Publication
Medicaid enrollment can be a daunting process for many people—both U.S.-born New Yorkers and those who are foreign-born. It is even more challenging for those that don’t speak English, don’t have access to a computer, or those who do not understand the complicated health insurance system in the United States.
To better understand the difficulties that immigrants face when enrolling for Medicaid, we interviewed 20 immigrants from across New York State to uncover the challenges that may arise for these community members. To ensure a sample that engages a range of immigrant experiences, we interviewed New Yorkers from different countries, living in different parts of the state, and with different immigration statuses—including refugees, New Yorkers with Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), Victims of Criminal Activity (U-visa), and undocumented individuals, some of whom are eligible for state-funded Medicaid as “PRUCOLs” (Persons Residing Under Color of Law) or through emergency Medicaid.
Publication
In this pivotal moment, DC policymakers must spend federal rescue funds in a timely way, with a laser focus on addressing the racial inequities that have excluded Black and brown communities from economic gains and left them more vulnerable to the COVID-19 crisis. Unfortunately, federal policymakers excluded certain residents—including immigrants who are undocumented and workers in the informal cash economy—from federal relief that provides vital cash assistance to those who have lost income. Intentional investment is needed from DC policymakers to right this unfair exclusion and pursue an equitable and inclusive future for these workers.
Publication
In this pivotal moment, DC policymakers must spend federal rescue funds in a timely way, with a laser focus on addressing the racial inequities that have excluded Black and brown communities from economic gains and left them more vulnerable to the COVID-19 crisis. Unfortunately, federal policymakers excluded certain residents—including immigrants who are undocumented and workers in the informal cash economy—from federal relief that provides vital cash assistance to those who have lost income. Intentional investment is needed from DC policymakers to right this unfair exclusion and pursue an equitable and inclusive future for these workers.
Publication
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to highlight just how interconnected our economies, communities, and lives have become. Workers and employers are still fighting to mitigate damage from the pandemic, and, thanks to President Biden’s American Rescue Plan and the coronavirus vaccine, recovery is on the horizon. This report highlights the role of immigrants in our economy as a whole as well as the contribution they have made during the pandemic and can make during the recovery. Immigrants have played a vital role in the pandemic, contributing to work in essential industries despite facing racial and ethnic discrimination. Additionally, immigrants have enriched our communities through the ownership of individual businesses like restaurants that have been devastated by the ongoing pandemic. The following report attempts to quantify the contributions of Pennsylvania’s foreign-born workforce. While much of their contributions are incalculable, there are economic contributions that can be measured and explored.