10.7.2 Number of countries with migration policies that facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people
Immigrants have been an integral part of the social fabric of the United States since its conception. But, despite being a nation founded by immigrants, many incoming families face significant barriers to economic, social, and political integration, regardless of their status of documented versus undocumented. Language barriers, discrimination and cultural bias, accessing essential services, education, and labor markets, and securing safe housing are just some of the challenges that migrants face upon their entry into the country. Under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities, Target 7 calls for the facilitation of “orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.” This analysis will evaluate how migration policies in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia mitigate challenges experienced by documented and undocumented immigrants, as well as second-generation immigrant children. Separately, this analysis will address refugee policies in these three jurisdictions, including evaluating what forms of aid are provided to incoming asylum seekers.
In the United States, immigration law is based on the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA),which permits 675,000 permanent immigration visas each year. Additionally, the INA outlines parameters for the unlimited admission of spouses, parents, and children of US citizens. The US offers several forms of visas for immigrants to become lawful permanent residents (LPRs), or green card holders. First, an immigrant can become an LPR through family-based migration, in which individuals are admitted due to their status as an immediate relative of a US citizen, such as a spouse, unmarried minor, or parent. On a more limited basis, adult children and spouses or unmarried children of LPRs may also be granted family-based visas. Congress has created an allocation system to determine how many family members can be admitted each year, based on the number of admitted migrants from the previous year and the family preference system, which places immediate relatives of US citizens at the top of the list, followed by unmarried adult children of US citizens, spouses and minor children of LPRs, unmarried adult children of LPRs, married adult children of US citizens, and brothers and sisters of US citizens. Under INA, the number of family-based visas may now be lower than 226,000, and as a result the number of admitted immigrants often exceeds this minimum.
The second form of immigration visas are employment based. Immigrants who wish to work in the United States can receive temporary visas, in which an employer petitions for foreign nationals to work in a specific job for limited periods. Secondly, there are five categories of permanent employment-based visas that utilize a similar preference system as family-based visas. The preferences are as follows: persons of extraordinary ability in arts, science, education, business, or athletics, members of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities in arts, science, or business, skilled workers with at least two years of training or experience, professionals with college degrees, or unskilled workers employed in permanent positions, certain special immigrants such as religious workers, employees of the US Foreign Service posts, and former government employees, and persons who invest $500,000 to $1 million in a job-creating enterprise that will employ at least 10 full time US workers.
The third form of immigrant visas are based on per-country ceilings, in which there are specific numerical limits placed on how many migrants can come from one country. At present, no group of immigrants from a single country can comprise more than 7% of the total number of immigrants moving to the United States in a fiscal year. In addition to this category, there is also the Diversity Visa Program to encourage immigrants from countries with low rates of movement to the United States. 55,000 visas are allocated annually for this program, 5,000 of which are allocated for the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act Program to assist certain asylum seekers. Participants in the diversity program must have at least a high school education or a minimum of two years of professional experience. Spouses and unmarried children of the principal applicant are also permitted. However,the program was essentially halted during the Trump Administration, leaving 43,000 selected participants without visas, resulting in a series of lawsuits against the US Department of State. President Biden has since lifted the ban, but the program has yet to recover the same pace of admittance as it did prior to 2016.
According to the Center for American Progress (CAP), there are over 10 million undocumented immigrants, or noncitizens, living and working within the United States. The majority of these residents have resided in the country for more than 5 years, and are between the ages of 35 to 44. As of 2019, the primary countries of origin for these migrants are Mexico (48%), El Salvador (7%), Guatemala (7%), India (5%), and Honduras (4%). 65% of the undocumented population are employed, mainly in construction or accommodation, food services, arts, entertainment, and recreational industries. Further, 53% of undocumented residents are uninsured, and only 28% are homeowners. Currently, there are several pathways for undocumented residents to receive LPR status. Undocumented individuals who are immediate relatives of a US citizen may achieve LPR status through an adjustment of status. In most cases, undocumented individuals may marry a US citizen after their arrival and receive this adjustment. However, immigrants who crossed the US border without inspection by US immigration services may be required to leave the country and conclude the legal process through a US consulate. To avoid this, individuals can apply for an I-601 A Provisional Waiver, which stipulates that if an individual’s absence from the US would cause “extreme and unusual hardship,” they may finish the process domestically. This waiver also protects undocumented residents from receiving a 3-10 year bar from re-entering the US due to their illegal status.
The second pathway for undocumented citizenship is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a program created in 2012 stipulating that certain individuals who arrived in the US as children may request deferred action regarding their resident status for two years, subject to renewal, and may request work authorization. The Obama Administration created the DACA program after the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM) failed to pass in 2012. The Act would have provided young people who arrived while under the age of 16 and who have lived continuously in the United States since June 2007. Instead, DACA protects these individuals who can apply for deferred removal and instead pursue education or employment. The DACA program has been faced with several legal challenges over the past decade, primarily by the Trump Administration. However, the Biden Administration finalized a rule in August 2022 formalizing the program, which was previously based only on an executive memo by the Obama Administration. Since its creation, over 800,000 people have participated in the program. As of December 2022, 589,660 individuals are active DACA recipients, out of an estimated immediately eligible population of 1,161,000.
Other pathways to citizenship for undocumented residents is through the Legal Immigration Family Equity (LIFE) Act, which allows these individuals to finish their green card process in the US if an immigration petition was filed on their behalf or their parents’ behalf before April 30, 2001. Additionally, victims of trafficking and violence may apply for a U-Visa, which protects noncitizens who have been victims of human trafficking and have aided criminal investigations. The U-Visa provides legal status and employment authorization with the possibility of permanent resident status. To receive this visa, an individual must be a victim of a qualifying US criminal activity, must have information regarding the crime, and be helpful in the investigation and prosecution of said crime. Finally, if all other options are unavailable, an undocumented resident may apply for Non-LPR Cancellation or Removal, in which a person has lived continuously in the US for at least 10 years, removal would cause significant hardship to a permanent resident or US citizen spouse, child, or parent, the individual has good moral character for the past 10 years,and has not been convicted of certain crimes. However, this option is only available for individuals in immigration court.
As of 2021, the Biden Administration has taken steps to reverse many Trump-era policies restricting migration flows. This includes restrictions established due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in which issued visas decreased from 240,000 in the second quarter of 2020 to 79,000 in the third quarter. This is in comparison to the 2019 third quarter number of 266,000. Additionally, President Biden identified expanding pathways for noncitizens residing within the US to achieve LPR or citizenship status as a primary goal of his administration. The Biden Administration has also worked to preserve the DACA program, which the Trump Administration attempted to end, increase refugee arrivals, and increase minimums for visas issued through family-based immigration, employment, and the Diversity Visa Program.
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Since 2010, the United States has admitted over half a million refugees, and more than 3.7 million since the inception of the federal refugee program, the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) in 1980. With the ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the recent takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, the US is experiencing an influx of refugee applications and increased demand for temporary protection within the country. Similar to immigration, the INA also provides the requirements for refugee and asylum seekers coming to the United States. The INA defines a refugee as “an alien who, generally, has experienced past persecution or has a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.” These individuals are as a result eligible for refugee under Section 207 of the act if they are outside of the United States or may receive asylum status if they are already in the United States under Section 208.Refugees are processed through the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), managed by the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Health and Human Services. The numerical ceiling for accepted refugees each year is determined by both the President and Congress. Refugee admissions were cut sharply after the Trump Administration, but were increased to 62,500 in Fiscal Year 2021. The 2023 ceiling has been set to 125,000.
The majority of refugees in 2021 came from Africa, at 22,000, followed by East Asia at 6,000, and Europe and Central Asia at 4,000. As a result of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, President Biden created the Operation Allies Welcome Program, in which the Department of Homeland Security assists in the effort to support vulnerable Afghans to resettle in the United States. In addition, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than 71,000 Ukranians have arrived in the US either through the legal refugee process or through other means. President Biden created the Uniting for Ukraine program in 2022, which offered Ukraninans a temporary stay of 2 years so long as an individual has a supporter in the US willing to provide them financial support.
Similarly, the US also provided Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to individuals who are in the United States but cannot return home due to a natural disaster, ongoing conflict, or other “extraordinary temporary conditions.” This status is granted for six, twelve, or eighteen months, with the possibility of extension. Additionally, Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) protects undocumented migrants from deportation if their home countries are unstable. Further, Humanitarian Parole is available for individuals who do not qualify as a refugee and cannot immigrate through other channels. These individuals receive temporary protection due to urgent humanitarian reasons or public benefit. Finally, Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), are visas that allow certain populations, including Afghans and Iraqis who experience danger or hardship in their home countries, to become LPRs assisted by the Department of State and other organizations to resettle in the US. Many Afghans arriving under the Operation Allies Welcome Program are eligible for SIVs.
Washington, DC
In Washington DC, the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) estimates that, as of 2019, approximately 85,333 residents, or 12.1% of the District’s population, are foreign born. Of this population, 41.3% are White, 20.2% are Black, 16.8% are Asian, and 17.5% identify as a race other than those listed or Native American and Pacific Islander. Additionally, 38.4% of the foreign-born population identifies as of Hispanic Origin. This number is compared to 620,416 US-Born DC residents. Of this population, 48.7% foreign born residents are naturalized, while 51.3% are noncitizens. The majority of foreign born residents identify as being born in Latin America, at 43.5%, with 20% reporting being born in Asia, and 17.3% being born in Europe. 24,836 children in DC are reported to have at least one foreign born parent, 22,195 of which were born in the United States, with the other 2,641 identifying at foreign born. Overall, the American Immigration Council estimates approximately 600 active DACA recipients to be living in DC as of 2020, with 29% of DACA-eligible immigrants applying for the program.
In regard to education, 58% of the DC immigrant population report having a college degree or more, with 18% reporting having less than a highschool diploma. This is in comparison to the native population, 61% of which report having a college degree or more, and 6% of which have less than a highschool diploma. Economically, as of 2019, 72.9% of the foreign born population are active in the labor force, with a 3% unemployment rate in the civilian labor force. Of this population, naturalized citizens have a 71.2% employment rate, compared to a 74.6% employment rate for noncitizens. Further, as of 2019, naturalized citizens reported an unemployment rate of 4.3%, compared to the noncitizen unemployment rate of 1.8%. The majority of civilian foreign born workers are employed in management, business, sciences, or arts occupations, at 56%, followed by service occupations at 25.4%, and sales and office occupations at 10.5%. The largest industry of which the DC foreign born population occupies is construction, at 30.5%, followed by agriculture, forestry, fishing/hunting, and mining at 26%. Finally, in addition, the District reports high numbers of health care coverage in its immigrant population, with 91.9% of all foreign born residents reporting that they have some form of health insurance. Of the naturalized population, 96.6% report coverage, compared to 87.3% of noncitizens.
Overall, DC has a lower brain waste rate in comparison to Maryland, at 10.6%, or 3,600 workers, with 30.1% of workers ages 25 and older reporting Limited English Proficiency (LEP). In regard to poverty, 10.7% of the foreign born population lived below 100% of the poverty level as of 2019. Notably, between 2000 and 2019, the number of foreign born residents in poverty decreased by 30.5% according to MPI. Further, 43.3% of the foreign born population reports owning a home. In 2018, immigrant-led households in DC paid $931.8 million in federal taxes and $416.9 million in state and local taxes as of 2018. Undocumented immigrants comprised $48.7 million in federal taxes and $23.1 million in state and local taxes. Overall, DC immigrant-led households had an approximate $3 billion in spending power in 2018, comprising 31% of business owners in the greater Washington metropolitan area (the DMV). Finally, in regard to health care coverage, the District reports high numbers of coverage, with 91.9% of all foreign born residents reporting that they have some form of health insurance. Of the naturalized population, 96.6% report coverage, compared to 87.3% of noncitizens.
Due to Washington, DC’s status as a non-state, there is less formal structure for migration services in comparison to Maryland and Virginia. For example, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser only created the Office of Migrant Services in September of 2022 in response to the transportation of migrants to DC from Texas and Arizona. Mayor Bowser established this office by declaring a public emergency, with legislation to support the new office currently in development. However, once the Office of Migrant Services is implemented, it will operate as a fully functional service within the DC Department of Health and Human Services, partnering with nonprofits and direct service providers to provide support and aid to immigrant families, similar to the offices in surrounding states.
Despite the lack of a formal structure, DC does provide resources for new residents, including by providing information related to federal immigration agencies and embassies and consulates located within the city. The DC Mayor’s office operates an Immigrant Justice Legal Services grant program to support non citizen residents in finding legal aid and representation, in addition to providing a list of resources to other immigrant legal services on the DC Immigration Resources webpage. In addition, the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs, Office on Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs, and Office on Latino Affairs offers community-specific resources for immigrant communities in addition to support offered by the Office of Documents and Administrative Issuance and the District’s Grant Clearinghouse, which focuses on community partnerships to advance social justice and equity. DC Public Schools has also issued guidance for immigrant families, emphasizing that education is available to all residents, and DC police service utilizes a Special Liaison Branch to conduct outreach to underrepresented communities to increase trust between public services and residents.
In addition, DC provides Limited Purpose Driver’s Licenses to all residents, regardless of citizenship, and through the Language Access Act, DC government is actively supporting 20 agencies to expand multilingual government services. DC-funded social services including healthcare are also available to all residents regardless of citizenship. Finally, DC has also committed to helping immigrants explore citizenship options by providing resources and launching the 2017 New American Workforce Partnership with the National Immigration Forum (NFI) to increase citizenship services for government employees, their families, and other residents who live or work in DC. The DC City Council website also provides a list of nonprofit organizations to support naturalization processes for immigrants, including CARECEN, Catholic Charities, and the Carlos Rosario School, an international public charter school aiming to bring education to immigrant communities. The DC Government also works with Ayuda, an organization providing legal, social, and language services to low-income immigrants to ensure equitable access to government resources. Other local nonprofits include the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition, Mary House, and Just Neighbors.
Refugee Services
Due to DC’s non-state status, statistics on refugee distribution within the city is limited. However, refugees and asylum seekers receive services through the DC Office of Refugee Resettlement (DCORR), a federal program under the Immigration and Nationality Act. DCORR provides social services, cash assistance, health promotion, medical assistance and screening, and programs for repatriation and Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM). DCORR works with direct service providers in the city to provide necessary support and assistance to refugees. DC refugee services apply to any individual who is admitted into the US as a refugee under Sections 207 and 208 of the INA, a Cuban or Haitian Entrant, certain Amerasians from Vietnam, victims of human trafficking, an Iraqi or Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders. DC has also been a significant area of resettlement for Afghan refugees after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, in which over 6,000 refugees arrived in the DMV area, with 23,000 in the entire Commonwealth in Virginia. DC has also extended resources for Ukrainian refugees as a result of Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Maryland
In Maryland, the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) estimates that, as of 2019, approximately 929,400 residents, or 15.4% of the state’s population, are foreign born. Of this population, 32% identify as Latino, while 28.6% identify as Asian, 26.5% identify as White, and 24.3% identify as Black or African American. Of this population, 51.9% are naturalized citizens, while an estimated 48.1% are estimated to be noncitizens. Additionally, 380,227 children in Maryland have one or more foreign-born parents. The American Immigration Council estimates that as of March 2020, there were 7.870 active Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, and approximately 126,000 Maryland residents live with at least one undocumented family member.
Economically, the contribution of immigrants in the state of Maryland is significant. In 2019, immigrant-led households paid $12.2 billion in taxes. In 2018, undocumented immigrants paid an estimated $375.5 million in federal taxes and $242.3 million in state and local taxes. Overall, as of 2019 immigrants had an estimated $28.3 billion in spending power, with 63,813 immigrant entrepreneurs active in the state, accounting for over 20% of self-employed residents. These entrepreneurs generated over $1.7 billion in income in 2018. As of 2019, 72.5% of the foreign born Maryland population was active in the civilian labor force, compared to 65.5% of the US born population. The majority (41.6%) of foreign born residents are working within management, business, science, and art occupations, followed by service occupations, and sales and office occupations.
However, despite these contributions, immigrant households in Maryland are more likely to experience brain waste, or the underutilization of skills by college-educated workers, at 18.4% compared to 12.4% for US born workers. Additionally, 18% of the foreign born workforce is low-educated, without a highschool diploma, compared to just 3.6% of all US born workers. Further, foreign born households are more likely to earn $50,000 or less annually, while US born residents are more likely to earn $50,000 or more. As a result, foreign born workers are less likely to have health insurance coverage, with 18.8% uncovered residents, compared to the US born rate of 3.7%. Non-citizens are particularly more likely to be uncovered by health insurance, with a 32.8% uninsured rate.
To address policy responses and government services for immigrants, the Maryland General Assembly authorized the creation of the Governor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MDOIA) in October 2021. MDOIA is mandated to establish a network of neighborhood opportunity centers providing immigrant services related to naturalization, DACA, and English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs through partnerships with nonprofits and other program providers. MDOIA coordinates business resources for immigrant employment, workforce development, and employment referral programs, as well as programs for increased civil engagement and awareness campaigns to combat migrant exploitation. MDOIA is also responsible for submitting an Annual Report to the Governor and General Assembly by June 15, beginning in 2022.
In 2021, Governor Larry Hogan also established a partnership between the Office of Immigrant Affairs and 211 Maryland to expand multilingual access to basic services, including a new hate crime incident reporting line. The toll-free line is now available in 150 languages, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As part of this collaboration, MDOIA also released a set of resources to recognize, report, and combat hate crimes at the community level. MDOIA also has specific resources tailored to combat hate crimes against the Asian American Pacific Islander community in the wake of increased violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. To complement 211 Maryland and MDOIA’s partnership, the MD Department of Labor, Education, and Human Services have also collaborated to provide a set of resources for immigrant communities to access essential services such as health care, education, and job training.
Since its establishment, MDOIA has also taken over coordinating resources from non profit organizations throughout the state. These organizations include the Esperanza Center, CASA, Luminus Network for New Americans, Catholic Charities, International Rescue Committee, the Immigration Outreach Service Center, the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and several community-specific resources such as the Ethiopian Community Center, Muslim Community Center, and the Asian American Center of Frederick. Information about these organizations, in addition to information on other service providers and access to government aid are listed on the MDOIA website.
Refugee Services
In 2021, 2,423 individuals sought admittance as refugees or asylum seekers in Maryland. Of this number, 38% were refugees, 33% were Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Holders, 27% were Asylees, and the remaining 1% were victims of human trafficking or Cuban/Haitian Entrants. The majority of these individuals came from Afghanistan (36%), followed by Cameroon (17%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (9%), Eritrea (6%), and El Savador (5%). Overall, Maryland ranked 15th nationwide in number of refugee arrivals, and fifth in the number of Afghan SIV arrivals.
Maryland’s Office for Refugees and Asylees (MORA) is the agency responsible for coordinating state and federal services to federally-recognized refugee populations. Maryland identifies refugees utilizing the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) definition, and extends services to refugees or asylees or individuals paroled as refugees or asylees, Cuban and Haitian Entrants, certain Amerasians, Lawful Permanent Residents with previous refugee status, unaccompanied refugee minors, victims of human trafficking, Iraqi and Afghan SIV holders, Afghan Humanitarian Parolees, and Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees. MORA provides information on accessing federal aid through the Department of Human Services, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), child support, energy and water assistance, healthcare, job training, and support for incidents related to child abuse and neglect.
Virginia
In Virginia, the American Community Survey (ACS) estimates that the foreign born population has been on a steady increase since 1990, increasing from 5% to 12.6%, or approximately 1,060,500 individuals as of 2020. Currently, Virginia ranks 15th out of all 50 states for highest population of foreign born residents. According to the ACS 2020 data, 37% of documented immigrants in VA are White, 35% are Asian, and 12% are Black. The Latinx population, which is classified by the Census Bureau as an ethnic group rather than distinct race, comprises approximately 33% of foreign born residents in VA. Overall, the top five sending countries to Virginia are El Savador, India, Mexico, Korea, and the Philippines. When evaluating the number of undocumented immigrants in the state, the Migration Policy Institute estimates that, as of 2019, 251,000 undocumented residents live in the state, the majority of which having resided there for longer than five years. Further, one in three of undocumented adults are estimated to live in mixed households, in which some members of their family, including children or spouses are documented citizens.
Overall, these groups provide significant contributions to the state’s economy, while also facing barriers to well-rounded integration. Foreign born populations comprise almost $33.6 billion in spending power in 2019. Further, these groups paid nearly $3 billion in rent and $13.5 billion in taxes, including state and local. ACS estimates that the undocumented population in VA alone comprises $5.7 billion in state-wide household incomes and pays $674 million in annual taxes. As of 2019, 71.% of naturalized citizens and 72% of noncitizens were actively employed in the VA civilian labor force, with unemployment rates of 3% and 3.4% respectively. This is compared to a 63% percentage employment rate and a 4% unemployment rate of US born workers.
However, immigrant populations in VA are also more likely to have less than a high school diploma, at 10% of naturalized and 29% of undocumented immigrants, compared to 8% of US born citizens. However, on the other end of the spectrum, naturalized citizens comprise more of the population with bachelor’s and professional degrees, at 27% and 22%, while US born residents comprise 22% and 17% respectively. Undocumented citizens have the lowest percentage of residents with any form of college education and the highest percentage of residents with less than high school education. Further, undocumented citizens have the lowest median household income, home ownership rate, and number of residents living below the poverty line in Virginia.
Another significant barrier in Virginia is health insurance coverage, for which 79% foreign born residents and 94% of US born residents receive. However, within the foreign born population, 92% of naturalized citizens receive coverage, compared to just 64% of undocumented residents. Likewise, nearly 30% of noncitizens are underserved, living between 15 and 30 minutes driving time away from Immigrant Service Providers (ISPs). Language barriers and limited employment opportunities contribute to these discrepancies, in addition to the risk of exploitation, both economically and socially.
Overall, despite significant challenges for undocumented residents, Virginia boasts generally positive naturalization rates. As of 2019, 53% of foreign born residents are naturalized citizens, compared to the national average of 51.6%. Virginia’s naturalization rate is also higher than Maryland, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Regardless, undocumented immigrants still face barriers to civic integration as a result of uncertain legal status and experience increased lack of trust in government officials and law enforcement.
To address matters related to migration, Virginia’s government established the Office of New Americans (ONA) in 2020, a component of the larger Department of Social Services. ONA consists of an Advisory Board and facilitated the Executive Leadership Team for Immigrant Integration in 2021 in order to assess the current status of migration policies in the state as well as implement new strategies. ONA is composed of two units: Immigrant Services and Refugee Services, both of which conduct evaluations on Virginia’s migration policies. In 2022, ONA in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) published the Barriers to Integration of Virginia’s Immigrants, outlining key challenges for migrant families in the state along with a series of recommendations to improve policy.
Among these challenges included a lack of centralized source of information for immigrants on statewide resources and other service providers, as well as access to information on employment opportunities commensurate with education and skills. Further, the report cited difficulty transferring international skills and credentials into the American labor system, the risk of labor exploitation, language barriers, and lack of affordable housing, transportation, and legal aid for newly arrived residents. To address this, ONA outlined ten recommendations to improve migrations policy in the state, including establishing a centralized online repository for up-to-date information and resources for migrant communities, improving resources for linguistic integration for Limited English Proficient immigrants, increased incorporation of immigrants into workforce development programs, expand future talent pipelines,improve public transit networks with multi-lingual services, support leadership training and cultural awareness programs, and increase the supply of affordable housing.
Virginia’s Department of Social Services also provides a series of immigration websites and resources, including those for undocumented residents. These resources include topics such as education, employment, faith communities, health services, legal aid, policy development, and major non profit organizations. Major national non-profits working within Virginia include African Communities Together, Human Rights First, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Poor People’s Campaign, and United We Dream. Locally, the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations, Virginia Poverty Law Center, and the New Virginia Majority are key organizations also working with state government offices to provide services to documents and undocumented immigrants.
Refugee Services
In 2020, Virginia reported a total of 1467 refugees. Since 2016, refugee numbers have experienced a steady decrease, dropping by almost half over the past five years. The vast majority of refugees over the past five years have been from Afghanistan, with 1252 of 1467 refugees in 2020 hailing from the country. The next highest country was the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 69 admitted refugees. Virginia provides specific resources for Afghan arrivals as mandated under President Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome, and, as of 2022, also provides resources tailored toward Ukrainian arrivals as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine under the US Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Uniting for Ukraine program.
In general, refugee and asylum services are offered to individuals who fall under the US Office of Refugee Resettlement’s criteria for benefits and services. In line with federal regulations, Refugee Social Services are available for the first five years after an individual receives admission to the US. These services include employment, job training and search support, job placement and retention, English language, and general case management. In Virginia, refugee eligible individuals are able to receive employment, health, education, youth mentoring, services for the elderly, and foster care for unaccompanied refugee minors. Additionally, Virginia has six resettlement agencies assisting in refugee services across the state: Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington- Migration and Refugee Services, Commonwealth Catholic Charities, Church World Service, Ethiopian Community Development Council, International Rescue Committee, and Lutheran Social Services.