In New Jersey, 1 in 4 residents is an immigrant.
Immigrants from Nepal are concentrated in Secaucus. In Morristown, those from Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico have a dominant presence. Migrants from Bengal are finding opportunities in Paterson, and that city, in particular, has one of the largest Arab populations in the United States, making it “a natural location” for resettlement. Indeed, many Syrians have put down roots there. From farms to businesses, people are finding outlets for their talents and training.
New Jersey has the fourth-largest Cuban population, with a significant presence in Hudson County. Union City, along with neighboring towns like West New York and North Bergen — often called “Little Havana” — became a hub for Cuban immigrants starting in the 1960s; more waves, prompted by political and economic crises, followed. While other Hispanic groups have since settled in the area, it remains a vibrant center of Cuban American culture, where language, tradition and community connections thrive.
The National Foundation for American Policy reports that immigrants are nearly twice as likely as native-born Americans to start businesses. In New Jersey, it’s a common story. Immigrants make up a quarter of the state’s total population, as noted, yet they own 47% of small businesses. A recent column by a New Jersey immigrant, Declan Carney, for example, provides good data on this trend.
New Jersey will benefit from a portion of what the Congressional Budget Office projects immigrants will contribute to the U.S. gross domestic product over the next decade — $8.9 trillion.
Immigrants are also consumers, spending money, paying taxes, funding vital programs like Social Security and Medicare, which, as we know, are under strain by our aging population.
NJ’s pro-immigrant policies
New Jersey is already in the lead with its pro-immigrant policies protecting their rights as workers and providing access to driver’s licenses and legal services.
New Jersey’s experience stands in stark contrast to the portrait being painted by demagogues; rife with lies, and manipulated by the worst among us to prompt hate and prejudice, and, regrettably, led by Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, the anti-immigrant posture is causing fear, pain and suffering in communities that have opened their doors to newcomers.
It’s not an easy time for immigrants in America. It never has been.
We have had better ways for managing the demand for access to American citizenship in the past. But, now, given the challenges the world faces, with migration reaching new heights, the nation needs a new, comprehensive approach. Earlier this year, we saw a promising bipartisan effort scuttled at the last minute.
Much of the attention on immigration from the political players — and the media — has focused on the demand side. It’s a disservice. We need to take a closer look at what immigrants contribute to America, to its polity, society and, decidedly, its economy, and paint that picture for the nation.
Yes, there is chaos, confusion and profound discomfort with current policy and practice. And, yes, the impact on American cities and states not only in the Southwest but also in the Midwest and Northeast has created significant challenges, unquestionably, but immigrants and migrants have also provided solutions for some of our critical needs.
Revitalizing, resettling
We need to rebuild fading American cities and to shore up small communities. After all, our birth rate is declining, the need for workers is rising and those who are arriving at our shores and borders are filling essential jobs.
Linking revitalization with refugee and immigrant resettlement is a wise strategy, one that can enhance the integration prospects of refugees while promoting the growth and vitality of towns and cities, particularly those that are on a steep slope to decline.
The refugees and immigrants arriving at crossings in America include many who have spent years in camps, on the road, on the sea, in transit among nations. For those who find opportunity in America, we need to see that as they seek a promising future, they can provide what we need. It’s a reciprocal thing that, at least in some quarters, remains unappreciated and is increasingly subject to misinformation and lies.
To meet the twin goals of refugee resettlement and strategic urban renewal, new approaches to planning and to the implementation and monitoring of resettlement are clearly needed. Various federal programs provide assistance, of course, and can expand to meet the need. But, the success of resettlement depends greatly upon the quantity and quality of state and local services as well.
In New York, philanthropies are augmenting public programs as they aim to help migrants reach self-sufficiency. They are hoping, moreover, that they can help convince New Yorkers that migrants can be a boon for the city, rather than a burden, by focusing on making them more independent.
Morris County example
In Morris County, a small nonprofit, RAMP, aims to do the same, on a lesser scale. Refugee Assistance Morris Partners is comprised of volunteers representing churches, synagogues and mosques, who co-sponsor families with the International Rescue Committee and Church World Service, and operate under the financial auspices of the Community Foundation of New Jersey. Similar ventures, of varying sizes, exist across the country, providing an essential link to governmental programs.
Yes, there are administrative complexities, to say the least, and significant up-front costs, but the benefits to suffering populations and to cities and towns in need of residents and economic renewal, outweigh the costs. This is a long-term investment and current research, particularly on rural areas, suggests how well it can work.
Assimilation, as noted, doesn’t happen overnight. Language and culture barriers are hard to overcome, but still, we know from our history that successive generations prosper, and with them, the integrated communities immigrants arrived to build.
Given our nation’s ideals, values, history and involvement on the world stage, we have a moral obligation to open our doors to asylum seekers. We are a nation of immigrants, after all, the source of much of our strength, initiative and resilience. Why not let the millions trying to come here rebuild and revive it? Immigrants help to make America, America; they always have.