NOTICE:
Telephonic hearing, July 31, 2008 at 10:30 am
July
11, 2008
Dear
Mayor:
The
State and Local Government Subcommittee of the Governor's Blue Ribbon
Advisory Panel on Immigrant Policy invites you to participate in
a telephonic hearing on Thursday, July 31, at 10:30 am on
issues related to immigrant integration at the municipal level .
The call will be moderated by Englewood City Mayor, Michael Wildes
who is not only a Member
of our Panel but is also Chair of the League of Municipalities'
Immigration Task Force .
Established
in August 2007, the Governor's Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Immigrant
Policy is charged with developing policy recommendations to respond
to New Jersey 's burgeoning immigrant population, which comprises
20 percent of the state's total population. [1]
An estimated 20 to 24 percent of the state's foreign born population
is undocumented, leading to new challenges in immigrant policy and
integration. [2] The panel
addresses these issues through two main goals: first, to advance
the political, social, and economic integration of immigrants in
New Jersey . Second, the panel must ensure that municipalities remain
just and legal environments for immigrant individuals.
The
panel is divided into four subcommittees, each charged with specific
tasks. Among other issues, the State and Local Government subcommittee
must address immigrant integration at the municipal level. It therefore
seeks testimony from New Jersey mayors and municipal officials through
a telephonic hearing to be held with the League of Municipalities
on July 31 . The subcommittee is interested in hearing
the experiences of municipal leaders' integration initiatives.
Although
the full panel has already elicited testimonies from the general
public through three public hearings, the State and Local Government
subcommittee would benefit from input from the League of Municipalities
in crafting its recommendations on general best practices for municipalities.
The
panel hopes to provide a resource guide for municipal leaders highlighting
successful integration initiatives. The guide will be based upon
the panel's research and will help communities become more cohesive
by utilizing/expanding existing structures.
The
guide will address the following:
•
municipal IDs
•
feasibility, associated costs, pros and cons
•
welcome/community/day labor centers
•
capacity to use existing structures (e.g. attached to CBO or visitor
center)
•
ensuring access to services
•
delivering services in culturally and linguistically competent manner
•
affordable housing
•
encompassing immigrant community in affordable housing plans
•
local law enforcement and public safety
•
garnering trust between law enforcement and the immigrant community
All
municipal leaders with experience in immigrant integration initiatives
are welcome to provide testimony to the subcommittee. Those who
cannot provide telephonic testimony can submit written testimony.
If
you are interested in testifying, you MUST RSVP by Wednesday, July
16 to Armand Dekaser at armand.dekaser@gov.state.nj.us
.
[1]
US Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey.
[2]
Pew Hispanic Center, “Estimates of the Unauthorized Migrant
Population for States based on the March 2005 CP” Pew Research Center,
26 April 2006, http://pewhispanic.org
.
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