Immigrant Friendly Communities:



Immigrant Friendly Communities:A Quick Guide to Successful Pro-Immigrant ActionPennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition July, 2012 Introduction 1Over the past forty years, the foreign born population in the United States has more than tripled, and the number of immigrants in the United States continues to grow; in 2008, immigrants made up approximately 12% of the population, and estimates for 2010-2011 state that about 14% of the total population, or more than 43 million people in the United States, were immigrants. Similar trends can be seen in Pennsylvania: between 2000 and 2010 the state’s immigrant population increased by over 45%, coming to represent approximately 6% of Pennsylvania’s total population. As foreign born residents, documented and undocumented alike, have begun to occupy a large and permanent part of national as well as Pennsylvanian communities, so too has there been a significant increase in immigration related legislation. Over the past eight years this increase has been especially noticeable. In 2005, 300 immigration related bills were introduced nationally, and 45 were passed in state legislatures. In 2009, just four years later, approximately 1,500 immigration related bills were considered across the 50 states and of those, 222 laws and 131 resolutions were enacted in 48 different state legislatures. While legislative attention has most definitely turned towards immigration and immigrant related issues, the majority of this legislation has attempted to restrict immigrant and citizen rights alike. These local and state measures have managed, while attempting to “crack down” on immigration, to simultaneously restrict the rights of US citizens and especially those citizens often discriminated against: including minorities, women, the elderly, and the poor. Despite census data showing that immigrant communities bring much needed economic growth to Pennsylvania and the United States as a whole, in the 2011-2012 legislative session in Pennsylvania, for example, state legislators in Harrisburg introduced 21 anti-immigrant bills that threatened to stifle this growth by driving immigrants away. These bills follow the example of states like Arizona and Alabama who have spent millions of dollars implementing and defending hateful, ineffective anti-immigrant and anti-immigration policies. These bills are not only expensive and detrimental to the US and local economies, but violate multiple 14th amendment rights of citizens and non-citizens alike, serving as attempts to legalize racially motivated and economically fearful injustice(s) throughout America. While the past few years have been difficult for pro-immigration policy in the United States, the entire country has now seen the failures of anti-immigration policies in states like Arizona and Alabama, and governments and citizens alike are realizing that anti-immigrant attitudes are unproductive and unconstitutional. The atmosphere is ripe for initiating local pro-immigrant policy and projects in an effort to make our own communities immigrant friendly, economically successful, and socially just. What Can We Do?2As anti-immigrant legislation peaks, it is time to not just fight these measures, but to actively engage in advocacy that encourages pro-immigrant communities and governments. Community organizing and awareness as well as legal action are all crucial methods for establishing our communities as communities that value every person – regardless not only of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and class, but ethnicity, linguistic background, and immigration status as well. What is a pro-immigrant community? A pro-immigrant community is a community that actively engages with all of its residents and members – regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, ethnicity, language spoken, or legal status in the United States. A pro-immigrant community is one that promotes national, state, and local legislation that incorporates and supports immigrants in the United States. Pro-immigrant communities are composed of all sectors of social, cultural, and political life including philanthropists, governments, businesses, labor unions, faith based institutions, schools, and hospitals. As a pro-immigrant community, it is essential to not only act legislatively for more welcoming immigration policies, but to also take symbolic action that provides immediate support for American immigrant communities throughout the United States. What is pro-immigrant “action”? Pro-immigrant “action” consists of legal or symbolic measures taken to make one’s local or state community welcoming, supportive, and accessible for immigrants, their families, and their friends.Legal pro-immigrant action, such as executive orders and resolutions, are local laws that seek to achieve the following: Promote the acceptance and integration of immigrants & their families into all parts of community life.Counter all forms of discrimination, but specifically discrimination based on race, economic status, immigration status, and linguistic background. Establish a legal precedent that lacking documentation does not make a person “illegal” or deserving of criminal treatment. Symbolic pro-immigrant action, including board formations, official “commitments”, and development of alternative social services, is action that seeks to uphold the same legal values in a more accessible, grassroots manner. Based on these founding ideas, pro-immigrant “action” consists of practices, legal or otherwise, that uphold the rights of every person to live, work, learn, and play free from discrimination – regardless of immigration status or linguistic background. 3 Pro-Immigrant ActionIn efforts to make our communities immigrant friendly, policies and practices must be introduced that not only defend against hateful anti-immigrant measures, but that actively promote positive and welcoming pro-immigrant values. While the majority of immigration measures are overwhelmingly “anti-immigrant”, there are an abundance of states, cities, and communities that have begun to take successful pro-immigrant action on a local level. Typically, these actions specifically address one of the following categories in relation to immigration and citizenship status:Law Enforcement & “Reporting”Wage & Employment Standards Health Care EducationOther Basic Services 3.1 Law Enforcement & ReportingPro-immigrant Law Enforcement & Reporting action can take two forms:A legal opposition to collaboration with immigration law authorities (ICE & DHS).Commitment to positive and collaborative interaction between immigrant populations and community law enforcement – including face-to-face interaction to build trust and increased language access.These action(s) specifically engage with undocumented immigrant populations, ensuring that the human rights and privacies that citizens enjoy daily are extended to every person, regardless of documentation. Examples Intro 656, New York City In 2011, New York City’s City Council approved Intro 656, a bill that stops New York City funding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts to detain immigrants who have been cleared of their crimes or have no criminal record. This bill impedes the development of relationships between city police officials and ICE, DHS, and DOC – when an undocumented immigrant with no prior criminal record is convicted of a minor crime, they are no longer sent to jail and detained until deportation, but rather treated like other minor offenders in the US. Executive Orders 34 & 41, New York Executive Orders 34 & 41 (EO34 & EO41) ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, can access the City services that they are entitled to receive. According to EO41, City workers must protect the confidentiality of a person’s immigration status.In addition, these policies require City employees to protect the confidentiality of information about a person’s sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a crime witness, receipt of public assistance, and information in income tax records.Executive Order 8-09, PhiladelphiaIn 2009, Mayor Nutter signed Executive Order 8-09, prohibiting city employees from asking about immigration status, unless specifically required by law, or to determine program eligibility.? It also makes immigration status confidential - unless required by law, with the permission of the individual, or if the individual is suspected of criminal activity.? ?This EO designates the following regulations for law enforcement officers: Prohibited from stopping, questioning, arresting, or detaining someone solely because of ethnicity, national origin, or perceived immigration statusMay not ask about immigration status unless the status is directly related to a crime for which the person is being investigated or relevant to the identification of a suspect. May not ask about immigration status for the purpose of enforcing immigration laws. Specifically prohibited from asking about the immigration status of victims, witnesses or others who call or approach the police seeking help.Inclusive Communities Partnership The Inclusive Communities Partnership is a program originating from the National League of Cities – a program that includes over 191 communities in over 40 states, representing about 18 million people. In Pennsylvania alone, for instance, Carlisle, West Chester, State College, York, and Harrisburg have all passed Inclusive Community resolutions, publically committing these communities to work toward inclusivity. The Inclusive Communities Partnership has the following goals in mind:To raise awareness and focus attention (legal and public) on the importance and value of living in inclusive communities. To motivate cities and towns to make public commitments toward inclusivity. To provide support to local officials in focused efforts around affordable housing, race and ethnic relations, and equal citizen participation in community decision-making.“No Hate In Our Town” Campaign, PennsylvaniaThe “No Hate in Our Town” campaign worked to mobilize Pennsylvanians toward speaking out against hateful and discriminatory laws and practices against immigrants and their families. This campaign had a grassroots approach, combating anti-immigrant legislation and rallies through pro-immigrant presence and promotion of pro-immigrant resolutions. The “No Hate” presence aided in uniting community members throughout Pennsylvania and supported the passing of pro-immigrant ordinances in Adams County, Erie, Lancaster, Philadelphia, and York County (Refer to Appendix 1 & 2 for copies of full resolutions). Erie, Pennsylvania: Erie’s City Council passed a resolution in opposition to US House Resolution #4437, which criminalizes undocumented immigrants and social service organizations that help undocumented immigrants and in support of more compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform. The resolution had three main components, including: Section One: That the City Council express it’s opposition to US HR #4437Section Two: That the City Council expresses its support for more compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform and urges the US Senate to pass such legislation. Section Three: That a copy of the resolution be sent to essential Senators and Congressman. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Lancaster’s City Council passed a resolution that supported “earned legalization” and that rejected all immigration reform efforts that intended to do the following:Criminalize individuals because of immigration status.View immigration policy as a border only security issue.Fail to recognize common humanity and the values of the nation.Additionally, this campaign included the simple and direct action of asking community members to gather with a group of friends, families, or fellow No Hate in Our Town supporters, to take a photo with the following characteristics:Signs displaying a phrase equal or similar to – “No Hate in Our Town”. The name of the town from which the photo was being taken. Implementation There are a variety of methods that can be used in the implementation of pro-immigrant action. When trying to establish your community as immigrant friendly, however, there are certain key elements that should be included to make your efforts as successful as possible. The Illegal Immigration Reform & Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 has presented state and local governments with a difficult situation to maneuver in the reporting of immigration status to Federal agencies or officials. Despite the legal limitations of state and local governments, there are four main ways to successfully approach legislative immigration activism:Prohibit cooperation between city officials & use of city resources to enforce civil immigration law unless required by a Federal or state statue court (I.E. no formal “Memorandum of Agreement” with the Department of Homeland Security). Prohibit the collection of information on immigration status.Prohibit the sharing of information with ICE (using privacy and confidentiality ordinances and executive orders that cover not only immigration status but other identifiers as well). Pass resolutions that publically express pro-immigrant attitudes and lobby against harmful anti-immigrant legislation. There are three main categories, when pursuing or proposing the passing of these pro-immigrant provisions, which are essential in terms of language and policy development. The National Immigration Law Center suggests the following key language:Non-participation in the enforcement of civil immigration law.“Unless otherwise required by law or court order, no city agents, including agents of law enforcement entities, shall use city monies, resources, or personnel solely for the purpose of detecting or apprehending persons whose only violation of the law is or may be a civil immigration violation.” “Police officers are exempted from the above limitations when the officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that the person has been convicted of a felony, was deported or left the US after the conviction, and is again present in the US.”“City agents shall not single out individuals for legal scrutiny or enforcement activity based solely on their country of origin, religion, ethnicity, spoken language, or immigration status.” Not collecting information on immigration status unless required by law. “No general city service or public safety services shall be denied on the basis of citizenship. City agents shall not inquire into the immigration status of any individual.”“If necessary to inquire about an individual’s immigration status for the determination of eligibility for services, benefits, or provisions or if required by the law, city agents will not report that or any other confidential information to federal sources unless required by the law.”“It shall be a policy of public safety services departments not to inquire about the immigration status of crime victims, witnesses, or others who request help from city agents.”For symbolic immigration action in relationship to law enforcement and reporting, it is important to keep the above information in mind, while utilizing a more explicitly pro-immigrant language in documents, campaigns, and resolutions. An important component of symbolic pro-immigrant action is that the action is recorded and presented, whether in writing, photos, video, or another medium, to officials who will be creating and implementing immigration policy in your community.For instance, the Inclusive Communities Partnership, as described above, has the following process of public proclamation and commitment to being an inclusive, welcoming community to immigrants:Pass a resolution affirming the community’s commitment to promoting inclusion. WHEREAS, [Your city] is committed to inclusion as a fundamental aspect of our community; and WHEREAS, cities and towns are the best place to make inclusiveness an everyday priority; and WHEREAS, local elected officials can and should lead the way forward in making inclusiveness a priority in America’s cities and towns; and WHEREAS, the National League of Cities has designed the Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities to support cities and towns in their commitment to inclusion; and W H E R E A S , the National League of Cities and its members believe an inclusive community promotes equal opportunity and fairness; and W H E R E A S , the National League of Cities and its members believe an inclusive community promotes citizen participation and engagement; and W H E R E A S , there is a pressing need to make [Your city]’s community welcoming to and celebratory of all peoples, including those of different ages, genders, sexual orientations, races, ethnicities, language backgrounds, and citizenship statuses.NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that [ Your city here] hereby reaffirms our commitment to inclusion as a fundamental aspect of our community, pledges active efforts to seek to achieve that goal, and urges all citizens of [Your city] to join together to support this effort. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that [City name] joins the Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities. Signed this [Date] [Your name and city]Sample Resolution: Send an official copy of above resolution to the National League of Cities. Send an information and contact form (available online) to the National League of Cities to maintain in contact about what inclusivity actions are taking place throughout the community. Upon receipt of the community’s resolution and information, NLC will officially enroll the community in the partnership as well as send a “sign of inclusivity” to be displayed. 3.2 Wage & Employment Standards Pro-Immigrant Wage & Employment Standards action focuses on improving wages for those who work at the bottom of the labor market and stopping employment and labor rights violations.These action(s) typically include the city or community acting as a “proprietor” in the following ways: Establishing city-wide or targeted minimum or living wages.Implementing community-initiated equal opportunity employment policies that specifically include non-discrimination based on national origin and citizenship status.Curbing employers’ manipulation and misuse of Social Security Administration (SSA) “no-match letters”. Using proprietary interests to discourage the use of the E-Verify system and pass legislation that mandates eligible employers within city limits to not use E-Verify until proven to be more accurate (99%, for example). Supporting or providing “worker centers” for day laborers – the majority of whom are immigrants and often undocumented. Reduce employer’s abilities of misclassifying immigrant workers as “independent contractors”. Examples“Measure C”, Emeryville (California) In 2005, the city of Emeryville, California passed “Measure C”, an ordinance that regulates minimum compensation for all employees in hotels with more than 50 guest rooms. “Measure C” address both minimum wage requirements as well as benefits and working conditions for hotel employees – redefining the definition of “employee” to be a broad term covering any persons regularly providing services to hotel guests, and excluding highly-paid managerial or administrative employees. The ordinance also includes the following provisions: Minimum compensation of $9 per hour, including the value of health benefits (to be adjusted continually for inflation). Average compensation of all employees of $11 per hour. Protection from unjust discharges with new employer takeovers.Square feet requirements – employees who are required to clean rooms amounting to more than 5,000 square feet in an eight hour day to be paid at least 150% of minimum compensation.Hotels to which the ordinance applies must pay the city an annual permit fee to cover costs of enforcement. Resolution of Non-Discrimination Upon Receipt of SSA “No-Match” Letters, Santa Fe (New Mexico) In 2006, the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico passed a resolution declaring a policy of non-discrimination upon the receipt of Social Security Administration “No-match” letters (Refer to Appendix 3 for a full copy of the resolution). “No-match” letters are letters that the Social Security Administration sends to employers and employees when they identify an inconsistency between the name and Social Security Number in its records SSA records and those on wage and income tax forms. These inconsistencies may be due to fraud, but more often than not are due to typographical errors, incompletely filled in or blank Social Security numbers, or name changes. Santa Fe’s resolution establishes that the city of Santa Fe will follow the following guidelines (unless otherwise required by the law): Take no adverse action against any city employee listed on the letter (fire, discriminate, suspend, etc.). Will not ask any employee to provide documentation to re-verify immigration status. Enforce the “Document Abuse” prohibition and non-discrimination provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act if employers take part in either of the previously mentioned actions. A similar resolution of non-discrimination upon receipt of SSA “No-match” letters was also passed in San Francisco, California. Wisconsin Solidarity March for Immigrant & Workers’ RightsOn Sunday, May 1st, of 2011, immigrant and worker’s rights activists came together to rally in support of immigrant and worker’s rights in Wisconsin and the rest of the United States. Wisconsin’s May-Day solidarity march was organized as a part of the National Immigrant Solidarity Network’s efforts to make May 1st a day of national mobilization for immigrant worker’s rights. The following is the movements’ description: A national day of multi-ethnic unity with youth, labor, peace and justice communities in solidarity with immigrant workers.Demonstration of solidarity on the day by wearing white t-shirts and organizing local actions to support immigrant worker rights. A commitment to the following principles: Communities against anti-immigrant legislation, and the criminalization of immigrant communities. Communities against militarization of the munities against immigrant detention and munities against employer sanction and “no match” munities that support a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants. Communities that support speedy family munities that support civil rights and humane immigration munities that support labor rights and living wages for all munities that support education and LGBTQ immigrant legislation.ImplementationImplementing pro-immigrant legislative and symbolic action(s) in regards to employment and wages requires a focus on low-earning workers and employer mistreatment. One of the strongest ways in which cities and communities can engage with these actions is to utilize their ability to be a “proprietor”. This entails establishing that the city or community will not contract with, fund, rent property to, etc. those who support or enact anti-immigrant practices. These proprietary actions can include:Requiring a minimum wage including or covering for health insurance, vacations and sick leave, and child-care services. Mandating that employers pledge a non-discrimination policy upon receipt of a Social Security Administration “no match” letter, establishing that neither the city nor the employer will take adverse action against the employee on the letter (fire, etc.) nor ask any employee to provide documentation to re-verify immigration status unless otherwise required by the law. Mandating that any “person, firm, partnership, or corporation that in any month abstains 20 or more hours of personal services from the same or different persons has to pay an hourly contractual rate at least equal to the city’s minimum wage (with benefits)” in order to combat misclassification of workers as “independent contractors”. It is also possible to symbolically and non-legislatively engage with pro-immigrant, work related action(s). These actions could include:Supporting or creating day laborer centers – combining service delivery (legal, language, education, and counseling services), advocacy (research and lobbying), and organizing. The services that these centers may include range from individual assistance with employment problems to community initiated workers’ rights campaigns.Providing volunteer health-services, translation, English classes, worker’s rights workshops, food distribution, and job searches on an individual or large scale basis. Protesting, rallying, and lobbying on behalf of all workers rights – including immigrants, regardless of documentation or “legal” status. 3.3 Health CarePro-Immigrant Health Care action can occur in three primary forms:Increase access to health care within city limits, regardless of citizenship status. Improve and increase language access in health care services and facilities.Increase health-care provider and immigrant community knowledge about mandated reporting policies in the health care industry/field. ExamplesHealthy San Francisco “Healthy San Francisco” is a health-care program sponsored and developed by the Department of Public Health in San Francisco that allows San Francisco residents who do not have health insurance and who do not qualify for Medi-Cal or Healthy Families to access basic and ongoing medical care within the city limits. This program allows uninsured San Franciscans to have access to health insurance for a small “participant fee” paid four times a year – dependent on family size and monthly income (some participants are not required to pay at all). Additionally, there are “point of service fees”, dependent on the same factors, that mimic co-pays for visits, prescriptions, etc. This program is available to all San Francisco residents regardless of immigration status, employment status, or pre-existing medical conditions.LB599, Nebraska In 2011 LB 599 was approved in Nebraska, legally establishing the right of undocumented mothers to care and provide for their unborn children. This bill would provide free pre-natal care, for those who economically qualify, regardless of documentation status – establishing that undocumented mothers have a right to state-funded health care for their children. ImplementationLegally, there are a limited number of ways to provide health-care to immigrants regardless of documentation status. As mentioned above, one method of pro-immigrant action is to provide a locally based health-care coverage that can and is used by many people without insurance who do not qualify for state-based insurance coverage programs – whether due to immigration status, working status, or financial earnings. Healthy San Francisco manages to provide insurance to the uninsured (including undocumented immigrants) through the following measures:Spending a combination of money ($104 million) already spent on the 15% of San Franciscans who are uninsured, premiums and copayments made by higher-income individuals ($60 million), business premiums ($30-40 million), and increased federal cost sharing ($10 million). Requiring, through the “Health Care Security Ordinance” (HCSO), that all large and medium-sized businesses contribute a certain amount toward health care for each hour worked by employees. Additionally, through HCSO, avoiding ERISA limitations by only providing health care within the city of San Francisco (not technically health insurance) and by offering employers multiple “health spending options” as opposed to regulating employer spending. While programs like “Health San Francisco” are essential in providing good quality health care to immigrants in the United States, smaller, locally based assistance is also important in the mean time. Immigrants face linguistic, cultural, and informational barriers to obtaining available health-care while in the United States. Efforts to provide the following would help immigrants gain access to health-care that is already available to them and inform medical professionals of their rights and responsibilities in regards to providing immigrants health services: Outreach to the community, especially face-to-face interaction and education. Language translation services – both for written information and for appointments. Free, community based health clinics concerned only with the income status of its patients and with no other personal information. Education for medical professionals and offices informing them of the following:Health care providers have no obligation to report patients’ immigration status.Verifying and reporting immigration status are not the same and are not dependent on one another.Benefits agencies inquiring about immigration status must verify only the status of the applicant and not that of family members. 3.4 Education Pro-immigrant Education action focuses on increasing the following within our communities:Access to education and education services among immigrant populations.Awareness and celebration of immigrants and immigrant contributions in the United States within the community’s schools and education departments. Private funds for higher education for immigrant youth and students (until the Federal government takes action). ExamplesExecutive Order 128, New York In 2009, Mayor Bloomberg signed off on New York’s Executive Order 128 – an ordinance that establishes an annual citywide Immigration Heritage week with the following characteristics: Outreach and celebration of immigration history and tradition in New York City.Recognition of the positive contributions of New York City’s diverse immigrant populations.A collaboration between the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, city agencies, educational institutions, and private organizations to publically recognize and celebrate the immigrants of New York City for one week every April. SB1557, Illinois In 2009, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed Senate Bill 1557 as it was introduced onto Illinois’ Senate floor. This bill, now known as Public Act 96-0629, requires the history of the United States to be taught with a focus on the role and contributions of Hispanics in the United States. Such curriculum would include important events such as the study of the forceful removal and illegal deportation of Mexican-American U.S. citizens during the Great Depression.Public Act 96-0629 came about from a legal and educational recognition that Hispanic immigrants have contributed greatly to the United States and yet despite their continued presence, their contributions to the country’s past, present, and future is hardly recognized. Illinois Dream Act – SB 2185 On August 1st, 2011, Governor Pat Quinn signed the Illinois Dream Act, designed to make scholarships, college savings, and prepaid tuition programs available to undocumented students who graduated from Illinois high schools. This act also designates the creation of an Illinois DREAM Fund, a nine-member Illinois DREAM Commission appointed by the Governor with Senate consent, and encourages that college counselors and other education officials be knowledgeable about options for undocumented students. The Illinois Dream Act is especially important in the pro-immigrant movement in that it establishes private funding for undocumented students pursuing a higher education despite the fact that the state has no legal means to grant citizenship. By specifically targeting private funds, commissions, and services to students who are openly undocumented, the IL Dream Act and other similar legislation legally and publically establishes that documentation should not determine a person’s basic human rights. ImplementationPro-immigrant education related action(s) serve as a rich area for symbolic action to make our communities immigrant friendly. This is an area where immigrants can be openly celebrated, a chance that is extremely limited in legislative action throughout the United States. The following are important things to keep in mind when implementing pro-immigrant education related action(s):Focus in on the immigrant populations most highly represented in your community – what have they historically contributed to your community and what are they contributing now? Allow members of the immigrant community to have a space to share and speak – encourage interaction between the entire community and its immigrant members, making “immigrant” not the only identifier available to those who were not born in the United States. Support and engage with cultural events specific to immigrant members of the community as well as with curriculum alterations in local schools, highlighting immigrants’ role and history as a part of America. Provide translation and informational services for immigrant parents with children in school – allowing active participation of the parents of first generation Americans with their children’s schools and educational development. 3.5 Other Basic (Social) Services Other basic pro-immigrant action work to provide basic services to immigrant members of our communities and include: Increasing and developing multi-lingual communications in public spaces, buildings, and governmental services. Establishing local departments or committees of immigrant affairs to address discrimination, service requests, and governmental communication(s). Improving immigrants’ access to the banking system, financial education, and identification capabilities. ExamplesElm City Residence Cards, New Haven In July of 2007, the city of New Haven, Connecticut launched the use of the “Elm City Residence Card”, a municipal ID card that functions as a valid form of government ID regardless of age or immigration status. The Elm City Residence Card has the following functions: Official form of government ID Library and other public service access “Debit Card” – up to $150 can be uploaded at a time Furthermore, this residency card was created with the following in mind:Bank Access: many undocumented immigrants work in the cash economy and find it difficult or cannot open bank accounts without a social security number or a valid form of ID. This municipal ID card allows residents to open bank accounts at certain locally based banks in New Haven. The following banks in New Haven accept the municipal ID to open a bank account – Citibank, Chase, Bank of America, and Sovereign Bank. Public Safety: because so many undocumented immigrants do not have bank accounts, they are more subject to robberies and loss of large sums of money. With money being kept in the bank and possible ATM/DEBIT card features to be implemented directly into the Elm City Residence Card in the future, the risk of these types of crimes would be reduced. So far, over 10,000 Elm City Residence Cards have been issued in New Haven alone (and not only to undocumented immigrants). Furthermore, since its initiation in 2007, New York, San Francisco, Madison (Wisconsin), and Lexington (Kentucky) have reached out to New Haven officials to learn about how this program was implemented. Since 2010, Princeton and Trenton New Jersey have implemented similar municipal ID card systems.Executive Order 120, New York City In 2008, New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg signed Executive Order 120, a language access ordinance that requires city agencies to provide translation services for all New Yorkers. Executive Order 120 requires that all city agencies that interact directly with residents provide the following:Telephonic interpretationOral & written translation servicesTranslation of essential public documents A “Language Access Coordinator” who will develop a Language Access policy & implementation plan All of the services provided are required to be translated and available in the six most commonly spoken languages in the city, including Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Italian, and French Creole. “New Americans Initiative”, Illinois In November of 2005 Governor Blagojevich of Illinois issued an Executive Order to create a “New Americans Immigrant Policy Council” in the state. This initiative mandated the creation of a council to serve the following functions: To better integrate and support immigrants as active and welcomed participants of American life.To create collaboration between the 15 member policy council, community organizations committed to immigrant and refugee rights, and the immigrant community in the formation of legal policy in Illinois.To present to the Governor “best practice” models for increasing and easing immigrant participation in civic and community life. Furthermore, this Executive Order mandated that all State Agencies do the following in collaboration with and service to the immigrant communities of Illinois: Develop “New Americans Plans” that incorporate effective training andresources for governmental and state run departments.Ensure culturally and linguistically competent and appropriate services.Include administrative practices that reach out to and reflect the needs of the immigrant and Limited English Proficient populations. Consider the New Americans Immigrant Policy Council’s recommendations in creating the agencies’ plans.3.6 Other Examples of Symbolic Pro-Immigrant Action Mayor’s Office of Immigration Affairs, New York City In New York City in the fall of 2011, Mayor Bloomberg initiated the Mayor’s Office of Immigration Affairs that serves the following general functions: Promote the well-being of immigrant communities by recommending and supporting policies and programs that aid in the successful integration of immigrant New Yorkers. Identify city services and get information about citizenship applications for immigrants seeking information and services. Aid community based organizations by directing them to the appropriate City agencies and officials to address concerns or to receive referrals and resources. Discuss and share “best policy and practices” to serve and reach out to immigrant communities with other government agencies. Furthermore, the Mayor’s Office of Immigration Affairs (MOIA) supports and spearheads many immigrant friendly policies and programs in New York City. The following list includes foci of interest and specific program initiatives from the MOIA in New York: Awareness & ActionThe City’s Family Justice Centers now provide additional full-time attorneys to navigate immigrant domestic violence victims, as well as additional immigration attorneys to serve New York City immigrant residents and expand legal services to immigrant communities. Supports the City’s Health & Hospital’s Corporation (HHC) public hospitals’ commitment to keep immigration status of patients private – including the publication of an “Open Letter” that confirms that no records of undocumented immigrants are kept or distributed to immigration authorities. The “Open Letter” is available in over 12 different languages.Civic Engagement “One NYC, One Nation” - a project that has provided over 1,500 immigrant New Yorkers with “Know Your Rights & Responsibilities” Forums, free leadership skill-building workshops, scholarships for immigrant businesses’ financial literacy training, and coffee hour English conversation throughout the city. Economic DevelopmentFinancial and other services provided to immigrant-owned small businesses.English Services/Learning “We are New York” – a TV program that takes place twice a week for half an hour, depicting cooperative, integrative, and hopeful stories of immigrants living in New York, while simultaneously designed to aid immigrants in practicing their English by depicting scenes at schools, doctors offices, and restaurants. WANY also provides free conversation groups all over New York with trained teachers present to help immigrants learn the English language. Houston, Chicago, and Seattle have all received technical assistance and overall guidance from MOIA and have established similar Mayoral offices in each respective City. Vibrant Pittsburgh Vibrant Pittsburgh is a City-wide effort in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that looks to create a welcoming, flourishing city environment in order to attract and sustain a diverse and thus economically successful population. Vibrant Pittsburgh promotes Pittsburgh as a pro-immigrant city in the following ways:Upholding a commitment to a city that is not only welcoming to the diversity of immigrants but that recognizes their dependence on that diversity as well.Reaching out to employers through education, trainings, and advocacy to inform others about the need for inclusivity and appreciation of the immigrant population in the city. Aiding immigrants in Pittsburgh by creating Welcome Centers, collaborating with the Immigration Law Clinic, as well as educating governmental officials and departments about the economic benefits that immigration brings to Pittsburgh and the United States in general. Vibrant Pittsburgh operates through a three-tiered system of advocacy and action: By operating with boards, community partners, and locally based programs, Vibrant Pittsburgh manages to effectively engage the city of Pittsburgh, employers and companies, as well as the residents in their efforts to make Pittsburgh a welcoming, immigrant friendly community. Action Targets: PAWhile both legal and symbolic pro-immigrant action can be successful and necessary in almost every city and town in Pennsylvania and throughout other states as well, there are certain demographic characteristics that can influence how to legislatively or symbolically engage and initiate changes toward more immigrant friendly cities. 4EastonHazletonWilkes-BarreWilliamsportState CollegeReadingLancasterYork ScrantonAltoona JohnstownPittsburghErie-14147801102995The largest twenty cities of Pennsylvania are geographically spread throughout the state and represent not only different compositions of diversity but different political and cultural climates as well. While many of these cities are well known, there are also a large number of cities that are less-known and yet represent a large portion of Pennsylvania’s residents.BethlehemHarrisburgChesterPhiladelphiaAllentownLebanonNew CastleThese cities range from large cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to smaller and less-known cities such as Hazleton and Easton. While we think about where pro-immigrant action will be most effective, it is imperative that we focus not only on the large, liberal cities in which immigrant populations are large and active. We must also focus our attentions and efforts on educating and supporting cities and communities throughout Pennsylvania that represent a large pool of political and cultural power and yet have less interaction with immigration and immigrants in their own communities. The following chart gives an idea of just what demographics we should be prepared to work with in the largest cities and towns in Pennsylvania as we continue towards making the Commonwealth an immigrant friendly state one community at a time. As you think about planning your pro-immigrant action, take into account the demographics of the populations you will be working with and cater your action plan accordingly. If the city in which you are working has a large and active immigrant population, consider the following tactics when planning pro-immigrant action in your community: Uniting immigrant and non-immigrant communities to take action together.Using the large and positive presence that immigrants have (in your city) to influence policy makers and government officials. Drawing on resources and organizations that are already present in your area supporting immigrants and collaborate with them.Focusing on direct service to the immigrant community –what do they need and what is lacking in government and organizational services? If, on the other hand, the city in which you are working has a relatively small immigrant population, you may wish to consider different tactics when planning your action: Educating the public about immigrant presence throughout Pennsylvania and the positive contributions they are making for the anizing with other nearby communities and cities that may have a more active immigrant population. Educating government officials on the advantages of being a city that has a large immigrant population and what it means to be positively prepared and welcoming to immigrants in the future. Engaging with symbolic forms of pro-immigrant action, displaying solidarity with other areas, and supporting those immigrant communities that are in your area, making sure that they know they have support within their own city walls. As the 2011-2012 legislative session begins to approach its end, immigration legislation continues to be present throughout the United States and in Pennsylvania as well. While the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn all components of Arizona’s immigration law except the “show me your papers” provision is a positive step toward making our communities immigrant-friendly, we have much work until we reach our desired goal: for every person in America to be able to live, work, learn, and play free from discrimination – regardless of immigration status or linguistic background. This month alone, SB 9 and SB 637 were reviewed on Pennsylvania’s House and Senate floors (with SB637 passing) and other, locally based laws, such as the Illegal Immigration Relief Act of Hazelton, PA, are scheduled to be reviewed and orally defended in August. In efforts to not only combat the development of these anti-immigrant policies and practices but to also actively create immigrant friendly communities, the following is important to consider: “What it means to be an immigrant rights activist isthat one must also be involved in the integration side of the debate,in the huge question of whether there is economic and social mobility fortoday’s immigrants. The issues I care most about are what kind of lifeimmigrants are going to be able to achieve in this country… I feel it isimperative that more people conceptualize their role in being pro immigrantas being pro school reform, pro health care access, and pro labor rightsenforcement, among other things we need to think about to make strong,vibrant, healthy communities. When so many are struggling to move up,to provide for their families, how do we design policies that truly provideopportunity and a level playing field for everyone?”The State of Opportunity in America: Immigrants and OpportunityThe Opportunity Agenda, New York, New YorkEndnotes ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download