State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue - Immigration and Integration Policy
Channel: Aspen Institute Germany
Date: 2022-03-07

On March 02, 2022, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted the fifth discussion in our virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue with German and American state legislators. While global challenges are addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have needed to step up to take action when traditional nation-states have been unable to make progress due to political polarization and partisan gridlock. This trend has also characterized transatlantic relations and the German-American partnership.

Kerstin Celina MdL (Alliance 90/The Greens), State Parliament of Bavaria, Senator John S. McCollister (R), Nebraska Legislature, and Jan Marcus Rossa MdL (FDP), State Parliament of Schleswig-Holstein, talked about how states in both countries are approaching the integration of immigrants given that immigration is mostly regulated at the federal level. How can state governments help and encourage immigrants to fully integrate into German and American society? What are the biggest hurdles in this effort for a successful economic integration and social inclusion? What does migration mean for businesses and the economy? How important are collaborative efforts across the different levels of government and with different stakeholders?