Center for Immigration Studies
Immigration Policy Hurting California Orchards
Santa Barbara County resident Rick Shade has been in the orchard business for generations, so he knows how time-sensitive the harvest is for crops like peaches, flowers, and lettuce. “When that stuff is ready, man, you’ve got to get it harvested today,” he says. “Not yesterday, not tomorrow — today.”… Read More
‘Border Kid’ Combines Cultures — and Creates Jobs — Through Cupcakes
When Karina Jiménez was laid off from an office job in 2011, she decided to jump into entrepreneurship with a niche dessert business called Viva Los Cupcakes. She had already been selling cupcakes as a side business at bars, parties, concerts, and art openings in Los Angeles, a 30-minute driver… Read More
California Student Uses DACA Status To Start a Business
As soon as Ovier Alvarez, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, was granted the right to legally work in the United States, he started a photography business. Alvarez is a Dreamer, one of roughly 800,000 who has so far received protection under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a 2012 policy… Read More
DACA Recipient Dreams of Buying His Mother a House
Shortly after Jesus Perez began working as a social science research assistant at Johns Hopkins University, his 10-year-old brother asked for an ice-cream cone. Perez felt deep gratitude that he could say yes. As the undocumented son of Mexican immigrants, he didn’t have such luxuries when he was young. “Having… Read More
Ecuadoran Businessman Helps New Americans Prosper in Northern California
As executive director of Canal Alliance, a nonprofit in San Rafael, California, Omar Carrera leads work that helps some 5,000 new Americans a year successfully integrate into their new country. “We can save lives because we can break the cycle of poverty, one family at a time,” says Carrera. who… Read More
Economic Impact of Dreamers is Tremendous, Says South Carolina Lawyer
In 1980, when Marie-Louise Ramsdale was 10 years old, her father, a metallurgical engineer, got a job in America and relocated the family from Britain to South Carolina. Ramsdale suffered from culture shock — “I had no idea what pizza was,” she says — but settled in quickly, thriving at… Read More
Florida Dreamer: Americans Do Not Understand How Complicated Immigration Process Is
In 2000, Juan Escalante’s parents fled the violence of their native Venezuela. His mother and father, owners of a small print shop, were subject to targeted carjackings and death threats. Finally, enough was enough. They wanted safety for their three young children. So, in search of a better life, they… Read More
Capitalizing on the Economic Potential of Foreign Entrepreneurs
This fact sheet describes the legal avenues in the United States available to promising entrepreneurs, as well as some of the barriers they face securing immigration status through these paths. Read More
Capital Gazette: Our say: Better to found a candle company than curse the economy
A typically American success story came to a crossroads last week when it was announced that a global consumer goods company had agreed to pay $75 million for Chesapeake Bay Candle. The story began in the basement of an Annapolis home in 1994 when Chinese immigrants — one of them… Read More
25 Communities Selected for Gateways for Growth Challenge Round II
New York, NY — Building on the increasing demand from local government, business, and civic leaders who aim to develop concrete strategies to integrate immigrants and foster economic growth, New American Economy (NAE) and Welcoming America are pleased to announce the 25 communities who will receive a Gateways… Read More
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