A New Normal for New Americans?

Rick

The percentage of foreign-born residents in Erie sits soundly at 6.1 percent, according to the most recent census data, and more than half of them are naturalized U.S. citizens. With the current administration's ruthless crackdown on immigrants and their available resources at the federal level, concerns abound for Erie's New American population.

Of all the sweeping changes made by the incoming Trump administration, the approach to immigration has been perhaps the most disruptive — and the least surprising.

Though we are less than four months into his second term, Trump has already frozen our refugee resettlement program, substantially limited access to asylum along the U.S./Mexico border, and authorized military aircrafts to deport migrants. During his first three months in office, daily detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have fluctuated between 600 and 872 people per day, according to the New York Times. ICE has also been authorized to enter schools and churches. University professors and graduate students have been detained — and even deported — due to Palestinian advocacy at a time when faith in Israel's handling of the conflict is collapsing. Although some of Trump's decisions are being challenged in the courts, the message is clear — his administration is doing everything possible to establish nativist nationalism as the "new normal."

So what does this mean on a local level? Contrary to what you may see in your social media feed, the percentage of foreign-born residents in the City of Erie (6.1 percent, according to 2023 U.S. Census data) is lower than the state average (8 percent), substantially lower than the national average (13.6 percent) — and slowly decreasing over time. Within that 6 percent of our neighbors, about 57 percent are naturalized U.S. citizens. Obviously, the undocumented population in Erie creates a substantial uptick that is difficult to tally. Finding local data about the undocumented is tricky, but one reliable estimate from the Migration Policy Institute puts the national number between 3.5 and 4.5 percent of the total U.S. population.

Ultimately, about 5,650 legal residents of Erie were born in another country. And our city has made real efforts to welcome them and help them succeed. 2019 saw the creation of a New American Council to connect our newest arrivals to appropriate local agencies and resources. In 2020, Erie became a Certified Welcoming City after meeting several standards regarding equity, economic development, civic engagement, education, and safety — with plans to renew our contract with the nonprofit for four more years in the works. To fortify strong connections with our refugee and New American community, Mayor Schember established an immigrant and refugee liaison for the city in 2018 as well.

Diminishing federal resources

Saeed Taraky, who arrived in Erie following a decade advising the U.S. military in his native Afghanistan, serves as Erie's current liaison. Although he is quick to note that our city "has no role in the implementation or enforcement of federal immigration policy," he worries about diminishing resources from Washington. "The new administration's policies have affected funding sources for Erie's three resettlement agencies," says Taraky. "These agencies provide vital services such as housing support, job placement, language assistance, and cultural integration." He is also troubled by the Trump administration's broad rejection of programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), noting that "resettlement agencies may face difficulty in providing essential services to New American communities. This has made it necessary for local organizations to seek alternative funding through state programs, private foundations, or community partnerships." Diminishing federal funding will require "creative funding solutions and community-driven initiatives," according to Taraky.

One important community partner is the Multicultural Community Resource Center (MCRC), which has provided essential services to our New American population for nearly 50 years. Its executive director, Katie Kretz, finds the new administration's approach to immigration devastating for Erie. "Unfortunately, we have already seen a major shift that will directly impact our work and the entire New American community in Erie," says Kretz. "We recently received notification from the Department of State that our National Resettlement Agency, the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC), has had its Reception and Placement (R&P) program contract terminated. Our two local resettlement partners, USCRI (U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants) and Catholic Charities, have also received the same notice. What we understand this to mean (at this time) is that incoming refugee resettlement into the City of Erie will be eliminated." It should be added that the families served by the MCRC have all arrived legally, and that these cuts may jeopardize their ability to integrate effectively. "Our capacity to provide critical services," says Kretz, "such as employment assistance, English language learning, and cultural integration will be severely impacted."

Overcoming barriers and unpacking stereotypes

New Americans arrive in the U.S. in a variety of legal manners. Refugees, asylum seekers, and people with temporary protected status (TPS) all arrive legally. Broadly, legal immigration occurs for humanitarian purposes (refugees fleeing conflicts, for example), family-based purposes (such as parents, siblings, or spouses seeking visas for loved ones), and employment purposes (attracting skilled laborers, students, and professors). Acquiring legal status is complicated and very time-consuming. On a Zoom call in early April, immigration lawyer Alexandria Iwanenko, of the Amicangelo & Theisen law firm (and 40 Under 40 Class of 2024), related a story of a client who put in a visa request for their sister in 2004 that is just being processed this year. There are geographic challenges as well. "In Erie, where the refugee population is the bulk of applicants, all citizenship applications are handled in Buffalo," according to Iwanenko. Some asylum seekers have to travel as far as Arlington, Virginia in their quest for long-term legal residency.

Time constraints and changing policies can be especially exhausting for separated families. Saeed Taraky notes that "more than 10 Afghan families in Erie had children or parents who were left behind during the evacuation [following the return of the Taliban]. These family members have completed all the legal processes to join their relatives in the U.S., but recent policies have directly impacted their travel plans. It's been over three years since these families were separated. Some parents are here, but their children remain abroad. In other cases, the children are here while the parents are left behind. Can you imagine being away from your parents or children for years, only to have your reunion delayed even further due to changing immigration policies?"

In addition, New Americans are constantly reckoning with inaccurate stereotypes and misconceptions. As a New American himself, Taraky often finds himself addressing the assumption that immigrants are "resistant to integration." He counters that "many are eager to learn and adapt, supported by community programs such as language classes and cultural exchanges. Immigrants play a critical role in sectors like healthcare, education, and agriculture, and they are also involved in grassroots organizations that provide essential services." Alongside these contributions, he notes that "many refugees demonstrate remarkable resilience in rebuilding their lives after traumatic experiences."

Katie Kretz of the MCRC is especially proud of the New American entrepreneurs in Erie. "Many refugee-owned businesses are thriving, creating jobs, and enriching the community with new services, restaurants, and cultural contributions." A drive along Parade street on Erie's east side confirms this conclusively. In storefronts that might otherwise have eroded into blighted eyesores, you'll find a variety of thriving food markets run by Himalayan and Iraqi immigrants, creating economic life in a neighborhood that lacks sustained development.

But what about crime and danger? Are "massive ethnic enclaves" leading to surges in violent crime, as Vice President J.D. Vance has implied? This may be our most misguided moral panic. First and foremost, violent crime in Erie is declining locally regardless of the legal status of its perpetrators. More specifically, legal immigrants are not only statistically unlikely to commit crimes, they appear to be dramatically less likely to commit them than native-born citizens. According to a wide ranging academic study from 2023, led by Stanford University economist Ran Abramitzky, "immigrants are 60 percent less likely to be incarcerated than all U.S.-born men, and 30 percent less likely to be incarcerated relative to white U.S.-born men."

"One of the biggest misconceptions is that New Americans are a burden on public resources when, in fact, they are critical contributors to our local economy," says Kretz. This assumption, while inaccurate, is perhaps slightly more understandable in a city where nearly a quarter of our residents live in poverty. However, according to a 2021 report prepared by the city and the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, foreign-born residents in Erie County contributed $463.5 million to Erie County's GDP in 2019.

Still, resettling New Americans requires some social service investment — and that ultimately relies on tax dollars, right? Not entirely. Consider one of the Trump administration's most baffling decisions — its funding halt for Welcome Corps, a program established by the Biden administration in 2023 that transfers much of immigration's spending burden onto individual citizens. "Welcome Corps costs nothing to taxpayers," says Iwanenko. "It's a privately-sponsored program where U.S. citizens, at least five people or more, essentially take the place of resettlement agencies." Families, friends, and loved ones, working in partnership with employers, colleges, and universities, take on the primary responsibility for integrating New Americans into our communities. In Erie, Iwanenko is working with several Syrian families that were counting on the program to reconnect with members of their immediate family they haven't seen since 2016. And the program was indefinitely paused by executive order in late January.

Where we're at and what to do about it

If this is the new normal, it feels pretty bleak. In her conversations with clients, Iwanenko is hearing reports of increased ICE presence in Erie. To her knowledge, there haven't been any literal raids yet, but "they're going to homes and issuing warrants. They're showing up in public spaces, like parking lots during work shift changes, and making random stops." She's also hearing stories about businesses that are reluctant to hire New Americans because of potential consequences. At the MCRC, Kretz is seeing "increased reports of discrimination, both in the workplace and in everyday interactions. This is especially concerning for young people who may feel targeted simply for speaking a different language or wearing cultural attire."

So, what should we do in response?

According to Kretz, "one of the most impactful ways to help New Americans is through direct engagement — whether by volunteering, donating, or supporting refugee-owned businesses." In addition to supporting organizations (like hers) that provide direct services, she recommends contacting local representatives and urging them to "support policies that protect refugee and immigrant rights." If you own a business, she suggests "offering mentorship or job opportunities to help New Americans integrate into the workforce." Taraky suggests connecting to local resettlement agencies that "often need financial support, donations, and volunteers to teach English." Both stress the need for interpersonal engagement as well. "Your readers can meet with New Americans, listen to their stories, learn about their plans for a better future, and share in cultural exchange," says Taraky. Kretz concurs, "It's about welcoming them into your life, sharing experiences, and offering friendship, guidance, and encouragement as they continue building their lives here."

The coming months will surely be difficult, but the work to build an inclusive community continues regardless. "While challenges exist," according to Kretz, "our refugee and immigrant families bring resilience, innovation, and cultural richness to the region. Their success is Erie's success."

For more information or to support Erie's Multicultural Resource Center visit mcrcerie.org

Dan Schank can be contacted at danschank@gmail.com