Immigration Policy Center

{{third-party|date=March 2019}} The '''Immigration Policy Center''' ('''IPC''') is the research and policy arm of the American Immigration Council,<ref name=mission>{{cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/ipc-mission|title = Mission|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130430142249/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/ipc-mission|archive-date = 2013-04-30|url-status = dead}}</ref> a 501(c)(3) organization in the United States dedicated to promoting immigration to the United States and protecting the rights and privileges of immigrants in the United States.<ref name=aic-mission>{{cite web|url = http://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/mission|title = Mission|publisher = American Immigration Council|access-date = 2013-05-04|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130423041817/http://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/mission|archive-date = 2013-04-23}}</ref>

==History== The Immigration Policy Center was founded in 2003.<ref name=mission/> Its parent body, the American Immigration Council, was founded as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1987.<ref name=aic-mission/>

==Goals== The main goals of the Immigration Policy Center, according to the About page on their website, are:<ref name=mission/>

# Contributing research on issues related to immigrants and their impact on the economy, job market, and crime in the United States. # Bridging the gap between advocates and academics, politicians, and the public, by disseminating their research widely and holding conferences and briefings. # Combating claims made by anti-immigration groups that they consider erroneous and harmful to their cause (later section).

The goals of the American Immigration Council, the parent body, are:<ref name=aic-mission/>

# Trying to convince American citizens that immigrants make positive and enduring contributions to the United States; # Promoting immigration policies that they consider "sensible" and "humane"; # Advocacy against enforcement practices for existing immigration laws that they view as being in violation of human rights and constitutional laws; # Working towards the goals of "justice" and "fairness" for immigrants in the United States.

The IPC generally favors expanded opportunities for immigration at all skill levels, opposes deportations of illegal immigrants and legal immigrants who violate visa terms or other laws, and favors a path to citizenship for current (legal and illegal) immigrants as well as future immigrants to the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/dividends-citizenship-why-legalization-must-lead-citizenship|title = The Dividends of Citizenship: Why Legalization Must Lead to Citizenship|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|date = 2013-02-07}}</ref> It has also expressed opposition in the past to proposals such as the Krieble Foundation's ''Red Card'' scheme (endorsed by Newt Gingrich in the 2012 Republican presidential primary) that would create a huge guest worker program without offering a path to citizenship.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/newsroom/clip/gingrich-plan-immigration-hardly-humane|title = Gingrich's Plan on Immigration: Hardly Humane|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|date = 2011-12-02|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130423164328/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/newsroom/clip/gingrich-plan-immigration-hardly-humane|archive-date = 2013-04-23|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==People== The Immigration Policy Center has eight listed staff members on its website,<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/ipc-staff|title = IPC Staff|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130430143053/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/ipc-staff|archive-date = 2013-04-30|url-status = dead}}</ref> including Walter Ewing and Mary Giovagnoli.

==Issues covered== The IPC investigates and publishes material on the following issues related to immigration: demographics, economics of immigration, election and politics, enforcement and employment verification, health care, history of immigration, immigration and crime, immigration reform, integration and citizenship, immigration and unemployment, legalization, legislation and policy, state and local issues, and "restrictionists."

===Demographics of immigration=== The IPC publishes reports both on the raw statistics of immigration from different regions and ethnic groups and on the consequences of such immigration.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/issues/demographics|title = Demographics|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-07-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130610202921/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/issues/demographics|archive-date = 2013-06-10|url-status = dead}}</ref> This has included reports on immigration from Africa,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/african-immigrants-america-demographic-overview|title = African Immigrants in America: A Demographic Overview|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|date = 2012-06-28|access-date = 2013-07-04}}</ref> Asia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/asians-america-demographic-overview|title = Asians in America: A Demographic Overview|date = 2012-04-26|access-date = 2013-07-04|publisher = Immigration Policy Center}}</ref> and Latin America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/latinos-america-demographic-overview|title = Latinos in America: A Demographic Overview|date = 2012-04-26|access-date = 2013-07-04|publisher = Immigration Policy Center}}</ref>

===Economics of immigration=== The IPC has published many pieces suggesting that immigration liberalization measures, including proposed legislation in 2006 and 2013, would be economically beneficial to current citizens of the United States as well as immigrants.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/issues/economics|title = Economics of Immigration|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-07-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130621044524/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/issues/economics|archive-date = 2013-06-21|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/adding-it-accurately-gauging-economic-impact-immigration-reform|title = Adding it Up: Accurately Gauging the Economic Impact of Immigration Reform|date = 2013-05-07|access-date = 2013-07-04|publisher = Immigration Policy Center}}</ref> The IPC also published a "Just the Facts" backgrounder claiming that the 2013 legislative proposals related to immigration would not increase unemployment, contrary to the assertions of critics of these proposals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/economic-blame-game-immigration-and-unemployment|title = The Economic Blame Game: Immigration and Unemployment|date = 2013-06-12|access-date = 2013-07-04|publisher = Immigration Policy Center}}</ref> In June 2013, after the Congressional Budget Office released a report with estimates of the fiscal impact of the proposed immigration legislation, the IPC published a piece arguing that this report underscored the case for pushing forth the immigration legislation currently under consideration in the US Congress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/power-reform-cbo-report-quantifies-economic-benefits-senate-immigration-bill|title = The Power of Reform: CBO Report Quantifies the Economic Benefits of the Senate Immigration Bill|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|date = 2013-06-20|access-date = 2013-07-04}}</ref>

===Immigration and crime=== The IPC has published many backgrounders on the topic of immigration and crime in the United States, all pointing towards the conclusion that immigrants to the United States appear to commit less crime and have lower incarceration rates than native-born Americans.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/immigrants-and-crime-are-they-connected-century-research-finds-crime-rates-immigrants-are|title = Immigrants and Crime: Are They Connected? A Century of Research Finds that Crime Rates for Immigrants are Lower than Those for Natives|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|date = 2008-10-25|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130429143326/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/immigrants-and-crime-are-they-connected-century-research-finds-crime-rates-immigrants-are|archive-date = 2013-04-29|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/anecdotes-evidence-setting-record-straight-immigrants-and-crime|title = From Anecdotes to Evidence: Setting the Record Straight on Immigrants and Crime|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|date = 2008-09-10|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130512021820/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/anecdotes-evidence-setting-record-straight-immigrants-and-crime|archive-date = 2013-05-12|url-status = dead}}</ref> The IPC also published a press release critical of a report by the Center for Immigration Studies that appeared to cast doubt on the conclusions and methods of a previous IPC report.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/newsroom/release/cis-report-attempts-erase-100-years-data-0|title = CIS Report Attempts to Erase 100 Years of Data|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04}}</ref>

In addition, the IPC has published material on various federal and state government programs in the United States to tackle the problem of immigrant criminality, including the Secure Communities Program<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/special-reports/secure-communities-program-unanswered-questions-and-continuing-concerns|title = The Secure Communities Program: Unanswered Questions and Continuing Concerns|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|date = 2011-11-29}}</ref> and the Criminal Alien Program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/criminal-alien-program-cap-immigration-enforcement-prisons-and-jails|title = The Criminal Alien Program (CAP): Immigration Enforcement in Prisons and Jails|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|date = 2013-02-01}}</ref>

===Restrictionists=== The IPC uses the term "restrictionist" to describe political groups, think tanks, and other organizations in the United States that advocate reduced levels of legal immigration and crackdowns on illegal immigration. The IPC puts out documents, articles, and press releases to counter claims made by restrictionists that they consider inaccurate and misleading.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/issues/restrictionists|title = The Restrictionists|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130430142344/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/issues/restrictionists|archive-date = 2013-04-30|url-status = dead}}</ref> The restrictionist individuals and groups critiqued by IPC in the past have included the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/fatally-flawed-fair-blames-immigrants-and-children-maryland%E2%80%99s-financial-problems|title = Fatally Flawed: FAIR Blames Immigrants and Children for Maryland's Financial Problems|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|date = 2012-06-12|access-date = 2013-05-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/statistical-hot-air-fair%E2%80%99s-usa-report-lacks-credibility|title = Statistical Hot Air: FAIR's USA Report Lacks Credibility|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|date = 2011-03-29}}</ref> US Representative Lamar Smith,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/rep-lamar-smith%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Ckeep-our-community-safe-act-2011%E2%80%9D-creates-more-problems-solutions|title = Rep. Lamar Smith's "Keep Our Community Safe Act of 2011" Creates More Problems than Solutions|date = 2011-07-06|access-date = 2013-05-04}}</ref> and others. IPC has also published detailed articles and reports on the US restrictionist movement and its origins and history, listing FAIR, NumbersUSA, the Center for Immigration Studies, the Minutemen, and VDARE as prominent restrictionist groups.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/perspectives/unwanted-immigration-and-nativism-america|title = The Unwanted: Immigration and Nativism in America|last = Schrag|first = Peter|access-date = 2013-05-04|date = 2010-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/perspectives/anti-immigrant-movement-and-politics-exceptionalism|title = The Anti-Immigrant Movement and the Politics of Exceptionalism|author = Roxanne Lynn Doty|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|date = 2010-06-04|access-date = 2013-05-04|archive-date = 2013-05-13|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130513160558/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/perspectives/anti-immigrant-movement-and-politics-exceptionalism|url-status = dead}}</ref> The IPC has also linked to the Southern Poverty Law Center's critical analysis of the origins of CIS, NumbersUSA, and FAIR, all of which were founded with assistance from John Tanton.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/separating-fact-fiction-immigration-debate-ipcs-responses-nativist-claims|title = Separating Fact from Fiction in the Immigration Debate: IPC's Responses to Nativist Claims|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|date = 2009-02-03|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130423095725/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/separating-fact-fiction-immigration-debate-ipcs-responses-nativist-claims|archive-date = 2013-04-23|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Publications== The Immigration Policy Center publishes a number of writings on its website ranging from quick backgrounders for politicians, journalists, and the public to in-depth writings. Their quick backgrounders called "Just the Facts"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts|title = Just Facts|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04}}</ref> are published a few times a month and are widely referenced as go-to sources for information. For instance, their "Just the Facts" pieces on the DREAM Act<ref>{{cite web|url=http://immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/dream-act|title = DREAM Act|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|date = 2011-05-18|access-date = 2013-05-04}}</ref> and on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals<ref>{{cite web|url=http://immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-resource-page|title = Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: A Resource Page|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04}}</ref> have been referenced by a number of writers such as Alex Nowrasteh of the ''Cato Institute'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cato.org/blog/obama-administration-adopts-de-facto-dream-act|title = Obama Administration Adopts De Facto DREAM Act|access-date = 2013-05-04|date = 2012-06-15|publisher = Cato Institute|last = Nowrasteh|first = Alex}}</ref> ''The Huffington Post'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/16/obama-congressional-democrats-dream-act-lame-duck-passage_n_784476.html|title = Obama And Top Congressional Democrats Call For DREAM Act's Passage Before Year's End |last = Terkel|first = Amanda|website = HuffPost |access-date = 2013-05-04|date = 2010-11-16}}</ref> and ''PBS''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/pov/film-files/sinpais-discussionguide_action_discussion_file_0.pdf|title = Sin Pais|publisher = PBS|access-date = 2013-05-04}}{{dead link|date=June 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> IPC also has a "Top Resources" page that links to its most important and frequently accessed "Just the Facts" pages.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/top-resources|title = Top Resources|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|archive-date = 2013-04-30|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130430140159/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/top-resources|url-status = dead}}</ref>

The IPC also publishes Special Reports (their most in-depth publication type),<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/special-reports|title = Special Reports|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130430134649/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/special-reports|archive-date = 2013-04-30|url-status = dead}}</ref> and Perspectives (fresh perspectives on existing immigration debates).<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/perspectives|title = Perspectives|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130430140306/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/perspectives|archive-date = 2013-04-30|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Think Immigration== In 2013, the Immigration Policy Center launched a separate website titled "Think Immigration" that was intended to carry out collaborative conversations on issues related to immigration to the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thinkimmigration.org/|title = Think Immigration|access-date = 2013-07-04}}</ref> Everybody was invited to participate in the online conversation by adding comments.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://thinkimmigration.org/the-conversations/|title = Think Immigration: The Conversations|access-date = 2013-07-04}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thinkimmigration.org/the-rules/|title=Think Immigration: The Rules}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Media coverage== IPC puts out press releases, typically in the wake of important immigration-related news events such as legislative proposals, judicial decisions, or the release of public data relevant to immigration to the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/newsroom/ipc-press-releases|title = Press Releases|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130430131239/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/newsroom/ipc-press-releases|archive-date = 2013-04-30|url-status = dead}}</ref>

In addition, IPC staffers are quoted in print and online news articles on US immigration-related issues,<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/newsroom/ipc-in-news|title = IPC In The News|publisher = Immigration Policy Center|access-date = 2013-05-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130430132825/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/newsroom/ipc-in-news|archive-date = 2013-04-30|url-status = dead}}</ref> in publications such as ''The New York Times'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/us/politics/in-immigration-reform-path-to-citizenship-divides-and-confuses.html|title = Path to Citizenship Divides Congress and, Polls Show, Confuses Country|last = Preston|first = Julia|access-date = 2013-05-04|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 2013-04-04}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' (UK),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/apr/15/marco-rubio-america-hardworking-immigrants-reform|title = Marco Rubio, America's hardworking immigrants deserve real reform|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 2013-04-15|access-date = 2013-05-04|last = Puente|first = Teresa}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/03/19/five-reasons-why-immigration-reform-is-moving-forward/|title = Five reasons why immigration reform is moving forward|last = Khimm|first = Suzy|date = 2013-03-19|access-date = 2013-05-04|newspaper = The Washington Post}}</ref> ''ABC News'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/day-activists-cheer-state-immigration-laws-19089302#.UYK6hsoiyvE|title = May Day Activists Cheer State Immigration Laws|publisher = ABC News|access-date = 2013-05-04|date = 2013-05-02|last = Gambino|first = Lauren}}</ref> ''The Christian Science Monitor'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/2013/0425/Immigration-reform-How-many-new-immigrants-are-we-talking-about|title = Immigration reform: How many new immigrants are we talking about?|newspaper = The Christian Science Monitor|last= Grant|first = David|date = 2013-04-25}}</ref> and ''Talking Points Memo''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/04/senators-grill-napolitano-on-refugee-policy-after-boston-bombing.php|title = Boston Bombing Could Impact Refugee Policy In Immigration Bill|access-date = 2013-05-04|date = 2013-04-24|publisher = Talking Points Memo|last = Sarlin|first = Benjy}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{official|http://www.immigrationpolicy.org}}

Category:Immigration political advocacy groups in the United States Category:2003 establishments in Washington, D.C. Category:American organizations established in 2003