Yearly Archives: 2018

June 4, 2018. In this article by Jerry Zremski, featured in The Buffalo news, he discusses how the Trump administration tends to focus on negative aspects of immigration such as the MS-13 Gang, which is a very small portion of the immigrant population. He goes on to discuss the economic contributions of legal immigrants, which he argues the Trump administration does not acknowledge. Zremski cites a number of reports that clearly demonstrate the economic contributions of legal immigrants. Among these is FPI and the Tent Foundation's [...]

May 30, 2018. This article by Lila MacLellan, discusses the findings of FPI's new report, commissioned by the Tent Foundation, "Refugees as Employees: Good Retention, Strong Recruitment." The findings include 73% of the 26 firms interviewed had higher retention rates for refugee employers, refugee workers served as a source of recruitment, and employers feeling a sense of pride. Refugees, the companies are saying, deserve opportunities in their new home and, contrary to the recent rhetoric, pose no special threat to American security. The just-released report, commissioned by [...]

May 30, 2019. Chad Stewart, of the Commonwealth Institute located in Virginia, was featured in a radio interview on Virginia's Public Radio, Radio IQ. He discussed how the Trump Administration's immigration policies have effected the number of refugees in Virginia and its economy. He stated that  the number of refugee placements in Virginia was between 1,200 to 1,600 a year between 2008 and 2016, but is estimated to be less than 300 for this year. The number of refugee placements has declined dramatically since President Trump [...]

May 29, 2018. This article featured in Forbes, discusses FPI and the Tent Foundation's new report, "Refugees as Employees: Good Retention, Strong Recruitment," which found that refugees have higher retention rates than other employees, especially in high turnover industries such as manufacturing. The article goes on to discuss the pledges that many global companies have made to hire refugees, including Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani and the Tent Foundation. Refugees in the United States, some 15% of whom work in manufacturing jobs, stay in those [...]

May 29, 2018. In an op-ed by Albor Ruiz, he discusses what he calls the "war on immigrants" that the Trump administration has started and expanded to include refugees and asylees as targets. The author discusses how the Trump administration's immigration policy and rhetoric are racist and can have negative economic effects. He goes on to argue that refugees are people fleeing dangerous circumstances in their home country and Trump's rhetoric is wrongly characterizing them. The FPI report, “Refugees as Employees,” released this week, makes [...]

May 29, 2018. This article discusses FPI's new report, "Refugees as Employees: Good Retention, Strong Recruitment," that examined the experience of employers who hire refugees through qualitative interviews with employers in Upstate New York, rural Nebraska, Phoenix, Arizona and Atlanta, Georgia, as well as quantitative data. The article discusses the report's findings with included higher retention rates among refugee workers, an improved work culture for all employees, and an expanded labor force. The article goes on to discuss the higher retention rates of refugee employees [...]

May 17, 2018. This article discusses Erie County's Clerk Mickey Kearns' statement that he is in opposition to the Driver License Access and Privacy Act which would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. The article goes on to quote others who are in support of the act and would like to see it passed. Those that support it say that it will increase public safety, improve community members' lives, and generate county revenue. According to labor-backed think tank Fiscal Policy Institute, an estimated 265,000 immigrants would get licenses [...]

May 18, 2018. In this article by Mark Sommer and Maki Becker, the authors discuss Erie County's Clerk, Mickey Kearns', position on granting undocumented immigrants driver's licenses. The article quotes Kearns stating that if the law is passed, he would consider it a violation of federal law and that he will not have licenses processed. The article goes on to quote others who are in opposition to Kearns' view and see a driver's licenses as a necessity to living life.  "If the Legislature or the governor through [...]

May 15, 2018. An article in Spectrum News discussed the rally at the New York State Capital for driver's licenses for all individuals regardless of immigration status. The group Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson and many others from cities and towns all over New York gathered hoping that officials would hear their requests. The article goes on to discuss how undocumented immigrants fear deportation and separation from family members when they drive, but have to drive as a necessity to provide for their family and commute to work. [...]

May 10, 2018. The Republican-led New York State Senate passed a slew of government transparency and accountability bills on Wednesday that further highlighted the GOP majority’s recent split with the governor. The package of 11 bills covered everything from campaign contributions to state contracting processes including a Database of Deals for economic development projects. The Fiscal Policy Institute has long supported government transparency and accountability, especially in regards to New York's out-of-control economic development spending, and is pleased that the New York State Senate has passed [...]