Conflict or Community?

Alan Jenkins, TomPaine.com

July 31, 2007

With the failure of Congress and the president to pass immigration reform this year, states, cities and towns around the country are moving forward with their own policies to address the issue. Some, like the city of New Haven, Conn., and the state of Illinois are attempting to integrate immigrants—including undocumented immigrants—into their communities in the absence of federal solutions. Others, like Hazelton, Pa., and Prince William County, Va., are adopting policies that punish undocumented immigrants and, with them, many citizens, families, small businesses and whole communities.

The better course, by far, is integrating new immigrants in ways that move everyone in the community forward.

On July 26, a federal court struck down anti-immigrant ordinances in Hazelton as unconstitutional. The voided provisions would, among other things, have required tenants to register with City Hall and fined landlords who rent to people without verifying their immigration status. The federal district court held that the ordinances would have violated due process and are preempted by federal immigration laws.

Prince William County recently passed a similar ordinance that would bar undocumented immigrants from public facilities and services like clinics, libraries and schools, and have police inquire about the immigration status of people whom they stop. The American Civil Liberties Union reports that 40 similar ordinances have passed in cities and towns around the country.

Contrast this with the city of New Haven, which has moved to integrate immigrants while improving the quality of life of all of its residents. The city has adopted a municipal ID card that is available to all residents, irrespective of their immigration status. The card allows the holder to open a bank account, access municipal parks, libraries and other services.

In adopting the card policy, the city recognized that not only undocumented immigrants but many other New Haven residents lack a drivers license or other official ID, preventing them from opening a bank account, thwarting savings, and making them vulnerable to robbery and exploitation. At the emotional level, the card offers a sense of community belonging and cohesion that is often lacking from urban life.

Then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich took a similar approach late in 2005, recognizing in an executive order that "it is beneficial for new immigrants, the host communities, the state, and the nation for immigrants to quickly adjust to life in Illinois, learn English, become citizens, buy homes, start businesses, send their children to college, and thrive economically." The executive order initiated the creation of a New Americans Immigrant Policy and ordered state agencies to develop New Americans plans.

Time will tell what results these and other initiatives around the country achieve. But the New Haven and Illinois initiatives are clearly moving in the right direction. The best immigrant integration policies are practical, forward-looking and consistent with our country's best values. The 12 million undocumented immigrants in the US are here to stay-it would be both impossible and contrary to our values to round them up and deport them. And vindictive anti-immigrant policies have consistently failed to solve the problem.

Inclusive integration policies recognize that both documented and undocumented immigrants are part of our communities and part of our nation; they are our neighbors and co-workers and part of our country's economic engine. At the same time, they recognize that many American citizens are struggling for decent jobs, education, services and financial security. The best policies unite instead of divide our communities. They represent a search for solutions that help us all to rise together.

But there's more that must be done. While undocumented immigrants contribute economically to our communities, they are frequently subject to underpayment and exploitation on the job. That's bad for all of us, as it depresses wages and conditions for all workers.

Rather than adding to the mistreatment of immigrants—and furthering their economic vulnerability—cities and states must insist on decent workplace conditions and living wages while teaching all residents about their rights and responsibilities.

In addition, racial discrimination persists as a problem for native-born people of color as well as immigrants. In many workplaces, immigrants are preferred over African Americans and other minority citizens for low-paying jobs, while higher paying jobs are reserved for whites. Cities and states have a responsibility, as does the federal government, to identify and eliminate discriminatory practices and ensure equal employment opportunity.

Finally, while it's convenient to blame immigrants or the undocumented for overcrowded hospitals and under-resourced schools, these problems existed long before today's immigrants arrived in our country. Providing quality services is government's most basic responsibility, and it must do so in ways that serve the whole community.

The Carnegie Corporation of New York and Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees have each published useful guides to immigrant integration policies that work. Combining their recommendations with best practices around the country and protections that expand opportunity for all Americans can provide new solutions where federal leadership has been lacking.