whose daughter is now a high… Read More
PGH City Paper: Immigrants are propping up the Pittsburgh metro area population
Without an influx of international migration to the Pittsburgh metro area, the region would have lost 36,580 residents since 2010. This would have been far and away the largest population decline of any large U.S. metro area over that time span. Luckily, enough people came across borders to the Steel… Read More
Head of Hispanic Leadership Council Makes Economic Case for Reform
Greg Torrales first moved to South Carolina in 2007 to work as a translator and help immigrants navigate the healthcare industry. Today he is the director of the South Carolina Hispanic Leadership Council (SCHLC), which provides social services for the state’s Hispanic residents. “Before I moved to South Carolina, I… Read More
All gifts are matched dollar for dollar up to $75,000
No one should face the immigration system alone
