Integrating Immigrants into American Life

The work of NCLR and its affiliates on behalf of immigrants builds on America's identity as a nation of immigrants by promoting fairness in the law and advancing a number of ways to help immigrants fully enter the mainstream of American life. We strive to align our work with the highest aspirations of Latinos – immigrants and natives alike – which is why education, homeownership, health, and economic security dominate NCLR's efforts throughout the country. By advancing these issues, NCLR and its affiliates are promoting the full economic and social integration of immigrants into the mainstream of American life. In addition, more than half of NCLR's affiliates are engaged in the work of helping immigrant adults learn English; many are also engaged in efforts to increase civic participation in immigrant communities. Nationally, NCLR works to increase funding streams and capacity for this kind of work, for which the demand for services far outstrips the supply. NCLR and its affiliates are on the front lines of carrying out the work that has always been essential to America's success as a nation, ensuring full respect for the contributions of immigrants and full access to the American Dream.

The Illinois New Americans Executive Order

The Illinois New Americans Executive Order policy project is a partnership between the State of Illinois and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), to develop strategic recommendations for how to best realize the potential contributions of immigrants to the economic and social growth of the state. Cities, counties, and states around the country are looking to the project as a model as they develop immigrant integration strategies in their own localities. Immigrant integration is a positive response to the heated debate around federal immigration reform and a positive way to look at the new immigrant and refugee neighbors who call America their home. For more information, visit www.immigrantintegration.org or contact Lisa Thakkar, ICIRR Policy Project Coordinator, at lthakkar@icirr.org or (312) 332-7360 x. 23.

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