Immigrant Policy Issues Overview
Federal immigration decisions have direct and indirect effects on state and local governments in the form of their budgets; the composition of their citizenry; the utilization and quality of their services; and the general social, political, and economic character of their communities.
Although the federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over immigration policy (the terms and conditions for entry into the United States), states and localities have become responsible for immigrant policy (the policies that help newcomers integrate into the country’s economic, social, and civic life.) States implement programs required by federal law, provide services mandated by the courts, and initiate programs and policies to serve the specialized needs of their new citizens.
The NCSL Immigrant Policy Project provides legislative research and analysis on immigration policy issues, such as the provision of benefits, health care, education and housing, and integration assistance.
Project publications have examined immigrants’ eligibility for federal and state programs, including TANF, Food Stamps, Medicaid, SCHIP, and SSI. We provide information on immigration law, citizenship, and identification documents. Finally, we make available a wealth of statistical information on immigrants at the federal, state and local levels.
Hunger and Nutrition Partnership. NCSL's newly created Hunger and Nutrition Partnership will engage state lawmakers in efforts to reduce hunger and improve nutrition. The project will forge local partnerships that will expand the base of expertise available to state decision-makers and provide a mechanism for sharing common challenges and models for possible solutions. The project, supported by The UPS Foundation, will conduct site visits, coordinate seminars at NCSL meetings and craft publications on federal nutrition and hunger programs and best practices in the states.
Benefits for immigrants are contained in complex eligibility rules under the 1996 welfare law. Our site provides a handy one-page chart on eligibility for federal programs (TANF, Food Stamps, Medicaid, SCHIP and SSI). America's Newcomers: Mending the Safety Net for Immigrants reviews the federal welfare reform debates and Congressional reconsideration of benefits for immigrants, as well as early decisions made by states in TANF, Medicaid, nutritional assistance, and naturalization programs. Information also is available on food stamps and supplemental security income.
Health care covers Medicaid, SCHIP, and issues of language access, cultural competence, and prenatal care. We provide information on helping non-English speakers navigate health and human services, SCHIP and access for children in immigrant families and public charge.
Education and Housing issues include student tuition for unauthorized immigrants; and initiatives that address the homeownership gap for low-income immigrant and non-English speaking communities, including a homeownership center in Minnesota and a financial literacy program in Arkansas.
Citizenship publications include three articles in State Legislatures magazine on state legislatures with immigrant backgrounds and state efforts to promote citizenship and civic particatipion. The report Immigrants to Citizens describes how immigrants become U.S. citizens and, beyond the naturalization process, how they become American and active participants in our society.
Immigration Law provides links to Title 8 of the U.S. code covering U.S. mmigration and nationality law, as well as information on VAWA legislation, federal regulation and guidance, common immigration terms, and public charge.
Building the New American Community is a collaborative project, launched with federal support, to understand “what works and why” in refugee and immigrant integration. NCSL launched this project with four national partners and coalitions of public and private partners in three demonstration communities, with an emphasis on two-way integration.
Federal Issues. In the 109th Congress, expect proposals on federal immigration reform addressing 8-12 million unauthorized immigrants, mandates for state and local law enforcement to enforce federal civil immigration law; higher education benefits for unauthorized immigrant students, and some benefit resotrations for legal immigrants and refugees. Our updates provide recent snapshots of the issues.
Project Staff
Ann Morse, Program Director
Dirk Hegen, Policy Associate
Publications of the Immigrant Policy Project are here in one handy list.
Please join our LIST SERVE.
NCSL Policies. Policy positions related to immigrants and refugees and the committees with jursidiction:
Human Services
- the Refugee Assistance and Immigration Reform; Nutrition Assistance; State Issued Document (joint policy under the Human Services and Transportation Committees)
Health
- Federal Funding to Assist States with Health Profession Shortages
- SCHIP
Law and Criminal Justice
- Immigration Law Enforcement
-Immplementation of REAL ID (joint policy under the Law and Justice and Transportation Committees)
State and Local Coalition on Immigration
The State and Local Coalition on Immigration is a collaborative effort of six national organizations representing state and local government: The National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Association of Counties, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, and the American Public Human Services Association. Since the early 1980s, these organizations have worked individually and jointly to advance the state and local perspective on immigration before Congress and the Administration through correspondence, issue briefings, and testimony.
Since the creation of the Refugee Act of 1980 and the passage of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, members of the Coalition have been assessing the impact of immigration on public policy and its implications for state and local policymakers. In 1996, the landmark federal welfare reform law revamped the welfare system, dramatically restricting immigrant eligibility for the nation's main public cash and medical assistance programs and shifting enormous responsibilities to state and local governments. The Immigrant Policy Project
NCSL: Sheri Steisel
NGA: Nolan Jones
NACo: Marilina Sanz
APHSA: Elaine Ryan
USCM: Crystal Swann
NLC: Jennifer McGee
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