A new poll shows that voters across party lines overwhelmingly want lawmakers to create a path to citizenship for America’s 11 million illegal immigrants rather than mass deportation.
Jennifer Piper, western regional program director for the American Friends Service Committee, cited a series of so-called “show your documents” laws passed in Colorado from 2006 to 2013, which are among the best in the nation. This has led to an increase in the number of deportations.
“Here in Colorado, we already know what a mass deportation policy looks like,” Piper said. “And what we realized is that our businesses, our schools, our children are suffering.”
Polls show voters would rather allow tax-paying, law-abiding undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for years to apply for citizenship, rather than forcing them to use local law enforcement, the National Guard, and possibly the military. He said it was a better option than a repatriation program. It will cost more than $100 billion.
To counter the barrage of anti-immigrant messages and misinformation that has become part of the mainstream conversation, AFSC has installed billboards in Colorado and five other states aimed at welcoming all people to the United States. and launched a radio advertising campaign.
“We wanted to share a message that reminds us that Colorado is stronger because we value the efforts and contributions of each and every person,” Piper said. .
Immigrants add $54 billion to Colorado’s economy each year, and Piper said people have the same right to move safely across the border as goods and capital.
She points to registration legislation as one solution, which is gaining co-sponsors in both the U.S. House and Senate.
“This will allow undocumented people, our neighbors who have been here a long time, to come forward and take a path to citizenship. All we need is the date of current immigration law. All you have to do is make one change,” Piper said. . ”
Support for this report was provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
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With the closure of the Randall Island Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center, immigrant advocates hope other similar centers will also close.
The centers were built to handle the influx of migrants from the southern border, but have been criticized for poor health and safety conditions. Some Congressional leaders consider the Floyd Bennett Field Relief Center a disaster.
Murad Awaudeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, said the city’s shelter system, while incomplete, is well-equipped to assist newly arrived migrants. .
“This is a system that has the infrastructure and staffing and facilities available to protect individuals who are looking for a place to stay until they can get back on their feet,” Awadeh pointed out.
But the shelter has been flooded with migrants since day one. New estimates show 64,000 migrants are spread across 200 shelters in New York City. Awadeh noted that Randalls Island itself poses challenges for immigrants because there is little access to public transportation or necessary services. From here, he emphasized that conversations about immigrants and other New Yorkers in shelters should center on their ability to assimilate and thrive in city life.
Another challenge facing immigrants is Mayor Eric Adams’ anti-immigrant policies. One of the rules he issued limited migrants and asylum seekers to stay in shelters from 30 to 60 days. Awadeh argued that removing restrictions could improve outcomes for immigrants.
“The 30-day and 60-day limits should be removed so that those who actually need additional support can receive it,” Awadeh argued. “And once they get that support, maybe they can get back on their feet and fully integrate into the city.”
The New York City Comptroller’s report found that implementation of this rule was disorganized, as other services needed by immigrants were inadequate.
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As the debate over immigration continues, a new report shows just how much immigrants are boosting Virginia’s economy.
The report, “Immigration is a critical part of Virginia’s future,” found that immigrants contribute more than $100 billion to the state’s economy and are essential to critical industries such as health care, technology, and hospitality. revealed.
Freddy Mejia, policy director at the Commonwealth Institute, which helped publish the report, said immigrants are an important part of many industries.
“16% of Virginia’s workers are immigrants; 34% of all Virginia chefs, 44% of all computer engineers and 28% of childcare workers are immigrants,” Mejia outlined. “Immigrants play a critical role in feeding our communities and raising our children.”
The Immigration Research Initiative and the Economic Policy Institute also contributed to the report. The findings come as immigration policy remains a hot-button issue, with critics raising concerns about job competition and resource allocation.
Critics argue that illegal immigrants put a strain on public services, but Mejia said illegal immigrants, despite paying taxes, are deprived of many public resources because of their legal status. He said the report highlights that access is often inaccessible.
“That group in particular is paying for a system that doesn’t allow them access to many of the critical resources that so many of us depend on,” Mejia explained. “I think that’s important to note.”
The report made several policy recommendations specifically focused on improving health care access and educational opportunities for immigrant children. Mejia added that as Virginia’s population ages, immigration will play an increasingly important role in sustaining the state’s economic growth.
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Immigration boosts economy in Colorado and across the U.S. But new policies are needed to maximize profits and make it harder for employers to abuse workers, finds new research from the Colorado Institute for Fiscal Studies According to the report, immigrants generate $54 billion in output to the state’s economy each year.
Despite widespread claims that immigrants are taking jobs away from native-born Americans, Sophie Shea, a policy analyst at the Colorado Institute for Fiscal Studies, says immigrants are actually taking jobs from all Coloradans. He claims to be giving a chance to
“Study after study shows that the number of jobs in the state is not fixed. When immigrants move to Colorado, the economy grows. It’s not about fewer jobs, it’s about more jobs. I mean it,” she said.
More than 500,000 immigrants from Colorado work in low-, middle-, and high-wage jobs. They are nursing assistants, cooks, and software developers. Nearly one in five small businesses in the state were started by immigrants, creating jobs for both native-born and new residents.
The report also shows how immigration has led to better, not worse, wages for U.S.-born workers.
Migrants are under increasing scrutiny, largely due to misinformation. For example, immigrants take advantage of taxpayer-funded programs like food stamps. Currently, illegal immigrants are not eligible for safety net programs. But in 2022, it contributed more than $436 million in state and local taxes, a number that could be higher if Congress reforms outdated immigration laws, Shea said. .
“If these workers were granted work permits, that number would increase their state and local tax liability to $537.8 million, an increase of $100 million,” she said. insisted.
Colorado’s working-age population is declining at the same time baby boomers are leaving the workforce. Mr. Shea believes immigration is essential to cushioning the effects of this labor shortage and allowing older Coloradans to retire with dignity.
“That’s why it’s so important that we invest now to welcome immigrants and welcome them into our states before large disparities continue to widen,” she continued.
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