U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL.) was the main speaker at the 12th Annual "New American Dreams" National Immigrant Integration Conference (NIIC2019) held in Detroit Monday.
Congressman García previewed the “A New Deal for New Americans” platform, a legislation bill that is the central piece of the conference. It integrates federal, state, and local actions that promote equity, protections and shared prosperity for immigrants and refugees across the United States.
Garcia says the proposal would provide resources to aspiring citizens such as language instruction, legal assistance, job training and economic development. “This is an investment in the future of American democracy,” said Garcia. “Potentially, 44 million people in America can become citizens. This is truly getting to the core of what it means to be an informed American, a participant American.”
The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) has taken the lead in building this platform, by bringing together the collective efforts of its 35-member organizations and building civic engagement in all levels, as well as defending immigrant and refugee rights.
NPNA is the lead host of the NIIC2019, with the support of three local organizations invested in assisting immigrant and refugee communities: Michigan United, Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC) and ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services), the largest Arab American community nonprofit in the United States. The conference will close tomorrow.
The National Partnership for New Americans is a national, multiethnic, multiracial partnership of immigrants and refugee rights organizations across 37 states who work to promote citizenship and integration among our diverse immigrant and refugee communities for the benefit of all Americans.
Rep. Garcia (en Español)
