Mientras los miembros del Congreso y los candidatos presidenciales luchan por la migración, un grupo de líderes y expertos de Nevada dedicados a promover la reforma migratoria están discutiendo las complejidades y desafíos del tema, tratando de centrarse en soluciones viables.

Zach Mueller es director político de la organización sin fines de lucro nonprofit America's Voice. Advierte a los votantes de Nevada que, durante el próximo ciclo electoral, sospecha que habrá mucha desinformación sobre los migrantes y la migración.

"Pero muchas veces, la gente que perpetua ese tipo de desinformación no solo habla de migrantes, no solo habla de políticas de migración," asegura Mueller. "Sino que es un mecanismo y una herramienta para intentar dividir en torno a preocupaciones por la seguridad, la identidad, y la escasez."

Mueller afirma que está bien discrepar sobre cuál debe ser la política adecuada en materia de migración, pero anima a los políticos y candidatos de ambos bandos a utilizar sus palabras con prudencia y no incitar a la violencia política.

Según una encuesta reciente, el 42% de los estadounidenses, incluido el 72% de los republicanos, opinan que Estados Unidos es "demasiado abierto" y corre el riesgo de "perder su identidad".

El senador demócrata de Nevada Edgar Flores dice que considera importante no sólo involucrar y empoderar a los votantes migrantes y minoritarios en estas elecciones, sino también animar a los responsables políticos a seguir defendiendo lo que él denomina legislación "pro-migrante", aunque no se apruebe.

"Por mucho que escuchemos esa retorica horrible, esa retorica racista que sabemos que no va a llegar a ninguna parte, pero eso es lo que estamos escuchando. ¿Dónde está la otra cara de la moneda? Incluso si tememos que no vamos a avanzar en la legislación, proponerla constantemente, de modo que la retórica sea: 'Hay gente aquí que constantemente está tratando de avanzar... aunque sea solo un milímetro'."

Casi el 20% de la población de Nevada ha nacido en el extranjero, según el Consejo Americano de Migración. Entre ellos hay más de 300,000 migrantes con derecho al voto, una cifra que se espera que aumente en la próxima década.



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A new survey showed New York City's population of asylum-seekers is struggling, and makes suggestions for improvements.

The survey by the group Make the Road New York found along with declining access to resources and services, migrants face the impacts of Mayor Eric Adams' "30-60 day rule," which limits shelter stays for migrants and asylum-seekers from 30-60 days.

Natalia Aristazabal, deputy director of Make the Road New York, said the rule disrupts many asylum-seekers' cases.

"You have to have a steady address. If you have a change of address, you have to communicate that to USCIS and the federal government," Aristazabal explained. "But if people are being evicted after 30 to 60 days and they don't have a place to live, they're not going to be able to update the federal government as to where they're living."

She added before the rule, people had more time to find their footing, which is important because translation services are not always available.

A New York City Comptroller's report finds the rule's implementation was haphazard, since other services for migrants are insufficient. The survey found expediting work authorizations and putting city resources into baseline services could improve migrants' situations.

The survey also showed a growing part of the migrant population is from African countries.

Adama Bah, executive director of the nonprofit Afrikana, is one of many immigrant advocates who want to see more action at the federal level to help improve life for migrants in the city. Bah said misunderstandings about them hamper their progress to citizenship.

"The other part that's missing is their stories. Who is coming? Where are they coming from? These are people that are fleeing gender-based violence, civil war, climate justice issues," Bah stressed. "You have the stories are missing, you have the misunderstanding about who's coming and then frankly, Black migrants are missing from the conversation."

Some 21% of migrants surveyed were Black and the results indicate a sizable population comes from Western African countries. Bah feels there has not been enough conversation around how to support the next waves of migrants coming to the U.S.


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South Dakota ranks fifth in the nation for its rate of refugee resettlements per capita and the rate increased dramatically in the last year, according to the Immigration Research Initiative.

More refugees, or people unable to return to their home countries due to persecution, are resettling in the U.S. following historic declines during the Trump administration.

According to the Lutheran Social Services Center for New Americans, South Dakota took in more than 200 refugees last year, up from about 50 the year before, representing a 320% jump. The national rate increased 135% in the same time frame.

Rebecca Kiesow-Knudsen, president and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, said the numbers are manageable.

"Still a pretty small number in our state and definitely a size that we feel we can responsibly integrate into the community," Kiesow-Knudsen acknowledged.

The numbers do not include arrivals through "Uniting for Ukraine," a separate federal program which resettled more than 250 individuals in the state last year. Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota is the sole resettlement agency in the state and works mostly in Sioux Falls where, Kiesow-Knudsen noted, the school districts are welcoming. But finding affordable housing is a challenge, one faced by most communities doing similar work.

Kiesow-Knudsen pointed out the Sioux Falls job market for New Americans is good and Lutheran Social Services offers a vocational English program to help them get jobs.

"If I'm going to go into the hospitality sector, as an example, what are the key English language words that I need to know and understand so that I can work with my employer successfully?" Kiesow-Knudsen suggested.

The Congressional Budget Office predicts immigration will be increasingly vital to the American workforce, as fertility rates decline. Net immigration is expected to account for all population growth starting in 2040, according to a demographic outlook the office released in January.


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Advocates for immigrants are pushing back on a bill signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in the last few days of the legislative session, modeled on a recent, controversial Texas law.

Senate File 2340 gives local law enforcement officers and judges the authority to deport undocumented immigrants.

Erica Johnson, executive director of the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, argued the bill is an overreach, and said Iowa law enforcement officers are not authorized to enforce it.

"This is a pretty clear intervention into federal territory," Johnson pointed out. "U.S. immigration law is governed by federal law."

Much like the author of the Texas bill, supporters in Iowa blame the Biden administration for failing to slow illegal immigration, so the state has decided to take matters into its own hands.

Johnson contended the bill and other anti-immigrant sentiment during the just-completed legislative session target the very people Iowa, with its dwindling population, will depend on for its future workforce.

"What we need is communities that are safe, where workers have access to dignified, safe workplaces," Johnson emphasized. "The truth of what Iowa's future could be depends on immigrants and immigrant workers in our state, and unfortunately, this law could take us back, away from that possible future. "

Johnson added her organization will pursue legal ways to block the bill from taking effect in July.


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