Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees - GCIR

Behind the contentious politics of immigration lies the question of how well new immigrants are becoming part of American society.  To address this question, this book draws on the results of a ground-breaking study of young adults of immigrant parents in metropolitan New York to provide a comprehensive look at their social, economic, cultural, and political lives.  The authors conclude, "We began this study worried about downward mobility of some of the children of immigrants.  We now feel that, in some ways, it is the opposite problem that is actually a greater cause for concern.  It has become clear that the relative success of the children of immigrants is now obscuring the depth of continuing poverty and discrimination, limited opportunities, staggering rates of incarceration and the general social excluision of large segments of the native minority youth population."

GCIR's Investing in Our Communities: Strategies for Immigrant Integration is a succinct, easy-to-understand guide that describes how grantmakers at all levels can play an important leadership role on this issue. This publication was developed through extensive research and interviews with hundreds of foundations, community, business, and government leaders. It incorporates academic research as well as policy and community-based concerns into a resource that can inform the work of practitioners in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. The toolkit offers foundations many benefits, including concrete recommendations to guide philanthropic investment, a historical perspective on immigrant integration, profiles of more than 75 promising program and policy models, a resources section complete with fast facts on immigration-related terms in topics, and a DVD of film clips that can be used to engage foundation colleagues and other stakeholders in discussions on immigrant issues.

Order printed copies of this publication here.

Shows how state laws and agency actions can advance the labor rights of immigrant workers; profiles selected local campaigns. Describes improved policies for language access, government benefits and services, confidentiality provisions, access to drivers' licenses, rights and remedies under labor and employment law, and access to workers' compensation.

Finds that after five decades of progress in building a middle class, creating a safety net, and erecting legal protections against official segregation and overt exclusion of marginalized groups, opportunity in the United States is at risk. Clear charts and data measure progress along six interrelated dimensions: mobility, equality, participation in democracy, redemption/ rehabilitation, community, and security.

This study examines the impact of post-September 11 policies on open government, personal privacy, and human rights, with a special chapter describing the impact on the rights of immigrants, refugees, and minorities.

This book examines how the dramatic increase in economic inequality since the 1970s may have stalled or reversed gains toward the U.S. ideal of participatory, responsive democracy. Scholars marshal evidence that economic inequality has diminished the voice of middle and working classes in politics, and reduced support for inclusive public policies, like the G.I. Bill and Social Security, that opened opportunities in the middle of the twentieth century.

Documents critical hazards to worker health and safety in the U.S. meat and poultry industry, which increasingly relies on immigrant workers. Explains how government failure to regulate the industry violates international human rights and labor standards protections; recommends ways that federal and state governments and meat and poultry companies can improve conditions and comply with international standards.

Shows how ambivalence towards new immigrants and racial minorities has resulted in residential segregation by race and income, and how this segregation undermines education and job prospects as well as health and safety. Outlines an agenda to expand opportunity and assesses viability of movement for regional solutions.

This report shows how sharp restrictions of the 1996 immigration law have combined with post-September 11 law and policy changes to create a two-tiered system of justice that singles out immigrants for unequal treatment. The United States should be able to protect its borders, limit illegal immigration, and preserve national security while protecting civil rights, promoting family reunification, and respecting due process. The study combines a clear description of legal changes with stories of affected individuals, and recommends steps to restore due process and fair treatment.

Synthesizes research on key contemporary race issues. In Volume 1, leading scholars address demographic changes, immigration trends, racial attitudes, racial and ethnic trends in education, and residential segregation; Volume 2 covers trends in the justice system, labor force and welfare, and health.