OKPOLICY.ORG
June is Immigrant Heritage Month during which we acknowledge the contributions immigrants have made to our nation, our state, and our communities. Overcoming great odds, immigrants have arrived in the United States of America to create better lives for themselves and their families.
One of the pillars of the American story is that we welcome immigrants to make new lives and become part of the great American mosaic. An honest look at our history, however, shows that myth and reality are often in conflict. Our nation’s history is littered with streaks of isolationism, xenophobia, and racism against newcomers to our nation.
While the pendulum of history ebbs and flows, we would do well to remember that — except for Indigenous people (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians) who first lived here — every person living in the United States is an immigrant or a descendant of immigrants.
Learn more about Immigrant Heritage Month below, and be sure to support local businesses, artists, and policies that uplift our immigrants and make our state stronger and more welcoming for all.
About
- A Proclamation on National Immigrant Heritage Month, 2022 [The White House]
Policy
- Supporting immigration will boost Oklahoma’s economy [Gabriela Ramirez-Perez / OK Policy]
- Oklahoma hasn’t always been inclusive of our immigrant communities. It’s time to change that [Gabriela Ramirez-Perez / OK Policy]
- Undocumented immigrants pay taxes: The $133.7 million elephant in the room [Gabriela Ramirez-Perez / OK Policy]
Reading List
- Immigrant Heritage Month Booklist [The American Writers Museum]
Local Organizations
