Industries
New American Economy Statement on Failed Immigration Legislation in the House of Representatives
NEW YORK – “Today proves it’ll take votes from both sides of the aisle for this Congress to get to yes on an immigration deal,” said John Feinblatt, President of New American Economy. “The right step for the House now is a successful discharge petition that advances a bipartisan solution… Read More
Immigrant from Somalia Starts His Own Business While Working Shifts at Tyson
Mohamed Warsame began at Tyson’s Dakota City plant as a meat cutter, but, lacking knife skills, was soon assigned to pack and lift boxes. “They say, ‘We will know if you are really hardworking guy,’” he says, laughing. Now, seven years later, Warsame has cross-trained at every job on the… Read More
Immigrant and Community Leader from Mexico Gives Back to the Community that Raised Her
Balbina Valadez has been working with nonprofits since she graduated from high school, providing information on healthcare services, interpreting for immigrants, and conducting research on a range of issues. “I’m one of those people that likes to learn a lot of things,” she says. “And I like to help… Read More
Vietnamese Immigrant Wants to Help Her Community for Future Generations
Like so many Vietnamese people, Joanne Nguyen has lived a life shaped by American foreign policy. When she was born, in 1966, U.S. troops were already engaged in the ground war and her father, an English professor in Saigon, had been drafted into the South Vietnamese Army to assist U.S. Read More
NAE Statement on the Joint Cabinet Commitment to Improving the H-2A Agricultural Worker Visa
Following the announcement that four cabinet agencies – the Departments of Agriculture, Labor, State, and Homeland Security – are working in coordination to propose streamlining and improving the H-2A agricultural visa program, New American Economy President John Feinblatt issued the following statement: “Simplifying the H-2A visa program would pay immediate dividends… Read More
First-Generation Mexican-American Serves His Community Through His Business
At age 10, Victor Puga left his native Mexico for Kentucky. Since his father had been naturalized through the Reagan Amnesty of 1986, Puga arrived as a U.S. citizen. Still, his path wasn’t easy. He became a father at a young age and dropped out of school to work for… Read More
The News-Gazette: University Y’s new study shows immigrants have $1.4B impact here
Immigrants living in Champaign County contribute $1.4 billion to its economy and $57.2 million to the local tax base, according to a new, first-of-its kind study. The Gateways for Growth Community Data Report — compiled by the University YMCA’s New American Welcome Center and data analysts from the New American… Read More
Pakistani Engineer Manages 700-Employee Facility, Oversees Life-Saving Drug Production
Usman Chaudhri dreamed of becoming an engineer, and by 23, he had more than achieved his goal. He had received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Pakistan’s National University of Sciences and Technology and had his research on synthetic engine fuel published in journals around the world. Riding… Read More
Grecia Chavira, guest columnist: Living in limbo in the land of the free
In my junior year at University High School, I considered dropping my plans to attend college, even though I was ranked at the top of my class. As an undocumented immigrant — my family came here from Mexico when I was age 8 — I realized that even if I… Read More
Without DACA, U.S. Risks Losing Country’s Educated Talent
When Ben A. was a high-school senior in north Texas, he was class valedictorian, president of the school’s National Honor Society chapter, and had a full scholarship to Harvard University. But his girlfriend’s father still disapproved of their relationship because he was an undocumented immigrant. “It’s one of the most… Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.