Every year at the National Immigrant Inclusion Conference (NIIC), leaders and advocates in the immigrant and refugee space gather to address challenges and opportunities affecting the field. This past December, WES joined the conversation with over a thousand changemakers who met in Houston, Texas, at a moment of political uncertainty.
WES entered the convening with a few signature themes in mind: the philanthropic community’s unique role in the field of immigrant and refugee advocacy, the importance of state agencies in fostering inventive approaches to immigrant integration, and how local leaders can help to blaze a bipartisan path forward.
- More (and more targeted) philanthropic funding needs to be directed toward immigrant and refugee communities.
With less than 1 percent of philanthropic funding from the largest foundations supporting immigrant and refugee organizations in 2020, sustained and proactive funding remains a critical need among these groups. WES urged philanthropists to proactively seek out marginalized communities to fund and to focus on organizations that address the needs of interwoven and often highly specific populations (such as immigrant women suffering sexual violence), which traditional funding sources often exclude. WES also appealed to funders to take a rapid response approach while still keeping an eye on long-term goals.
“Funders have an opportunity to support rapid response efforts,” said Léa Tienou-Gustafson, Senior Director of the WES Mariam Assefa Fund. “But that’s not sufficient to meet deeper needs. We also need to prioritize sustained funding, investment in community building, and efforts to advance an affirmative vision and narrative about immigrant and refugee contributions to our communities.”
- Offices of New Americans are a proven bridge between immigrant and refugee communities and needed resources.
States often lay the groundwork for nationwide reform by testing new and original policies. Offices of New Americans (ONAs)—usually state agencies that promote the economic and civic success of a state’s immigrant communities—help to create pathways for immigrants to integrate into their communities and local workforce. As of 2024, 18 states had established ONAs engaged in a range of initiatives, including workforce development programs, expanded career pathways for international medical graduates, and more. ONAs also play a key role in keeping immigrant inclusion at the forefront of state priorities along with local offices of immigrant affairs, which are expected to be crucial players in the coming months.
“In this new climate, the importance of state innovations cannot be overemphasized,” said a senior U.S. policy manager at WES. “ONAs are at the forefront of this work.”
- In times of uncertainty at the federal level, local communities help to lead and support bipartisan political change.
Local welcoming efforts are crucial amid a rapidly changing federal landscape.
“Local leaders are the key messengers to educate policymakers and constituents on the importance of growing and sustaining support for immigrants and refugees in their communities,” said WES Director of U.S. Policy Natalie El-Deiry. She went on to note that advocacy organizations make a concerted effort to identify and share the tools, including locally powerful narratives, that leaders need “to cultivate a system that sets up immigrants and the communities they join for success.”
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