The Executive Committee Task Force on Immigration and the States
Task Force Overview
Immigration affects state legislatures across a broad spectrum of policies – from education to transportation, from health care to law enforcement. The NCSL Executive Committee Task Force on Immigration and the States was created with the dual purpose of providing a forum for states to exchange ideas and promising practices while helping legislators understand the implications of federal immigration reform proposals on their states. As immigration reform comes to the forefront of the public agenda there is widespread agreement in Congress and with the public that our nation’s immigration system is broken. Disagreement exists on how to best address this issue. Some prefer an “enforcement-only” approach while others argue that comprehensive reform, with a new worker program, is the best answer.
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.) As the immigration reform debate has intensified at the federal level, states have been left to grapple with the adverse effects of immigration, while continuing to promote economic growth and strong community relations. Immigration issues have gained in prominence in state legislatures across the country. As the federal government has faced gridlock in reforming legal and illegal immigration, states have looked for mechanisms to respond to the public’s concerns. Legislators also raise questions about the increasing costs to state budgets, the potential for unfunded mandates from the federal level—as in the CLEAR act, REAL ID and SCAAP—and the lack of meaningful efforts to integrate America’s newcomers.
An initial focus of the task force will be to examine how states are addressing immigrant issues in their communities. In 2006, some 400 bills related to immigrants are being considered in a range of policy arenas, including: health care, employment, identification, human trafficking, and education. In the integration arena, legislators are examining ways to promote economic opportunity and asset development, encourage English language attainment, and support civic engagement. The task force will deliberate these policy areas and hear testimony from all perspectives on the debate. The task force will convene meetings as well as conduct site visits to learn first-hand the challenges and contributions of immigrants in communities across the country. States will then be able to inform Congress and federal agencies the priorities that need to be addressed through immigration reform (for example, education and public health). This knowledge will serve to help NCSL assess the workability of various federal proposals, enabling NCSL to best represent the needs of states as the immigration reform debate moves forward.
Spring Forum 2006
Overview of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation - Ruth Ellen Wasem, Congressional Research Service
The Tension Between Federal Immigration Policy and State Law - Astrid Schmidt, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
New York City, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, November 10, 2006
The U.S. Labor Market and Immigration - Erica L. Groshen, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
The Economic Impact of the Hispanic Population on the State of North Carolina (external link) -
Dr. Steven Appold, University of North Carolina
Fall Forum 2006
Immigration and Border Security, A White Paper - Dennis E. Nixon, Alliance for Security and Trade, Laredo, Texas
Updated January 8, 2007
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