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MemoMemorandumObama · D

Presidential Memorandum

Creating Welcoming Communities and Fully Integrating Immigrants and Refugees

This memorandum establishes the White House Task Force on New Americans, co-chaired by the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and the Secretary of Homeland Security, to develop a coordinated federal strategy for integrating immigrants and refugees into American communities. The Task Force must submit an Integration Plan within 120 days and a status report within one year, with responsibilities including reviewing agency policies, disseminating best practices, and measuring equitable access to services.

Federal Register Open PDF 79 FR 70765

Impact dates

  1. Status report on implementation due to President

  2. Integration Plan with recommendations for agency actions due to President

Key directives

  • Establish White House Task Force on New Americans with 16 specified members
  • Co-chaired by Director of Domestic Policy Council and Secretary of Homeland Security
  • Secretary of Homeland Security to appoint Executive Director
  • DHS to provide funding and administrative support subject to appropriations
  • Task Force to review policies across agencies for responsiveness to new Americans
  • Task Force to identify and disseminate state and local best practices
  • Task Force to provide technical assistance to federal grantees
  • Task Force to collect and disseminate immigrant integration data
  • Task Force to conduct outreach to nonprofits, state/local officials, and others
  • Task Force to measure and strengthen equitable access to services
  • Task Force to communicate benefits of integration to American public
  • Develop and submit Integration Plan within 120 days

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Establishment of White House Task Force on New Americans
  • Appointment of Executive Director by Secretary of Homeland Security

Near term (90d)

  • Task Force to develop and submit Integration Plan to President (by March 21, 2015)
  • Assessment by each member of their agency's integration efforts

Long term

  • Status report to President due within 1 year (by November 21, 2015)
  • Periodic review and update of Integration Plan
  • Ongoing interagency coordination on immigrant integration policy

Risks & tensions

  • Subject to availability of appropriations may limit DHS administrative support
  • No enforcement mechanism for agency compliance with Integration Plan recommendations
  • Vague 'periodic' review schedule lacks accountability structure
  • Potential tension between integration goals and concurrent immigration enforcement priorities of administration
Presidential Memorandum: Creating Welcoming Communities and Fully Integrating Immigrants and Refugees · Executive Orders