Immigrants in Maryland

1. Immigrants in Maryland Presentation prepared by Liz Alex, CASA of Maryland

2. CASA of Maryland • The mission of CASA of Maryland, Inc., is to improve the quality of life, social and economic well being of the Latino community. CASA facilitates the self-development, organization, and mobilization of the Latino community to gain full participation in the larger society. • Since 1985, CASA has evolved from focusing primarily on direct service provision to Central American refugees arriving in the metropolitan D.C. area to providing a wide range of educational, organizing, and advocacy activities designed to address the multiple conditions of poverty and disenfranchisement that control the lives of many Latino immigrants and refugees. • CASA’s main office is located in Silver Spring, with administrative offices in Takoma Park and satellite offices in Wheaton and Baltimore

3. Immigrants in Maryland • According to the 2005, census, there are 641,373foreign-born residents in Maryland, representing 25.3 percent increase since 200. • In 2005, 11.7 percent of Maryland's total population were foreign born, compared with 9.9 percent in 2000 and 6.5 percent in 1990. • In MD, 44.6% of foreign born residents were US Citizens; 55.4% % are not citizens (may be legal permanent or temporary residents, asylees, or undocumented)

4. Where do they come from? • Maryland’s foreign-born population is one of the most diverse in the country; they come here from over 70 different countries. • The largest number of foreign-born residents in MD come from Latin America (37.3%), followed by 33.0 percent from Asia, 15.0 percent were from Africa, 13.2 percent from Europe,, 1.3 percent from Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon), and 0.3 percent from Oceanaia • *According to the 2005 US Census

5. Legal Status of Foreign-Born Living in the United States • 30% are Naturalized US Citizens • 31% are Legal Permanent Residents • 5% are Legal Temporary Residents • 8 % are Refugee Arrivals • 26% are Undocumented Immigrants

6. Legal Status in MD • In MD over 45% of the Foreign-Born who responded to the 2000 Census were Naturalized Citizens • In MD, over 40,000 people have Temporary Protected Status • There is no clear data on the % of Foreign Born who are undocumented in Maryland, but nationwide it is estimated that 20-30% of all foreign born residents are undocumented.

7. Trends in MD Immigrant Population* *From MPI 2005 Census Data Report

8. Overall MD Trends • Between 2000 and 2005, foreign born population in MD increased by 25.3%, compared to 16% nationally • The foreign-born population in MD is more geographically dispersed, with significant populations in Montgomery, Prince Georges, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Howard County, Anne Arundel County, and the Eastern Shore

9. GROUP DISCUSSIONS

10. Focus on Students: Existing Situation • Most young people have no way of adjusting their legal status independently of their parents • Immigrant students are able to apply and be accepted to college, regardless of immigration status, although many times the paperwork is even more cumbersome and admissions staff members may not be helpful • Immigrant students with temporary residency or who are undocumented are not eligible for federal or state financial aid • Immigrant students who graduate from MD high schools are not eligible for in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities, and must pay out of state or foreign student tuition rates

12. Focus on Students: Existing Situation • What do you think this means for current immigrant high school students? • How would this effect the way that students approach their high school education? • What broader societal effects could the situation have?

13. Pending Proposals: In State Tuition • Would grant in-state tuition to students who: • Graduate from MD high schools • Pay taxes in MD • Have attend high school in MD for at least 2 years and apply to college within 5 years of graduating • Swear to file to become legal permanent resident within 30 days of becoming eligible

14. Pending Proposals: In-State Tuition • In state tuition is a state issue, must be passed by the state legislature and signed by the governor. • In 2007, passed in the house of delegates, but ran out of time in the state senate, had strong support from Governor O’Malley • Will be proposed again in Jan of 2009

17. Questions: • How would passage of In-State Tuition help the situation of immigrant students? • What impact could it have on our high schools? Colleges? • 11 other states have passed in-state tuition. Do you think MD will become the 12th state this year? Why or why not?

18. Pending Proposals: The DREAM ACT • Would provide conditional legal status to students who: • have arrived in the US before the age of 16 • Arrived at least 5 years before the date of passage, • graduate from high school in the US • Are accepted in to college or the US military • Students would be eligible for federal financial aid

19. Pending Proposals: The DREAM ACT • Conditional legal status would last for 6 years. During that period of time, a student would need to complete 2 years of college education or serve for 2 years in the military. • Upon successful completion of the 2 year requirement, the “conditional” status would convert into legal permanent residency, and would count toward the total time towards naturalization.

20. Pending Proposals: The DREAM ACT • The DREAM ACT has been introduced for several years in congress, as part of other bills • In 2008,for the first time, it was introduced as a separate bill, but failed a cloture vote by a narrow margin. • The DREAM ACT will most likely be included in any comprehensive immigration reform proposal introduced under the new administration in 2009.

23. Questions: • How would the DREAM ACT effect immigrant students who are currently in high school? • What other parts of society would be impacted by this legislation? How? • Do you think the DREAM ACT will pass this year? Why or Why Not?

24. Focus on Workers: Existing Situation -Although the share of foreign-born employment increased by 22 percent between 1996 and 2000, the share of fatal occupational injuries for this population increased by 43 percent. -Fatal work injuries in six states accounted for 64 percent of all fatalities to foreign-born workers between 1996 and 2001: California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Texas. -Nearly one in four fatally injured foreign-born worker was employed in the construction industry. -Less than one-third of the costs of occupational illnesses and injuries are paid for by employer-funded workers' compensation-with taxpayers picking up nearly 20 percent of the tab through Medicaid and Medicare. Injured workers and their families pay the largest share.* * Immigrant Workers at Risk: The Urgent Need for Improved Workplace Safety and Health Policies and Programs (2006)

25. Focus on Workers: Existing Situation Day laborers regularly suffer employer abuse. In a 2006 study of day laborers nationwide, amost half of all day laborers experienced at least one instance of wage theft in the two months prior to being surveyed. In addition, 44 percent were denied food/water or breaks while on the job. • Workplace injuries are common. One in five day laborers has suffered a work-related injury, and more than half of those who were injured in the past year did not receive medical care. More than two-thirds of injured day laborers have lost time from work.* * “ON THE CORNER: Day Labor in the United States” Center for Urban Poverty, UCLA. (2006)

27. Questions: -What might be some longer term effects of dangerous working conditions and rampant wage theft on immigrant workers and their families? -What role (s) do immigrant workers fill in our economy?

28. Pending Solutions: Immigrant Workers Workers Centers operated by non-profit organizations provide some protection to workers from wage theft, unscrupulous employers, and other employer abuse. However, in many areas of the country, including several local counties in Virginia, workers centers have had to close after local government laws eliminated funding or mandated that staff check immigration status documentation

29. Pending Solutions: local and state legislation In several states (including MD), local and state governments have attempted to pass laws in recent years to increase sanctions on employers who do not pay their workers and to ensure that living wages laws apply to day laborers where relevant according local or state laws.

32. Questions: How do workers centers assist immigrant workers? What other parts of the broader community may be impacted (positively or negatively) by workers centers? What are some challenges to addressing the issue of wage theft?

33. Focus on Women: Existing Situation Working immigrant families were twice as likely as working native families to be low income or poor, they were much less likely than low-income native families to participate in the EITC, receive income assistance, Food Stamps, or housing assistance, and/or have their children enrolled in child care.* * A Profile of Low-Income Working Immigrant FamiliesCapps, Randy, Michael Fix, Everett Henderson, and Jane Rearson-Anderson(2005)

35. Questions What challenges to immigrant women face in the US? What types of labor issues might women encounter that their male counterparts do not? Women traditionally play a key role in making sure their families access health care. What barriers are they likely to encounter?

36. Si, Se Puede!