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Loading...Baltimore Welcomes Immigrants To Boost Success
Arizona has been in the headlines over the last few years for enacting legislation that attempts to bar new immigrants from entering the state, passing controversial laws that allow police to ask for papers at any time and generally creating a tense environment. Recently, new e-mails have shown that SB 1070, the basis of these harsh immigration tactics in Arizona, is racially motivated. But some cities and states in the United States have the opposite feeling towards immigrants. Baltimore has been at the front of a movement that has encouraged immigrants to move to the city and contribute to the population.
MSNBC notes that Baltimore’s Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake signed an order in March that prohibits police from asking about immigration status and bars resources from being used in assessing whether or not someone is following the national immigration law. Michigan’s former House majority leader Steve Tobocman has similar feelings. He heads a group that encourages immigration to the Detroit area, adding to the Washington Post, “Immigrants have a lot to contribute to job creation and economic growth.”
The measures that Mayor Rawlings-Blake put in place are coupled with resources for immigrants, such as English and citizenship classes. The Associated Press notes that many of these forward-thinking leaders actually saw an increase in government funds and population after they began these welcoming policies:
The 2010 census was a tipping point. Most cities that grew had Hispanics and, to a lesser degree, Asians to thank. Cities with few immigrants lost political power and federal money as district lines and funding formulas changed to reflect new census numbers.
Critics of the policy harp on the same logic that has riddled the controversy around Arizona’s SB1070 legislation. They say that encouraging immigration also encourages a large population that does not speak English, and which forces others in a city’s population to adjust. The Maryland Comptroller in 2004, Donald Schaefer said back then, “I don’t want to adjust to another language…This is the United States. I think they ought to adjust to us.”
Critics haven’t said much about the fact that many Spanish-speaking families are an integral part of the fabric of the United States, and have been for centuries. Because of Maryland’s policy which bars officials from asking about the immigration status of an individual, exact numbers as to undocumented immigrants are not available. Baltimore boasts about 45,000 legal foreign-born residents, making it one of the most populous states for immigrants from around the world.
Baltimore’s mayor and many residents feel positively about the change in dynamics in the last ten years. Latino populations have helped slow down a steady population decline in the metropolitan area, boasting about 26,000 Spanish-speaking immigrants in the area. New neighborhoods are flourishing with a variety of stores and resources for the myriad of populations that have come to call Baltimore home, the Associated Press reports. Perhaps a lack of fear and prejudice have allowed for communities to flourish in areas where resources abound at public libraries and community centers.
Critics of these new welcome policies have by no means slunk into the shadows and have continued to say immigrant populations skew favor away from working Americans. Many people have supported the mayor and the many other policies she is introducing in the city, beyond immigration reforms. She also plans to reduce crime and increase job growth in the city through a number of investments, including a plan to decrease property taxes. For now, the city appears to offer a warm and welcoming place for immigrants looking for a home in an increasingly volatile and divided United States.
Related Stories:
Arizona Immigration Law Racially Motivated
SCOTUS: Key Provision of Arizona Immigration Law Stands
Immigrant Mother Loses Parental Rights
Read more: arizona, economy, growth, immigration, jobs, maryland, population, reform
Photo of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake: U.S. Navy
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Recent Comments from Causes
Interesting article, thanx for posting!
Thank you for the article...
23 comments
+ add your ownAre we talking legal or illegal immigrants? If illegal then they are criminals who broke the law when they snuck into our country. As a legal Hispanic immigrant I can not support laws the ignore people legal status. If an illegal can sneak into our country how easy is it for a terrorist? Our government needs to do it's job and overhaul the immigration system and CLOSE OUR BORDERS.
Press 2 for English.
@ Noreen N. “We are all immigrants and folks tend to forget that”.I’m not an immigrant. I am one of the many born in the USA. Haven’t you heard the song ? Of course you include illegal border jumpers as immigrants, but please check your dictionary if you can read. Native born people are not immigrants.
The Maryland Comptroller in 2004, Donald Schaefer said back then, “I don’t want to adjust to another language…This is the United States. I think they ought to adjust to us.”
VERY TRUE...but thank the imbecile who allow any one to become American without speaking english...THAT was the start of the problem!
Good for Baltimore. When they have 50 kindergarten students in a class; 70% percent cannot speak English, don't start preening at the allowances you made.
P.S. This was my niece's classroom in West Covina,Calif.,5 years ago. She quit on the third day.
Well done Bmore. We are all immigrants and folks tend to forget that.
What a smart woman Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is and I wish Arizona could take a lesson from her. Way to go Stephanie!
Sent a green star to Olivia - I'm a native, too, but in my neighborhood we pronounced it Baldamore. Still love the accent and dialect, whichever end of town you're from, hon! So happy to see that you are such a caring person (profile) - makes me feel good about my roots.
B’lieve, Hon!
If only illegal immigrant PERSECUTION were the state of Arizona's legal and ethical wrongs! the plethora of rapes NOT even looked into if you are Latina, the attack on birth control and planned parenthood, the racial profiling, sherriff Arpaio, the treatment of the native Americans is shameful. But I leave the worst for last the wicked witch they call a governor, if I could put my finger in her face as the brewer/moron did to the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, I will bet you my bum would end in jail at the very least if not shot!
I was born and raised in Baltimore and this article really bothers me. I lived in Northeast Pennsylvania and now in Arizona and from my experience working in both states, I am warning all of the people in Baltimore that you will not be happy that your government is welcoming immigrants. Jobs and affordable housing will become hard to find and you will be expected to know other languages just to get a job or communicate with your fellow coworkers and retail clerks. Here in Arizona we are being criticized for our policies on immigration and yet to get most of the jobs here you need to know Spanish as a second language or you will not be hired. I am an American - I speak English. If I went to another country to work, I would learn their language first, before moving there and working. Just don't say you were not forewarned Baltimore.
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