While the U.S. president took multiple actions during the past two years to restrict immigration and make life more difficult for immigrants in the United States, states overwhelmingly rejected harsh measures and instead advanced policies that improve the lives of immigrants in their communities across the country. Following the 2018 elections, and in response to the administration’s escalating threats, immigrants’ rights organizing advanced substantially in the states.
Advocates not only defeated most anti-immigrant proposals and secured policies limiting state and local entanglement in immigration enforcement, but they gained significant ground in campaigns to expand access to higher education, professional licenses, driver’s licenses, health care, and legal representation for immigrants. Collectively, advocates moved states to adopt major criminal justice reforms and measures to protect the privacy of both citizens and noncitizens.
This report highlights some of the victories won by immigrants’ rights advocates, organizers, and allies in the states during the past two years.
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Jan 18, 2024 This resource provides information on how state immigrants' rights movements continued to gain ground in 2023.