Center for Immigration Studies

ESL Students — and Immigrant Families — Excel in Kentucky
Roughly 14 percent of students in Kentucky’s Bowling Green Independent School District are immigrants or refugees, a statistic associate superintendent Vicki Writsel is particularly proud of. “It serves our students well that our school district is so diverse,” she says. “When they graduate, they are prepared to work with people… Read More

After Accepting Immigrants, Kentucky Thrives
Since the city of Owensboro, Kentucky, began helping immigrants and refugees secure employment and affordable housing, something has happened: the local economy has grown 6 percent and unemployment has dropped to one of the lowest rates in the state. “A lot of these folks are entrepreneurs at heart,” says Joe… Read More

The Impact of Immigrant Women on America’s Labor Force
There are nearly 12 million immigrant (foreign-born) women workers in the United States today, comprising just over 7 percent of the total labor force. Read More

Hutchinson Leader: New online tool maps economic impact of immigrants
Minnesota business leaders in mid-February showcased new research on the contributions of immigrants in Minnesota and highlighted the critical need for immigration reform. Spearheaded by New American Economy and the Minnesota Business Immigration Coalition, the report marks the launch of Map the Impact — a campaign to highlight the power… Read More

Refugees Learn English — Then Buoy Kentucky Economy
It’s been four decades since Skip Cleavinger moved to Bowling Green to study at Western Kentucky University, and in that time he has witnessed a significant shift in the demographics of west-central Kentucky. A local refugee resettlement program and a livable community — with job opportunities, strong schools, and a… Read More

A Lone Face of Diversity Brings Art to a Small New York Town
In Perry, New York, where she serves as the executive director of the Arts Council for Wyoming County, Jackie Hoyt is one of the few non-white, immigrant faces. There, she makes an important contribution to the community of 41,000 by creating a diverse program that… Read More

A Sociologist Does the Math on Immigration Reform
Filiz Garip is fascinated by the unintended consequences of public policy. Take border security. “When you propose something like a wall, it feels like a great solution,” says Garip, a sociology professor at Cornell University. But her research suggests otherwise. Consider that in 1965 there were… Read More

Unintended Consequences: When U.S. Blocks Access, Fewer Unauthorized Immigrants Leave America
David Molina, a professor at the University of North Texas, is the product of two cultures. Born in Detroit, Molina was raised by an American mother and a Mexican father, who was in Michigan to complete a medical residency. The family moved to Mexico City when Molina was… Read More

Entrepreneur from New Zealand Creates Jobs while Helping Americans Give Back
When Dale Nirvani Pfeifer stumbled upon a Facebook post about an Afghan teacher trying to build a school for girls, she immediately felt compelled to give. Yet it took a good half hour to hunt down the website and navigate the donation form. “How many… Read More

ABC Local 10 News: Local Republican lawmakers call on White House to work with Congress on immigration reform: Politicans say immigrants have significant economic impact on South Florida
As the country waits for President Donald Trump to release a revised version of his executive order on immigration, new information is emerging about the economic impact of immigrants in South Florida. “Miami is a successful immigrant story, and we’ve got a lot to brag about,” U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,… Read More
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