Plan for a Dynamic Future: Establish a city-level office dedicated to the successful integration of newcomers
It is ultimately the responsibility of local leaders to set a welcoming tone in their communities. Establishing an office dedicated to immigrant integration within municipal government is an important first step, especially if national frameworks are inadequate.
Having a local single point of contact locally improves the ability of newcomers to find the support they need in an unfamiliar place, and enables local administrators to collect crucial data from immigrants to inform plans and programs led by different city departments.
Cities vary in their history and experience with immigration, and one model does not fit all. But generally, municipal offices for immigrant affairs have a mandate to develop, streamline, and consolidate services for immigrants — from document translation to microfinance support. In most established and autonomous offices, efforts extend beyond delivering and coordinating services to promoting inclusive policies and programs. Municipal offices also play a primary role in strengthening economic inclusion and social cohesion. They do so by cultivating relationships with local businesses to promote access to training and employment opportunities, and organizing local events to build trust between newcomers and host communities.
Examples from the 100RC Network
Montreal — The Newcomer Integration Office
The Newcomer Integration Office (Bureau d’intégration des nouveaux arrivants à Montréal, BINAM) grew out of an ad hoc committee established in response to the Canadian government’s commitment to take in 25,000 Syrian refugees by 2016. Recognizing that the support extended to Syrian refugees would also accommodate migrants’ needs more generally, Montreal expanded the scope of the office. Widening its mandate beyond the current crisis, the city equipped it with a permanent team and budget. The current mission of BINAM is to mobilize and coordinate all city-wide efforts for the successful reception and integration of migrants. To achieve this, the office’s work is directed towards developing a professional migrant reception system that consolidates all services offered to immigrants, and strengthens the involvement of neighborhood communities in the socioeconomic integration of their new residents. The office is also tasked with ensuring that all municipal employees who interact with refugees and illegal immigrants are aware of, and comply with, Montreal’s ‘Sanctuary City’ designation, which provides that all residents are entitled to access city services, regardless of their immigration status.
New York City — The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs
The New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs is the first city government office in the U.S. dedicated to proactive integration. Beyond advancing strategies to make immigrants feel welcome, the office focuses on issues that impact immigrants on a daily basis, including workforce concerns, poverty, and access to services for undocumented residents. The office has become a model and resource for governments in cities across the United States, including 100RC Member Cities such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Seattle. In their messaging, these offices emphasize that immigrants form an integral part of local communities, and make major contributions to the overall resilience of their cities, including making them attractive places to visit and invest.
Practitioner Resources
Americas Society and Council of the Americas
Opening Minds, Opening Doors, Opening CommunitiesThis data-driven practitioner resource provides guidance to local leaders interested in creating and sustaining successful offices for immigrant integration. Because cities vary in their history and experience with immigration, one model does not fit all. City offices may be devoted to attracting or to integrating immigrants — or a combination of the two. Another dynamic is whether offices are primarily reactive or proactive. Regardless of the exact context of each, municipal offices for immigrant integration in the United States tend to exhibit 10 characteristics:
1. Begin with strong mayoral commitment
2. Build institutional sustainability beyond the mayor
3. Collaborate with unlikely allies
4. Secure technical assistance from partners
5. Track and evaluate success and impact
6. Partner with research organizations
7. Bring together services and civic engagement
8. Develop policies, not just projects
9. Apply a racial justice lens to the work
10. Work together and scale upThe full report offers case studies to guide practitioners in applying these lessons locally, as well as specific tactics to achieve these goals.
