Dear John,
In the first few months of the new presidential administration, communities across the country are feeling the impact of shifting federal policies and an increase in anti-immigrant rhetoric. With all 50 states convening their legislatures this year, immigration protections and increased enforcement are high on the priority list.
The State & Local Initiatives team at the American Immigration Council is closely monitoring state legislative developments, equipping partners with data—including our recently-updated Map the Impact —and advocacy tools to ensure communities can advance policies that support all their residents, including immigrants. At the same time, we continue to work alongside other Council departments to drive federal advocacy, uplift the voices of impacted communities and organizations, and ensure our partners have access to timely, fact-based analysis and information about the policies affecting their work and communities.
Thank you for the invaluable work you do in your community. We appreciate your continued support and partnership during this challenging time.
– Rich André, Director of State & Local Initiatives
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So far this year, we’ve tracked over 800 immigration-related bills across the country, ranging from inclusive policies like expanding occupational licensure pathways, language access, and the creation of Offices of New Americans, as well as harmful ones to restrict and criminalize non-citizen movements, increase state enforcement or cooperation with federal immigration authorities, and limit access to education for undocumented families.
Several states are rolling back long-standing policies that help immigrants integrate and support their communities and local economies. The Florida legislature voted to end in-state tuition for Dreamers—however a lawsuit was filed by organizations including the ACLU Florida Chapter on April 2—while the Texas legislature is looking to repeal the Texas Dream Act which has been state law since 2001. Meanwhile, Utah signed into law a bill that will provide funding for schools to better assist English Language Leaners, and Virginia passed a proposal that will create a working group to recommend pathways to licensure for internationally trained dentists.
Bills that have been signed into law so far include a Pennsylvania bill allowing non-citizens to apply to become Poultry Technicians to test for bird flu and a Wyoming measure that invalidates out-of-state driver’s licenses held by undocumented immigrants.
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States' Investment in Immigrant Inclusion |
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Last year, the Office of New Americans State Network grew to 22 states that together serve over 30 million immigrants—64% of the U.S. immigrant population. In 2025, we hope to welcome more members to our Network and are monitoring ONA creation bills in states including Alaska, Delaware, and Vermont.
At the start of 2025, the Governor’s Office in North Carolina launched new language access resources including a language access plan template, policy, and toolkit that government agencies across the state can use to strengthen language access in their departments. Many departments have already launched language access plans.
On January 27, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed an executive order establishing a taskforce to support immigrant children if their parents or guardians are detained or deported. The taskforce, created in response to increased federal immigration enforcement, will explore policies and actions to mitigate the harm and trauma children face from experiencing family separation.
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Business Leadership on Immigration |
In February, the S&L team hosted its first Business + Immigration quarterly webinar for members of the Council’s Global Talent Chamber Network, business coalitions, and state compact signatories. The webinar included analysis of key federal policy changes and information about the Council’s Cultural Exchange Program and how the program can connect businesses with international talent through the J-1 visa program.
The Council launched a business letter urging the Trump administration to restart the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, emphasizing its critical role in supporting the economy and workforce. Businesses, chambers of commerce, and trade associations can sign the letter, and signatures will be accepted on a rolling basis.
In Colorado, the Council provided federal and state updates during a recent Colorado Business Round Table meeting and at Voices of Rural Colorado, an event hosted by Pro 15 of northern Colorado and Club 20, an organization of counties, communities, individuals, and associations in western Colorado. |
On March 31, the Council filed a lawsuit to protect immigrants nationwide against the Trump administration’s plan to turn the U.S. into a “show me your papers” state. Under this new requirement, millions of immigrants will be forced to register with the federal government and always carry proof of their registration—a policy that was issued without public input, infringes upon the Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination, and is likely to lead to widespread racial profiling. On April 10, a federal judge allowed the Trump administration to go forward with the plan and the registration requirement went into effect on April 11.
The new Trump administration has taken over 225 immigration policy actions to date. While some policies face challenges in court, such as an executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for certain immigrants, other efforts such as those to expand detention have advanced. For an overview of these and many other immigration policy updates, check out this recording of the Council’s webinar, State of Play: An Update on Immigration Policy Changes.
The administration is aiming to terminate protections for many recently-arrived migrants. This includes humanitarian parole and Temporary Protected Status for several countries, including Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Ukraine and Haiti. This will leave millions of New Americans, who entered the country legally under the past administration, vulnerable to deportation and loss of work authorization, with huge implications for local communities and employers. At the end of March, a federal court blocked the Trump administration's termination of TPS for Venezuelans.
Congress passed the Laken Riley Act, mandating the detention of some immigrants accused of low-level offenses, shifting resources away from efforts to detain dangerous criminals. Read our analysis.
As Congress considers the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act, over 350 state and local elected leaders signed a letter condemning the proposal, while the U.S. Conference of Mayors, a non-partisan group representing American mayors, also penned a letter strongly opposing the bill.
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Celebrating Welcoming Communities |
Communities across the U.S. are pushing back against heightened immigration enforcement under President Trump’s second term, organizing protests, legal challenges, and business shutdowns like "A Day Without Immigrants" to highlight the economic and social harm.
On March 5, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a contentious hearing regarding “sanctuary city policies” with testimony from the mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City. The Council submitted a statement for the record and the Council’s report on the economic cost of mass deportation was also entered in by Reps. Pressley (MA-07) and Ansari (AZ-03).
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State and Local Initiatives in the News |
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The State & Local Initiatives team supports policymakers, business leaders, and civic organizations across more than 100 local communities across 40 states by equipping them with economic research, technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning, and advocacy opportunities. Our partners use Council resources to champion evidenced-based policies and programs that welcome immigrants and drive economic growth for all residents. Make a donation today.
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