Building an Americanization 

Movement for the Twenty-first Century

A Report to the President of the United States 

from the Task Force on New Americans
U.S. Government Official Edition Notice

Use of ISBN

This is the Official U.S. Government edition of this publication and 

is herein identified to certify its authenticity. Use of the ISBN 

978-0-16-082095-3 is for U.S. Government Printing Office Official 

Editions only. The Superintendent of Documents of the U.S. 

Government Printing Office requests that any reprinted edition 

clearly be labeled as a copy of the authentic work with a new ISBN.

The information presented in Building an Americanization Movement for the 

Twenty-first Century: A Report to the President of the United States from the Task 

Force on New Americans is considered public information and may be 

distributed or copied without alteration unless otherwise specified. 

The citation should be:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Task Force on New 

Americans, Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century: 

A Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on New Americans, 

Washington, DC 2008.

F ro as le t yb eh S epu ri tn e edn tn fo D co mu e tn S.U ,s G . evo r emn tn P ri itn O gn ffice

I tn er en t: tskoob ro e P vog.opg. enoh : lot l f ree ( )668 -215 ;0081 D C a re ( a )202 -215 0081

Fa :x ( )202 -215 aM 4012 il: I potS DCC W , ihsa tgn no D , C -20402 1000

ISBN 978-0-16-082095-3

00
Building an Americanization 

Movement for the Twenty-first Century

A Report to the President of the United States 

from the Task Force on New Americans

Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | iii

Michael Chertoff, Chair

Secretary

Department of Homeland Security 

Anabelle Romero

Department of Agriculture

Joel Harris

Department of Commerce

Leslye Arsht

Department of Defense

Troy Justesen

Department of Education

James O’Neill

Department of Health and Human Services

Susan Peppler

Department of Housing and Urban Development

James E. Cason

Department of the Interior

Elisebeth C. Cook

Department of Justice

Leon R. Sequeira

Department of Labor

Janice Jacobs

Department of State

Anna Escobedo Cabral

Department of the Treasury

Alfonso Aguilar, Technical Committee Chair

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Members of the Task Force on New Americans
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century iv |

The Honorable George W. Bush

President of the United States

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

On June 7, 2006, you established by Executive Order 13404 the 

Task Force on New Americans, with a call to strengthen the efforts 

of the Department of Homeland Security and federal, state, and 

local agencies to help legal immigrants embrace the common core 

of American civic culture, learn our common language, and fully 

become Americans.

Immigration remains a prominent issue for Americans. With your 

leadership, the debate on comprehensive immigration reform now 

includes immigrant assimilation. The initiatives of the Task Force 

on New Americans serve to highlight the importance of successful 

immigrant integration to the nation, and to solidify a coherent 

vision for integration efforts across all sectors of society.

As chair of the Task Force on New Americans, I am honored 

to submit, pursuant to the provisions of the executive order, 

our unanimous recommendations and final report: Building an 

Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century: A Report to the President of 

the United States from the Task Force on New Americans.

This report is the culmination of more than two years of research 

into immigrant integration efforts across all sectors of society in 

the United States. The report provides an overview of successful 

integration initiatives observed in many sectors and prescribes 

recommendations to launch a coordinated national campaign—

similar to past Americanization movements—to promote the 

assimilation of immigrants into American civic culture. The 

recommendations presented for your consideration are actions that 

all sectors of society can undertake under a federal call to action. To 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | v

renew an Americanization movement, state and local governments, 

community and faith-based organizations, businesses, adult 

educators, libraries, civic organizations, and the philanthropic sector 

must be partners to this strategy. 

We believe this report provides a blueprint to implement the vision 

of a coordinated national strategy and affirms America’s longstanding tradition as a nation of immigrants.

On behalf of all members of the Task Force on New Americans, we 

appreciate the opportunity to serve our country by providing our 

recommendations on this important topic.

Sincerely, 

Michael Chertoff

Secretary of Homeland Security

Chair, Task Force on New Americans
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century vi |

Table of Contents

Executive Summary viii

E Pluribus Unum—Out of Many, One 1

Americanization 10

State and Local Governments:

Local leaders promoting integration 13

Community and Faith-based Organizations:

Frontline and national service providers 17

Public Libraries:

Reservoirs of community resources 20

Adult Educators:

Conduits for English and civics instruction 24

Business and the Private Sector:

Investment in immigrant workers is an 

investment in America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Foundations and Philanthropies:

Leaders in building community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Civic Organizations and Service Clubs:

Promoting democracy, patriotism, and service 34

Federal Government:

Coordinating a national strategy, providing 

technical expertise and resources 37

Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

 1. An Americanization Movement 

 for the Twenty-first Century 45

 2. Viewing Integration as a Two-way Street . . . . . . . .46

 3. Improved Legislation on Integration and Citizenship 46
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | vii

 4. Federal Celebration of Citizenship . . . . . . . . . . .47

 5. Federal Leadership on Integration . . . . . . . . . . .47

 6. Enhanced E-learning Tools for Adults 48

 7. Encouraging the Private Sector to 

 Promote Integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

 8. Mobilizing the Volunteer Community . . . . . . . . . .49

 9. Increasing Integration Stakeholders . . . . . . . . . .50

10. Broadened Analysis and 

 Evaluation of Integration 50

Appendix A: Executive Order 13404 51

Appendix B: Task Force and Technical Committee Members 53

Appendix C: Task Force Initiatives 56

Appendix D: Task Force Roundtables . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Appendix E: Participating Individuals and Organizations . . . . .60

Endnotes 64
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century viii |

Executive Summary

Immigrants from all over the world have been drawn for centuries 

to the United States, and their contributions continue to strengthen 

this great nation. Enriching our national character, immigrants 

bring vitality and optimism to both our economy and society. 

A nation based not on ethnicity, race, religion, or culture, the 

United States of America is a country in which people from every 

background come together to govern themselves in a political 

framework inclusive of all. 

Americans have embraced the opportunities and met the challenges 

associated with each successive wave of immigration. Several recent 

factors point to the need for a concerted national effort to ensure the 

successful assimilation of our current wave of immigrants. Today’s 

immigrants are coming to the United States in record numbers, 

from diverse countries of origin, and some are settling in new 

gateway communities without long immigrant-receiving traditions. 

These trends warrant action from all sectors of society to foster the 

integration of immigrants into American civic culture. All of us 

have a vested interest in reengaging and preserving the fundamental 

civic principles and values that bind immigrants and citizens alike. 

The result of such efforts builds universal attachment to America’s 

core civic values, strengthens social and political cohesion, and will 

help the United States continue to prosper as a nation of immigrants 

bound by an enduring promise of freedom grounded in democracy, 

liberty, equal opportunity, and respect for the rule of law. 

Recognizing a historic opportunity to emphasize the importance 

of immigrant integration, on June 7, 2006, President George W. 

Bush created by executive order the Task Force on New Americans 

(Task Force). The Task Force brought together a wide variety of 

federal agencies to strengthen the efforts of federal, state, and local 

agencies to help legal immigrants embrace the common core of 

American civic culture, learn our common language, and fully 

become Americans.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | ix

The efforts of the Task Force centered on the idea that assimilation is 

an opportunity to renew America’s political values and enrich communities by celebrating the bonds that unite us all. The Task Force 

was guided by two themes that have uniquely defined America’s 

immigration experience: 

• Diversity within Unity: Diversity makes America 

strong, but unity keeps America successful. In 

advocating patriotic assimilation, the Task Force 

refers to a unifying civic identity that respects 

diversity, including individual religious and cultural traditions, but does not use these elements 

to define the identity of the political community. 

American identity is political and is composed of 

three key elements: 1) embracing the principles 

of American democracy; 2) identifying with U.S. 

history; and 3) communicating in English.

• Citizenship Is an Identity: Citizenship is an identity and 

not simply a benefit. Feeling and being perceived 

as part of the political community is an important 

indicator of a person’s integration into a society. 

Within these guiding themes and with respect for the successful 

immigrant integration efforts already under way in many sectors of 

society, the Task Force met with representatives throughout the country to learn from their experiences. Roundtables were held with state 

and local governments, community and faith-based organizations, 

public libraries, adult educators, foundations and philanthropies, business and the private sector, civic organizations and service clubs, and 

the federal government. These groups and others formed the backbone of the previous Americanization movement and have significant 

expertise with innovative programs for integrating immigrants.

As a result of roundtable discussions, site visits, and the collective 

experience and research of Task Force members, the Task Force on 

New Americans recommends strengthening assimilation efforts 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century x |

across the nation and among all sectors of society. The integration 

efforts described in this report are a federal call to action that defines 

a modern-day Americanization movement.

The diversity and dynamism of our growing population has made 

America strong, and the bonds of citizenship have kept us united 

as a nation. Recognizing that assimilation efforts have only recently 

received renewed attention at a time of great migration to the United 

States, the Task Force makes ten recommendations to strengthen 

integration efforts. Taken together, these recommendations build 

the strategic framework for a national movement to integrate immigrants and ensure that as America’s diversity increases, so does its 

unity of political purpose.

The Task Force on New Americans calls for the following:

1. An Americanization Movement for the Twentyfirst Century

2. Viewing Integration as a Two-way Street

3. Improved Legislation on Integration and 

Citizenship

4. Federal Celebration of Citizenship

5. Federal Leadership on Integration

6. Enhanced E-learning Tools for Adults 

7. Encouraging the Private Sector to Promote 

Integration 

8. Mobilizing the Volunteer Community 

9. Increasing Integration Stakeholders

10. Broadened Analysis and Evaluation of Integration
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 1

E Pluribus Unum—Out Of Many, One

America has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We are 

bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us 

above our interests and teach us what it means to be citizens. 

Every child must be taught these principles. Every citizen must 

uphold them. And every immigrant, by embracing these ideals, 

makes our country more, not less, American.

President George W. Bush 

Inaugural Address, January 20, 2001

The United States has been since its founding, and continues to be, 

a nation of immigrants. Immigrants have been drawn for centuries 

to America’s promise of liberty and justice for all. Their quest for 

freedom helped define the founding chapters of America’s story, 

and their hope, courage, and ambition continue to strengthen this 

nation. Immigrants are great assets to America, bringing vitality 

and optimism to our economy and society. They build, renew, and 

enrich this great nation and our national character.

Within a distinctly American culture based on the political and civic 

ideals of our representative democracy, immigrants and native-born 

alike are called to uphold and pledge allegiance to foundational 

principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the 

Constitution of the United States.

With a long immigrant tradition, we as a nation have embraced the 

opportunities and met the challenges associated with each successive 

wave of immigration. The present wave is no exception. With immigrants increasingly coming from different countries of origin and 

settling in communities that lack a long history of receiving immigrants, citizens and immigrants alike should reengage the principles 

and values that bind us as Americans. Educating on these principles 

and providing opportunities for civic participation will ensure that 

the United States remains a successful nation and a home to immigrants who prosper and contribute to American society.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 2 |

In recognition of the need for effective and proactive immigrant integration efforts and to encourage channels for immigrants to enrich 

our political culture with their attachment to the United States, in 

June 2006 President George W. Bush created by executive order the 

Task Force on New Americans with the mandate to “help legal immigrants embrace the common core of American civic culture, learn 

our common language, and fully become Americans....”1 This effort 

is coordinated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and 

includes 19 other federal agencies. A major goal of this interagency 

Task Force is to bolster integration-supporting activities practiced by 

a wide variety of entities nationwide and to develop and enhance 

innovative initiatives and partnerships. 

There is much discussion in the field of immigration studies about 

the terms integration and assimilation. Some use integration to imply cultural pluralism and diversity, while others use assimilation to refer to a 

group’s adoption of another’s values. Without proper context, both 

understandings are flawed. Integration cannot simply imply accommodation and multiculturalism without a unifying component. 

Assimilation cannot imply a one-way street. 

The Task Force uses assimilation to refer to the process of embracing 

shared political principles, which exemplify democratic traditions 

and build a sense of community and common identity as Americans. 

In the United States, there are both cultural and political spheres. 

The cultural sphere—traditions, religion—is up to the individual. 

The Task Force focuses on the shared common identity that binds us 

as Americans in the political sphere. The work of the Task Force and 

of the federal government concerns not cultural but political assimilation, a term we use interchangeably with integration.2

 Assimilation 

is the notion that shared political principles, including the principles 

of democracy, in the United States bind together immigrants and 

citizens from different cultures.3 The three components of political 

integration are embracing the principles of American democracy, 

identifying with U.S. history, and communicating in English. 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 3

In his May 2006 Oval Office speech on immigration reform, 

President Bush called attention to assimilation as a key component 

in a comprehensive reform strategy: “The success of our country depends upon helping newcomers assimilate into our society, 

and embrace our common identity as Americans. Americans are 

bound together by our shared ideals, an appreciation of our history, 

respect for the flag we fly, and an ability to speak and write the 

English language.”4

President Bush and the administration support reform addressing 

five pillars of the immigration system: 1) border control; 2) legal 

temporary work; 3) domestic enforcement; 4) bringing illegal 

immigrants out of the shadows; and 5) helping new immigrants 

assimilate into American society.5 This final pillar is the mandate 

of the Task Force and the focus of this report, which draws lessons 

from the Americanization movement of the early twentieth century 

and presents recommendations from the Task Force’s examination of 

immigrant integration practices in the United States today. 

In the early 1900s, when the percentage of foreign-born in 

the United States was at its high point, there was a national 

Americanization movement that worked to assimilate immigrants 

into America. This movement faded when anti-immigrant sentiment 

precipitated a series of laws in the 1920s to severely limit immigration. These national origins quotas remained in effect until 1965, 

and immigrants during this period became a small and decreasing 

minority in the United States. While the integration of immigrants 

in the early 1900s is often romanticized, immigrants’ declining proportion over those forty years facilitated their assimilation.

However, as immigrants increase their proportional share of the 

American population, the rationale for assimilation efforts becomes 

stronger. Between 1966 and 2008, the U.S. population grew from 

200 million to 300 million people.6 Immigrants and their U.S.-born 

children account for 55 percent of that growth.7 In 1990, 7.9 percent 

of the country was foreign-born, compared with 12.5 percent in 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 4 |

2006.8 Immigrants are projected to continue coming to the United 

States at a steady rate. Between 2020 and 2025, the proportion of 

foreign-born in the United States is projected to surpass the previous 

century’s peak of 14 percent, and by 2050, the foreign-born population is projected to reach 19 percent.9

The Path to Citizenship

An immigrant needs first to become a lawful permanent 

resident (LPR) for a period of years before being eligible 

to naturalize. Over the past few decades the annual 

average of LPR flow to the United States has grown 

steadily. Since 1998 the United States has averaged 

about 900,000 new LPRs a year, with more than 1 million in the last few years (see Figure 1.1).

10 More than 

half of new LPRs already lived in the United States when 

they were granted legal permanent residence.

11

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

Figure 1.1 Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) Flow: 

Fiscal Years 1998-2007

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Computer Linked Application 

Information Management System (CLAIMS), Legal Immigrant Data
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 5

While immigrants may remain in LPR status indefinitely, 

many consider this status to be the starting point to 

citizenship. In 2005, the number of naturalized citizens 

in the United States exceeded the number of LPRs for 

the first time in twenty-five years.

12 The Census Bureau’s 

2006 American Community Survey showed that the 

United States was home to 15.8 million naturalized 

citizens—a historic high. Since 1998, the United States 

has averaged more than 630,000 naturalizations per 

year (see Figure 1.2). Most recently, 1.4 million naturalization applications were filed in fiscal year 2007, a near 

doubling of applications from 2006.

13

Most of America’s previous immigration waves since the colonial 

era comprised Europeans. More recent immigrants are coming in greater numbers from Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the 

Caribbean (see Figures 1.3 and 1.4). While immigrants continue to 

settle in established gateways such as New York City, Chicago, and 

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

Figure 1.2 Persons Naturalized: Fiscal Years 1998-2007

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, N-400 naturalization data 

for persons aged 18 and over
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 6 |

Los Angeles, they are increasingly developing roots in the South, 

West, and outside of city centers—many in communities without 

long-standing immigrant traditions (see Figure 1.5). This migration is more complex because it involves people from new countries 

of origin locating in new places dispersed across the United States. 

Many communities must now adapt to changing demographics.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that America will be a nation of 

minorities without a dominant racial or ethnic group by 2042. By 

mid-century, whites, 67 percent of the population in 2005, will 

comprise roughly 47 percent, with Hispanics at 29 percent, blacks at 

13 percent, and Asians at 9 percent.14

Recognizing the early trends, the bipartisan U.S. Commission 

on Immigration Reform in 1997 called for a modern-day 

Americanization movement that would uphold American unity 

through a shared understanding and practice of the values enshrined 

Figure 1.3 Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) Flow by 

Country of Birth: Fiscal Year 2007

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Computer 

Linked Application Information Management System (CLAIMS), 

Legal Immigrant Data

148,640

76,655

72,596

65,353

33,187

30,405

22,405

29,104

28,691

28,024

Cuba

Korea

Dominican Republic

Vietnam

Colombia

Haiti

China, People’s Republic of

Philippines

India

Mexico
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 7

in the U.S. Constitution, as well as emphasis on communication in a 

common language. 

Americanization is the process of integration by which immigrants 

become part of our communities and by which our communities and the nation learn from and adapt to their presence. 

Americanization means the civic incorporation of immigrants; this 

is the cultivation of a shared commitment to the American values of 

liberty, democracy and equal opportunity.15

The interconnection of immigration trends and the need to preserve 

the principles upon which the United States was founded motivate the 

work of the Task Force. Rapid demographic change within the United 

States coupled with new settlement patterns require redoubled efforts 

from all sectors of society working in concert to foster the integration 

of immigrants into American civic culture. Such efforts work to build 

universal attachment to America’s core values and can bolster civic 

cohesion. The risk of marginalized or fragmented enclaves can create 

122,258

46,871

38,830

33,134

27,921

20,645

12,314

17,628

17,157

15,394

Figure 1.4 Persons Naturalized by Country of Birth: 

Fiscal Year 2007

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, N-400 naturalization 

data for persons aged 18 and over

Jamaica

Cuba

El Salvador

Korea

Dominican Republic

Vietnam

China, People’s Republic of

Philippines

India

Mexico
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 8 |

social tension in the short term and may ultimately threaten to undermine the very fabric of values and principles that unite all Americans. 

The Task Force believes, as many Americans did 100 years ago and 

as the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform highlighted in 1997, 

that the federal government should lead a national effort by working 

with all sectors of society to provide resources promoting citizenship, nurture the naturalization process, and help immigrants feel 

part of the larger American community. Given the issues associated 

with new settlement patterns and the emergence of new gateway communities, the need for a coordinated national integration 

strategy is even more pressing than at the time of the commission’s 

recommendations in 1997.

As we will soon surpass the early twentieth-century percentage of 

foreign-born, we must develop an Americanization movement for 

the twenty-first century. It should be based on shared political principles and foster a common civic identity. While immigration is a 

federal responsibility, immigrants do not settle in the federal sphere, 

but rather in cities and local communities. Recognizing that community groups play the primary role in integrating immigrants, the 

Task Force’s recommendations address how the federal government 

can better align its policies and programs to support and enhance 

these groups’ efforts in a comprehensive and strategic way. 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 9 Traditional immigrant gateways New immigrant gateways with faster growth than traditional gateways Figure 1.5 States Ranked by Percent Change in the Foreign-Born Population: 2000 to 2006 Source: Migration Policy Institute – Estimates from U.S. Census Bureau 2000 U.S. Decennial Census and 2006 American Community Survey

Note: The U.S. Census Bureau uses the term foreign-born to refer to anyone who is not a U.S. citizen at birth. This includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (immigrants), temporary migrants (such as foreign students), humanitarian migrants (such as refugees), and persons illegally present in the United States.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 10 |

Americanization

The first coordinated Americanization movement grew out of the 

immigration waves of the early twentieth century. The settlement 

of these new immigrants fueled a burgeoning sense of change and 

added urgency to social challenges in communities. This political 

environment led to efforts to help immigrants become civic-minded 

and participatory citizens.16

In addition to major urban hubs, immigrants settled then, as now, 

in many cities and towns without long immigrant traditions. Today, 

immigrants from all continents are settling in record numbers in 

every U.S. state. 

The Americanization movement took many forms and developed 

through formal and informal initiatives. Presidents Theodore 

Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson traveled the country engaging 

immigrant audiences and promoting the values of American citizenship. Their cabinet officials and representatives from government 

agencies spoke out with equal vigor. Rallies, conferences, and meetings on citizenship took place in towns and cities across the United 

States. It was an institutionalized and quintessentially American 

movement that relied on civil society.17

The Americanization movement of the twentieth century was furthered by a unique combination of sectors in American society 

working together under an inclusive message backed by the federal 

government. In addition to government agencies, the movement 

included patriotic organizations, schools, libraries, community organizations, faith-based organizations, civic groups, and others. The groups’ 

close interaction with the community, their organizational capacity, 

membership, and devotion to a greater patriotic cause enabled them to 

make a significant contribution to the Americanization movement. 

Recalling these elements, the Task Force on New Americans traveled the country to convene a series of roundtable discussions with 

diverse sectors of society that have a role in engaging immigrant 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 11

communities today.18 These meetings highlighted what various sectors are doing on the integration front directly, what practices work 

effectively, and how the federal government can better coordinate 

and support the groups that impact immigrant integration or have 

the potential to engage on this issue in a more proactive form. 

The roundtables focused on eight sectors of American society: 1) 

state and local governments; 2) community and faith-based organizations; 3) public libraries; 4) adult educators; 5) business and the 

private sector; 6) foundations and philanthropies; 7) civic organizations and service clubs; and 8) the federal government.

The qualities that made these sectors relevant partners in the early 

twentieth century remain valid today. State and local governments 

develop policies and programs that affect immigrants and provide 

access to benefits and mechanisms for participation. Community 

and faith-based organizations, as experienced or informal service 

providers, are in close contact with immigrant communities. Public 

libraries are model American institutions, free and open to all, that 

fulfill an immigrant’s need for information and learning. Education 

professionals teach adult immigrants English and civics. Business 

groups and private employers can offer monetary and in-kind 

resources as well as workplace training programs. Foundations and 

philanthropic organizations can offer their leadership, financial 

resources, and strategic guidance to community and national programs. Civic organizations and service clubs provide outreach and 

bring communities together through service. With its national reach, 

the federal government has the ability to bring groups together 

under one strategy with a common and inclusive message.

Before traveling across the United States, the Task Force met with 

think tanks, academics, and immigrant-serving organizations to 

discuss the theoretical and policy foundation for a renewed integration strategy. These organizations inform policy making by offering 

research and analysis of the complex dynamics that affect immigrant 

integration. The discussion helped shape the subsequent roundtables 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 12 |

by providing insights into the challenges immigrants face and the 

array of stakeholders with a role to play in immigrant integration. 

Think tanks and academic institutions both nationally and locally 

will continue to play a crucial role informing policy makers and 

stakeholders involved in an Americanization movement.

The following pages highlight the contributions of the various sectors to immigrant integration and accent the unique attributes that 

each sector can bring to a national strategy. The roundtable discussions provided significant information and examples of promising 

practices for this report. Additionally, the Task Force hosted outreach 

events and site visits with community organizations in various cities 

in the United States to collect its own data and observations. These 

activities, together with the collective experiences of the Task Force 

and its leading agencies, informed the concluding recommendations.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 13

State and Local Governments

Local leaders promoting integration

State and local governments are essential players in a national integration strategy. They can build consensus on the need for proactive 

integration policy by drawing support from other sectors and the 

federal government on immigrant integration to reinvigorate communities and promote civic participation among all residents.

Immigrant settlement patterns have quickly changed the demographic makeup of many states and localities, resulting in uneven 

challenges for local elected leaders across the country. The pace of 

change affects policies, budgets, law enforcement, education, and 

health care, to name a few.19 In recent years, state and local governments have increased their focus on immigration issues. Forty-four 

U.S. states have considered more than 1,100 immigration-related 

bills in the first quarter of 2008 alone.20 While the majority of legislation proposed in early 2008 pertained to law enforcement and 

identification measures (e.g., ID cards, employment verification), 

its sheer volume makes clear that current immigration patterns 

affect how immigrants are welcomed and perceived in states and 

local communities.21

State and local governments have begun to devise approaches to 

foster immigrant integration. Some have created small advisory 

panels, formal or informal, to offer guidance and recommendations 

on issues that impact immigrants. One initiative found in several 

regions is to create commissions or offices that represent immigrant 

groups. These commissions provide policy recommendations and 

also serve as formal liaisons between an immigrant community and 

the government. One particular function is to promote and celebrate 

the immigrants’ contributions in that state and community, thereby 

highlighting examples of successful integration. Commissions maintain open channels of communication with immigrants and help 

them understand how government functions and how communities 

are built and sustained.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 14 |

In other cases, government agencies have established programs—

some with federal support—to help immigrants learn English and 

acquire the skills necessary to be part of the community. The New 

Arkansan Resource Network, supported by the U.S. Department 

of Labor (DOL) through a demonstration research grant and located within local One-Stop Career Centers, provides referrals 

and resource information on language and occupational training, 

resettlement assistance, civics and citizenship preparation including 

legal assistance, and other community-based services for immigrants 

and other newcomers. The New Iowans Centers are similar workforce development initiatives receiving grants funds from DOL that 

provide both referral and direct services, such as technology-based 

literacy training, job placement, interpretations and translations, and 

immigration assistance.22 The educational component of these “New 

Americans Centers” targets not only individuals and families, but 

also employers and the community at large, promoting integration 

as a two-way street.

Some cities also facilitate English and citizenship services for 

immigrants within existing agencies or by partnering with 

community organizations. Phoenix, Arizona, for example, offers English classes and orientation services to lawful permanent 

residents as part of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 

Development HOPE VI program. The city partnered with a local 

nonprofit organization, and a community college provided teachers and educational resources for the program. States and cities 

are well positioned to streamline and coordinate their immigrantserving programs to increase program effectiveness and improve 

immigrants’ access to services.

A number of states have established New Americans 

offices to lead the development of immigrant integration policies and better coordinate the work of state 

agencies that have a stake in the issue. Illinois’s 

Office of New Americans Policy and Advocacy “aims to 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 15

help immigrants enter the mainstream more quickly.”23

The office coordinates policies and programs to help 

immigrants fully assimilate to the state, to provide 

improved services, and to study the impact of immigration policy in the state. Illinois also established three 

consultative and planning bodies to provide direction 

and support to the office.

Much like state governments, a number of cities have created offices 

that facilitate the integration of immigrants into the local community. Boston, Massachusetts, established the Mayor’s Office of New 

Bostonians to—among other things—assist immigrant communities 

in understanding how the city works and how to access city services. 

The office supports English for New Bostonians classes and provides 

immigration clinics around the city. Other large cities have similar 

offices or consultative bodies on new Americans issues. For example 

in Houston, Texas, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee 

Affairs, established in 2001, works to facilitate a smoother transition for immigrants by providing access to benefits and encouraging 

citizenship and civic participation.24

In traditional immigration states such as California, New York, and 

Illinois, state and local government agencies have many years of 

experience managing immigrant orientation programs at public 

schools, libraries, and other educational institutions. The experiences of these states can significantly contribute to program 

development in other states with less experience in receiving 

immigrants. Despite the encouraging number of promising practices, there is a need for wider dissemination of lessons learned. 

The National Governors Association, National Conference of State 

Legislatures, and National League of Cities are vehicles to highlight promising practices and address challenges in a collaborative 

atmosphere; however, they also have many competing priorities in 

addition to immigrant integration.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 16 |

Recognizing the responsibility of state and local agencies in providing direct services and establishing policies at the community 

level, the Task Force supports the expansion of existing integration efforts by building a national infrastructure linking federal, 

state, and local authorities and other sectors of society. Because of 

the close proximity and political accountability of state and local 

governments to the issue, their leadership and consensus-building 

attributes are critical to implement an Americanization strategy for 

the twenty-first century.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 17

Community and Faith-based Organizations

Frontline and national service providers

Community and faith-based organizations have been the primary 

service providers to immigrants for generations. Going back to early 

twentieth-century settlement houses, which provided social and 

educational opportunities to new arrivals, these organizations have 

extensive experience integrating immigrants. They also have unparalleled access and expert knowledge of the situation immigrants 

face as they integrate. With models that provide workforce and civics 

training, English language acquisition, and citizenship preparation, 

community and faith-based organizations serve immigrants by offering resources and training in familiar community settings. With 

many recent immigrants coming from cultures that are mistrustful 

of government and other formal institutions, a place to reach those 

immigrants, build trust, and foster learning about services and citizenship is where they are most comfortable—a place of worship or 

local community organization.

Community and faith-based organizations comprise a wide range of 

institutions serving diverse populations. Some organizations work 

within a particular ethnic community, while others work on specific 

issue areas, such as providing immigrants access to health care or 

legal assistance and case management. Some are large community 

service providers hosting multiple services under one roof. Some 

are volunteer driven, while others have nationwide networks with 

professional staff delivering services, legal aid, and research. Catholic 

Charities, one of the largest national network service providers, 

offers support services and educational programs for immigrants. 

This organization works in coordination with U.S. Citizenship and 

Immigration Services (USCIS) in many jurisdictions. In Denver, 

Colorado, for example, Catholic Charities implemented a program to 

bring USCIS officials into churches and community centers to meet 

immigrants and educate them about the naturalization process. The 

Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), founded in 1881, offers a 

wide range of integration and refugee resettlement services, working 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 18 |

internationally and in partnership with governments. HIAS is credited with aiding in the resettlement of more than 4 million people 

to the United States, including such notable Americans as former 

Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Liberty’s Promise is a Virginia-based community 

organization supporting immigrant youth in the greater 

Washington, DC, metropolitan area by fostering their 

development as active and participatory American citizens. Liberty’s Promise teaches democratic traditions 

and encourages youth engagement in civic life through 

innovative partnerships and an internship program to 

place students in government, the media, nonprofit 

organizations, and businesses. Since 2005, Liberty’s 

Promise has served more than 125 youth from thirtyeight countries.

In 2007, the Task Force on New Americans visited another organization—the International Institute of Boston (IIB). Founded 

in 1924, IIB is emblematic of a traditional community organization that has assisted immigrants in the United States since the 

first great wave of immigration. IIB provides an array of services, 

such as English and literacy courses and a Citizenship Preparatory 

Program for students with low-level English skills, to a diverse immigrant community in several New England cities. Other ongoing 

services include legal assistance and workforce development. All 

services and programs are geared to “giving clients the tools to 

help themselves become active participants in the social, political 

and economic richness of American life.”25

Many of these organizations have frameworks for their community 

services that can be adjusted depending on a region’s immigrant 

flow and funding. They are eager to work and coordinate with the 

private sector—especially given that many serve as the social and 

community hub for immigrants outside the workplace. The work 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 19

of community and faith-based organizations often coincides with 

that of state and local governments, educators, and other groups. For 

example, adult educators often partner with community organizations to teach classes at their facilities. Community and faith-based 

organizations are well placed to expand cooperation beyond these 

existing partnerships to other sectors.

Since community and faith-based organizations are already linked to 

important sectors and have significant experience in community integration, the Task Force advocates better coordination among them 

in order to share promising practices and enhance the reach of their 

programs. Government can actively facilitate this coordination and 

draw on the expertise of community and faith-based organizations 

in developing integration policy and programs. 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 20 |

Public Libraries

Reservoirs of community resources

Libraries played a formative role in the first Americanization movement and can continue to do so. Leaders and philanthropists of the 

Progressive Era promoted the library as a space for public instruction, in particular for new immigrants. Today, as immigrants settle 

in record numbers in new gateway communities, the potential of 

public libraries is evident. They are again welcoming immigrants, 

providing information on resources the library community has 

available, offering services and classroom instruction, and serving as 

community centers. 

Libraries offer many pragmatic advantages for immigrants. They possess facilities, study resources, technology, programming, and a cadre 

of staff trained to serve the community. Libraries also convey a symbolic message of welcome. Alongside schools, town halls, and places of 

worship, libraries are iconic institutions of an American community.

Many libraries serve as focal points for literacy development for 

people of all ages. Most libraries carry English and civics collections 

for the independent learner. Many go beyond this to offer tailored 

programs for immigrants, including multigenerational initiatives, 

English classes, community orientation sessions, and citizenship 

preparation workshops. Sixty percent of urban libraries in a recent 

survey reported having active programs to teach English to immigrants, and 40 percent reported hosting citizenship classes.26

Two-thirds of libraries also had specially trained staff and volunteers 

to reach out to immigrant communities and educate them about 

library resources. Strong anecdotal evidence suggests that public 

libraries beyond the urban centers surveyed are following a similar 

trend and developing programs for their immigrant constituents.

Examples of growing engagement can be seen in both urban and rural 

library systems in new immigrant destinations, particularly in the 

South. Many library systems have partnered with local community 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 21

organizations to target different segments of the population and serve 

immigrants through Spanish language outreach and international 

centers, among other programs. The Public Library of Charlotte 

and Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, a leading new immigrant destination, serves the immigrant population in this fashion. 

In partnership with a community organization, the library’s World 

Language Center runs the Citizen-to-Be Project, a literacy program for 

adult English as a Second Language (ESL) students working toward 

U.S. citizenship. The Minneapolis Public Library and the St. Paul Public 

Library also exemplify the leadership role libraries can play in new 

immigrant destinations. With a celebratory message of immigrants’ 

contributions to the Twin Cities, both library systems have developed 

community outreach programs to familiarize immigrants with the 

libraries’ resources, which include English literacy services. 

In traditional immigrant destinations such as New York City, Los 

Angeles, Miami, Houston, and Chicago, libraries have considerable experience working with immigrant populations of all ages. 

Significant among them is New York’s Queens Borough Public 

Library System and its New American Program, which develops 

collection policies and coordinates immigrant-tailored programs 

throughout the entire system. 

The American Place, a program of the Hartford Public 

Library, offers dedicated English language and citizenship services to a diverse immigrant community. The 

goal of the program is to help immigrants adjust to life 

in America while enabling them to make contributions to 

the community. The program has developed an extensive collection of self-study English language tools and 

offers a series of English classes throughout the year.

The program also organizes citizenship orientations 

and monthly citizenship classes to help participants 

navigate the naturalization process. The American Place 

staff has developed an extensive network of partners in 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 22 |

the community that allowed it to establish an advisory 

commission of community stakeholders to forge an immigrant integration strategy for Hartford.

The American Library Association (ALA) recently established an initiative to support services for immigrants 

called The American Dream Starts @ Your Library. Under 

the premise that “for generations, the public library 

has been the cornerstone of the American dream,” 

the program provided seed grants for 34 libraries to 

develop immigrant-focused initiatives, including expanding English literacy and fostering outreach in immigrant 

communities. Many of the libraries are in states that 

are receiving immigrants in record numbers. The 

initiative also includes an online toolkit with materials, 

resources, information, and impact stories on library 

programs for immigrants. Libraries entrepreneurially 

use these small grants to create new outreach and 

educational programs for the community. To support the 

project, ALA received a two-year grant from the Dollar 

General Literacy Foundation, which has supported 

literacy and education efforts nationwide through such 

multisector partnerships for more than ten years.

In addition to serving as gathering places for community members, 

libraries have an inherent function as the repository of materials and 

resources for the local community. This is a particular benefit to the 

collection of English language and civic literacy materials. Libraries 

house a diverse range of self-study tools that may be of interest to 

immigrants but may be too costly for individual purchase. Libraries 

are also key facilitators for immigrants developing their English 

skills through organized classroom sessions or informal discussion groups. As community institutions with unique resources and 

trained staff, libraries are adept at attracting immigrants and partnering with various organizations to expand outreach initiatives. 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 23

Libraries should be empowered and supported in their efforts to 

promote immigrant integration within communities. They should 

also be included in any programs created by state and local governments. The ability of public libraries to participate in innovative 

collaborations is an advantage to be strongly considered in any 

Americanization strategy. 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 24 |

Adult Educators

Conduits for English and civics instruction

Recognizing the importance of the ability to speak and communicate in English for full participation in American civic life, President 

Bush emphasized the need for opportunities for immigrants to learn 

English in the creation of the Task Force on New Americans.

Speaking, reading, and writing basic English is a requirement to 

pass the naturalization test. One recent study reported that about 

half of legal residents (an estimated 5.8 million people) in the 

United States need English instruction before they can pass the 

test.27 Teachers and volunteer tutors in adult education programs 

across the country are a primary source of ESL, civics, and citizenship instruction for adult immigrants. 

The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), administered through the U.S. Department of Education (ED), represents 

the largest federal investment in adult education. Under AEFLA, 

Congress currently provides $554 million in formula grants to 

states. This amount includes a set-aside of nearly $67 million 

for the English Literacy and Civics (EL/C) Education program. 

States have the flexibility to prioritize how funds will be spent to 

meet the needs of their target populations and can target varying 

amounts of funds to serve the needs of English language learners. 

States are required to provide a 25 percent match of nonfederal 

funds but actually contributed almost $1.6 billion, or 74 percent, 

in nonfederal funds to the program in 2007. 

More than 3,100 local adult education programs across the nation are funded under AEFLA.28 These local programs provide 

basic education, including ESL and EL/C education services, to 

eligible adults. More than 1.2 million of the 2.4 million adults 

served by AEFLA nationwide during program year 2006–07 were 

enrolled in ESL education.29 Local AEFLA providers include school 

districts, community colleges, and community and faith-based 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 25

organizations. The AEFLA teaching workforce comprises full- and 

part-time paid staff as well as volunteer tutors.

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has 

a strong regional focus on adult education. In addition to organizing classroom instruction throughout its 

jurisdiction, LAUSD is a pioneer in distance learning.

LAUSD developed an online ESL course to expand access to ESL services. In a recent report, the National 

Commission on Adult Literacy called for strong national 

leadership to develop and deploy technology-assisted 

learning, including the creation of a national Web portal 

for adult learners.

30

LAUSD’s wide-ranging programs are possible in part because California is one of several states that contributes 

significant state funds to supplement the federal grant 

dollars it receives for adult education. California receives 

the largest AEFLA grant—$80 million in 2007. The state 

supplements this federal funding with more than $500 

million to meet its adult education needs.

Limited comprehensive data are available on adult educators’ 

(including both teachers and volunteer tutors) pre-service and 

in-service preparation. Available data31 suggest that adult educators come from diverse professional backgrounds. While adult 

ESL educators might logically be expected to possess some degree 

of familiarity with language acquisition topics such as morphology, syntax, and phonetics, it is less realistic to expect that they 

also possess adequate training on how best to teach U.S. history, 

government, or civic values. Further professional development in 

these areas can enhance their ability to effectively impart political principles and promote attachment to the Constitution through 

English language instruction. 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 26 |

Technology can also be further harnessed to enhance the ability of 

adult educators to meet the English language and civics education 

needs of immigrants. Online professional development is now available for educators looking to incorporate civics into their ESL courses 

through a joint USCIS/ED project, EL/Civics Online.32 ED also provides 

online access to professional development materials through its Center 

for Adult English Language Acquisition (CAELA) and CAELA Network 

projects. Continued coordination among adult educators and immigrant stakeholders can expand both the access to and utility of such 

tools. Resources should continue to be devoted to expanding the reach 

of such educational materials through technology. 

Additionally, professional organizations can be enlisted as partners to help create and disseminate appropriate resources for adult 

educators. Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages 

(TESOL), for example, is a professional association for educators that provides members an array of English language teaching 

resources and professional development opportunities. In recent 

years, TESOL has worked with USCIS to provide adult education instructors opportunities to learn more about teaching civics 

and citizenship to adult English language learners preparing for 

naturalization. An expert panel of TESOL members has also helped 

to improve USCIS resources for immigrants by advising USCIS on 

linguistic and cognitive-level indicators as well as current practices 

in teaching adults.

Support should continue for adult educators’ work in the classroom, with specific attention to the needs of educators in new 

immigrant destinations. Growth in the limited English proficient 

(LEP) population is correlated with the settlement of foreign-born 

in these new gateway states. While the national foreign-born LEP 

population grew 25 percent between 2000 and 2006, the LEP 

population in the new immigrant-receiving states of Alabama, 

Delaware, South Carolina, and South Dakota grew 60 percent 

over the same period.33 Like many local service providers, adult 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 27

educators in these new destination areas must develop the organizational infrastructure and capacity to meet the needs of increased 

numbers of English language learners. 

An unknown number of community and faith-based organizations 

and for-profit ventures also provide ESL and civics education services 

that are not publicly funded. Additionally, some states fund citizenship preparation courses not supported by the federal government. 

While federally funded adult education programs report enrollments 

and outcomes data annually through the central repository of the 

Department of Education’s National Reporting System, no such central 

repository exists for nonfederally funded adult education programs. 

Thus, no data are available on the numbers of individuals served or 

outcomes achieved in these nonfederally funded programs. 

In spite of this wide array of both federal and nonfederal adult education opportunities, there is evidence that demand for adult English 

language and civics education services remains high. Findings from 

the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy, as well as U.S. 

Census data, suggest that many more adults could benefit from 

English literacy education. 

Given this need, innovative approaches to increase immigrants’ 

access to quality English learning opportunities as well as adult 

educators’ access to pertinent civics education training can enhance 

the adult education system. Likewise, the continued development of 

innovative teaching methods and materials can increase our capacity to educate newcomers not only in English, but also in American 

political principles.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 28 |

Business and the Private Sector

Investment in immigrant workers is an investment in America

In many ways, the journey toward integration begins at the workplace. Like most Americans, many immigrants spend a significant 

amount of time at their place of work, at times holding more than 

one job. The private sector is often the focal point for first-generation 

immigrants, as many come to the United States in prime working 

age. A 2007 Council of Economic Advisors report noted that it is 

both uncontroversial and unsurprising that immigration has fueled U.S. macroeconomic growth and that on average, U.S. natives 

benefit from immigration.34 Encompassing individual companies, 

business groups, trade associations, and unions, America’s private 

sector can play a prominent role in nurturing immigrant workers’ 

settlement and integration. 

In the first half of this decade, immigrants accounted for one out 

of every seven workers in the United States.35 They represented 

50 percent of the growth of the labor force in the 1990s and 60 

percent between 2000 and 2004. Recent research suggests that segregation in American society is lowest at the workplace, and that 

when immigrants are asked where they feel most American, they 

cite the workplace.36 Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and 

manufacturing plants alike benefit greatly from immigrant workers at all levels of the labor spectrum. While many immigrants 

occupy low-wage jobs, they also make up a large proportion of 

highly skilled professionals in fields such as medicine, science, and 

technology.37 Through their employment, immigrants have the 

opportunity to interact with other foreign-born employees and 

native-born Americans alike.

Some businesses offer workplace English classes or provide selfstudy materials and technology-based resources for their employees 

to use at home—and with their families. Companies have begun 

to invest in comprehensive integration programs for immigrants 

as part of their existing workforce development programs. Such 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 29

programs provide an array of classes, ranging from English language and literacy to basic life skills and citizenship preparation. 

Some well-known examples come from the food service and hospitality industries, which employ a large number of immigrants. One 

such example is Wegmans, a grocery chain in the mid-Atlantic 

region, which provides a variety of opportunities for its immigrant 

employees, including English classes and a citizenship assistance 

program. These programs have been found to increase employee 

retention and provide immigrant workers with a sense of belonging to the company and the community, ultimately benefiting 

employers and employees alike.

The Task Force on New Americans visited the Life Skills 

Education Program at Disney University, part of the Walt 

Disney World Resort. The university serves as the training and education division for thousands of Walt Disney 

World employees, working with a significant number of 

immigrant employees at the company’s headquarters in 

central Florida. It provides ESL courses for employees 

with limited English proficiency and for adult learners 

who need to improve their literacy skills in their native 

language as well as in English. The Life Skills Education 

Program also offers Adult Basic Education, Pre-GED 

(General Educational Development), GED, and Basic 

Literacy I, II, and III. Disney supports employees seeking U.S. citizenship by offering a citizenship program to 

prepare them for naturalization.

Businesses willing to invest in their workforce and their community 

can be key to a national integration strategy. The private sector’s leadership, innovation, and resources should all be applied to integration 

efforts. Private sector leadership can have a strong and influential 

impact on new immigrants. Employers should encourage their employees to learn English and civics and provide support to help them 

navigate the immigration process.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 30 |

Many of the educational resources employers provide to their immigrant employees were developed by the private sector. Sed de Saber is 

one commercial product that firms utilize that teaches basic contextual vocabulary of a given vocation for take-home use by employees. 

Recognizing trends and the need for self-study materials, private enterprises can expand technology-based products to reach a broader 

audience of immigrant learners. By investing in the workforce, firms 

raise the skill level and competencies of employees and increase 

employee retention.

Employee organizations and unions have also developed programs 

for their members to encourage integration and provide assistance 

to immigrants. Local 1199 of the Service Employees International 

Union in New York conducts a free citizenship program for its 

members, which includes help with naturalization application 

forms, legal counseling, and instruction in English and civics. Union 

caseworkers have guided more than 5,000 immigrant members 

through the naturalization process since 2001.

The Lawrence Citizenship Initiative was developed in 

2008 by the owner of Lupoli Companies to provide 

citizenship assistance to his restaurant employees.

The initiative is named for the city of Lawrence, 

Massachusetts, known traditionally as “Immigrant City” 

because of a high percentage of foreign-born residents 

throughout its history. Bringing together city officials, 

local nonprofit groups, and a regional foundation, the 

pilot program provides employees with free legal aid, 

educational assistance, English language development, 

and coaching as they pursue U.S. citizenship. In the 

future, the program plans to incorporate the cost of 

classes and legal advice into employee contributions 

through a payroll deduction.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 31

In recent years, companies have increasingly recognized their role as 

corporate citizens and are looking for avenues to build community. 

While many companies are becoming involved, many more have yet 

to take the first step. Recognizing that many immigrants spend a considerable amount of time at the workplace, employers have a particular 

interest in helping immigrants successfully settle in their communities 

and can play an important role in an Americanization movement.

Immigrant integration can be viewed as a priority area for private 

sector investment that benefits and develops a community as well 

as improves conditions for workers and provides additional benefits for employers. In partnership and with the coordination from 

government and other sectors, the private sector can be encouraged 

to develop innovative new resources for immigrants using the latest 

information and mobile technology, refine training and workforce 

development programs, and develop policies and messages that 

encourage integration at the workplace. The private sector has the 

capability and creativity to establish effective educational and training resources for immigrants joining the workforce. Private sector 

enterprises also have specialized human resources experiences in 

workforce development and employer volunteer programs, two 

areas that hold great promise for a national movement. 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 32 |

Foundations and Philanthropies

Leaders in building community

Philanthropists in the early twentieth century led many broad social 

efforts. Andrew Carnegie, himself a Scottish immigrant, helped build 

more than 1,800 public libraries and founded many research and artistic 

institutions during his lifetime, and that effort continues today through 

the Carnegie Corporation. Many foundations include education and 

social welfare in their mission statements. With long traditions of social 

and community engagement, foundations can play a distinct role in 

establishing cooperative ventures to further integration and citizenship. 

With their independence, ability to marshal private resources, and 

stature in communities, foundations and philanthropies are powerful conveners and initiators of ideas and programs. The Foundation 

for The Carolinas brought together community leaders in response 

to its assessment that changing demographics in Charlotte, North 

Carolina, had created tensions between different communities. It 

initiated a project known as Crossroads Charlotte to bring the community together to devise, decide upon, and implement a proactive 

path for its future. The project involved local leaders, governments, 

foundations, the private sector, media, citizen volunteers, and others. 

The foundation was uniquely able to bring various sectors together 

around an innovative idea.

In 2005, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation 

created the American Dream Fund. This new fund 

brought Knight’s Immigrant Integration Initiative 

program to more than $13 million and involved other 

foundations and stakeholders in the determination of 

grants. Most recently, the foundation’s New Americans 

initiative focuses on moving immigrants into the 

mainstream of society by targeting foundation grant 

making toward citizenship programs and naturalization 

preparation. This initiative combines Knight’s financial 

resources and experience in capacity building with the 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 33

technical expertise and outreach potential of immigrantserving organizations and civic groups alongside the 

coordinating potential of government bodies.

Founded in 2004 by Paul Merage, a successful immigrant 

entrepreneur, the Merage Foundation for the American 

Dream is dedicated to promoting opportunities for immigrants in the United States. Each year the foundation 

provides fellowships to promising immigrant students 

graduating from college to help them develop leadership 

skills. The foundation also distributes a popular DVD 

series and lesson plans to schools to highlight immigrants’ contributions to the United States. The foundation 

broadly recognizes their contributions through national 

awards and hosting national fora on immigration issues.

Foundations and philanthropies also bring powerful networks to 

bear and are able to vet and share promising practices across the 

country. They are accustomed to working across multiple sectors and 

have the flexibility to partner with institutions and groups that reach 

beyond the government’s purview. The Grantmakers Concerned with 

Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR), an affinity group of the Council 

on Foundations, includes many of the country’s largest and most 

active foundations. Its national organization facilitates the sharing of 

promising practices and promotes dialogue with other sectors. With 

sponsorship from its members, GCIR provides technical assistance to 

foundations seeking to set up programs and helps leverage support on 

the issue. By sharing promising practices and partnering with other 

sectors, networks such as these greatly contribute to a foundation’s 

ability to pioneer innovative ideas in the integration realm.

Foundations and philanthropies are well-networked community 

leaders with expertise in capacity building, networking, and initiating new ideas. These community and national catalysts can promote 

policy and program experimentation in the field of integration and 

have mechanisms to share lessons learned throughout the nation.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 34 |

Civic Organizations and Service Clubs

Promoting democracy, patriotism, and service

Many civic organizations and service clubs formed the infrastructure 

of the earlier Americanization movement by organizing their members and volunteers around a patriotic call to action. Today, many 

of these groups are well suited to engage in the issue of immigrant 

integration. These groups have a membership that is by nature civic 

minded and volunteer driven. Most civic organizations and service 

clubs have long-standing traditions promoting service in the community and mobilizing communities to action by pooling resources and 

developing partnerships. Their organizational structure tends to reflect 

democratic values and principles through elections, committees, and 

leadership. Furthermore, civic organizations and service clubs have 

networks throughout the United States with the ability to reach immigrants in regions where community resources may be limited.

Given that many new gateway communities lack experience with 

immigrant integration, civic and service organizations’ broad 

networks throughout the country have a unique ability to engage 

immigrants when they first arrive and impart political principles 

through educational and networking programs. Rotary International, 

Lions Clubs International, Kiwanis International, and other serviceoriented groups have vast reach throughout the country and chapters 

around the world. Other organizations such as the Daughters of the 

American Revolution (DAR) and the American Legion have long 

been active in encouraging citizenship and have developed citizenship guides to educate immigrants on political principles. 

DAR has distributed more than 12 million copies of 

its Manual for Citizenship since it was first compiled in 

1921. DAR members, well known for distributing flags 

to schools and civic organizations, regularly attend 

naturalization ceremonies throughout the country to 

welcome and celebrate new citizens and promote their 

civic engagement. Since 1958, DAR has awarded the 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 35

Americanism Medal to a naturalized American citizen 

to highlight his or her contribution and role in further 

encouraging citizenship for other immigrants.

The League of Women Voters is another civic organization that works to integrate immigrants into American 

political culture. Many local leagues set up voter 

registration booths at naturalization ceremonies to 

register new citizens to vote as soon as they become 

eligible. This simple but effective program facilitates 

new Americans’ access to the political process, encourages them to exercise their civic responsibilities, and 

welcomes them into the community.

Service clubs are likely to respond to a patriotic call from government to work collectively to support integration and 

Americanization. They are uniquely capable of fostering civic 

engagement among immigrants with their standing and mentoring ability in communities. Engaging immigrants can be a natural 

complement to the mission of civic organizations and service clubs, 

which are strong supporters of fundamental constitutional principles 

and civics education. As these groups reach out to ethnic communities, they can further promote integration by incorporating new 

members into the mission of the larger organization. 

Since some service clubs may be new to integration issues, or have 

not worked with immigrants since the earlier Americanization 

movement, service clubs may need initial support from other sectors 

involved in integration efforts. For example, training resources and 

technical assistance developed by other integration stakeholders and 

the federal government can assist service organizations and their 

members looking to establish programs. Broadening the dialogue 

will allow these civic-minded organizations to join with other community and national stakeholders to discuss integration and begin to 

factor integration issues into their organizational agendas.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 36 |

In spring 2008, the American Legion National Executive 

Committee adopted a resolution in support of the Task 

Force on New Americans by encouraging its more than 

14,000 American Legion posts to foster immigrant assimilation by providing classroom space and instruction 

in English, civics, and U.S. history to legal immigrants 

seeking U.S. citizenship.

Civitan International is a worldwide association of 

local community service clubs founded in 1917 to 

build good citizenship by serving individual and community needs. The name Civitan derives from the Latin 

word for citizenship. The Civitan International World 

Headquarters recently sponsored the creation of a new 

club in Birmingham, Alabama, to assist legal immigrants 

preparing for U.S. citizenship. Over the last decade, the 

state of Alabama has seen tremendous growth in its 

foreign-born population, making it one of the fastest 

growing immigrant gateways in the United States.

In many ways, civic organizations and service clubs are the community-level catalysts for civic engagement and the keepers of 

democratic traditions. Leading by example, their respected membership can influence and set the agenda in communities. Immigrant 

participants have the opportunity to engage with civic organizations 

and forge social bonds, learn about the United States and its traditions, and develop an attachment to the community.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 37

Federal Government

Coordinating a national strategy, providing technical expertise and resources

Immigration is the responsibility of the federal government, but 

integration occurs in communities, not in the federal sphere. The 

federal government, however, still has responsibilities to support 

and enhance activities and programs by:

• Promoting a common civics-based vision of 

American identity to immigrants and citizens 

alike, and using the bully pulpit and standing of 

the federal government to deliver the message;

• Developing and disseminating educational 

resources on English language and civics to 

immigrants and organizations that work with 

immigrants;

• Providing technical resources and training for 

immigrant educators, service providers, and state 

and local officials;

• Recognizing and supporting promising practices 

by coordinating across sectors; and

• Providing leadership for a national integration 

movement.

President Bush and congressional leaders recognized the need 

for strengthening assimilation when they created the Office of 

Citizenship within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 

2003. The federal government’s first office for immigrant integration, the Office of Citizenship works as a public education and 

outreach office. Its activities include providing outreach on citizenship rights, responsibilities, and requirements and providing 

orientation information for newcomers; developing educational 

products and increasing the accessibility and availability of study 

tools and materials; creating a repository of citizenship education 

materials that are standardized, useful, and trustworthy; organizing training opportunities for teachers and volunteers who 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 38 |

teach history and government to immigrants; and celebrating the 

meaning of citizenship. The work of the Office of Citizenship addresses several recommendations made by the U.S. Commission on 

Immigration Reform in 1997.

To aid in training adult educators who teach English and civics to 

new immigrants, the Office of Citizenship, in partnership with the 

U.S. Department of Education, has developed the Web-based electronic training module EL/Civics Online for volunteers and adult 

educators, which includes courses and materials in the following 

content areas: U.S. history, U.S. government, civic engagement, 

and the naturalization process. This online training supplements 

resources available to adult educators through the U.S. Department 

of Education funded CAELA.38 The Office of Citizenship has also 

organized several training sessions nationwide to help educators refine their skills and prepare instructors and volunteers for 

teaching American history, civics, and the naturalization process to 

immigrant students.

President Bush created the Task Force on New Americans in the 

summer of 2006. The Task Force brings together an array of federal 

agencies with competencies that touch on immigrant integration. The flagship project of the Task Force is WelcometoUSA.gov, 

a comprehensive Web portal providing new immigrants and 

immigrant-receiving communities with information on a range of 

topics and useful search engines to find English classes and volunteer opportunities and to learn about American civic culture. The 

Task Force also initiated the New Americans Project in partnership 

with the White House Office of USA Freedom Corps in 2007. This 

project seeks to encourage volunteerism among both U.S. citizens 

and new immigrants by launching a zip code-based search engine 

to locate volunteer opportunities, a public service campaign to 

promote volunteer service, and presidential recognition of outstanding volunteers working to help immigrants learn English and 

learn about the United States. 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 39

Led by the Office of Citizenship, the Task Force created the Civics 

and Citizenship Toolkit. With a variety of educational materials to help 

immigrants learn about the United States, the Toolkit has been 

distributed to nearly 6,000 public libraries nationwide. With more 

immigrants settling outside of traditional immigrant gateways, it 

is important that all public libraries be equipped with resources to 

assist their integration. Beginning in 2008, the Toolkit’s availability was expanded to include all immigrant-serving organizations 

across America. To date, the Task Force has distributed more than 

15,000 Toolkits. 

Other federal agencies also lead programs that work to integrate immigrants and facilitate their access to information and services. For 

example, the U.S. Department of the Treasury offers resources for 

immigrants, including information published in other languages to 

improve accessibility. Understanding the need for greater financial 

literacy among immigrants, the department’s Office of Financial 

Education has compiled a Spanish language directory of resources 

from government agencies on savings, credit, housing, and banking. 

The department also supports the Spanish version of MyMoney.gov, 

the U.S. government’s Web site dedicated to teaching all Americans 

the basics of personal finance.

As the nation’s consumer protection agency, the Federal Trade 

Commission (FTC) helps educate consumers on a wide range of 

topics relevant to day-to-day marketplace activities. The FTC’s 

array of Spanish language materials is particularly useful for newly 

arrived immigrants. For example, Read Up! How to Be an Informed 

Consumer is a bilingual compendium of information for Spanish 

speakers and Hispanic organizations on consumer rights, managing finances, making major purchases, avoiding scams, and being 

safe and secure online. The booklet includes materials to help 

organizations incorporate consumer education messages into their 

community outreach programs. In addition, the FTC publishes ¡Ojo! 

Resources for Hispanic Communities, a quarterly, bilingual newsletter with 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 40 |

practical information about consumers’ rights. This newsletter is 

mailed to more than 1,500 local and regional organizations that 

are trusted sources of information in their communities. Teachers 

often use the FTC’s brochures as class resources to teach English 

to speakers of other languages and to educate them about their 

consumer rights. Elementary and secondary school teachers also 

use these materials in school resource centers for their students’ 

immigrant parents.

The U.S. Department of Labor has a record of reaching out to 

immigrant constituents in the workplace and has found that 

translated materials can be useful for new immigrants who do 

not yet speak fluent English to educate them about the American 

workplace and encourage English language learning and integration. The department’s agencies provide materials in more than 

half a dozen different languages outlining employee health, 

safety, and legal protections in a range of industries, and also 

provide direct access to translated materials through Web portals 

in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese. For example, 

the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has 

developed Web resources to help employers with a Spanishspeaking workforce, as well as Spanish-speaking employees. 

OSHA’s Hispanic Employers and Workers Web page serves as a 

portal to agency resources such as public service announcements, 

posters, and fact sheets and Spanish-English dictionaries for OSHA, 

general industry, and construction terms. The department is also 

engaged in workforce development initiatives benefiting recent 

immigrants. In February 2006, the department awarded nearly $5 

million to grantees in five different states to apply creative teaching methodologies that simultaneously enhance English language 

and occupational skills in order to respond to specific workforce 

challenges. These grantees serve limited English proficient individuals from a variety of language backgrounds, including Spanish, 

Somali, Ethiopian, and Southeast Asian.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 41

In response to the executive order establishing the Task Force on 

New Americans, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has taken 

several steps to foster immigrant integration. On July 7, 2008, at Ellis 

Island, DOI supported a new USA Freedom Corps public-private partnership called This Land Is Your Land, which engages new Americans 

in volunteer and recreation opportunities, particularly in America’s 

national parks. Earlier that week, as part of Independence Day celebrations, the secretary of the interior announced free admission to 

a national park during National Public Lands Day (September 27–28, 

2008) for all new citizens sworn in between July 4 and September 27, 

2008. In 2006, the National Park Service signed a memorandum of 

understanding with USCIS establishing a partnership for naturalization ceremonies to be held at historic and picturesque national parks. 

Finally, Take Pride in America®—a national service initiative promoting the appreciation and stewardship of public lands—is partnering 

with USA Freedom Corps and USCIS to engage more new Americans 

in the great outdoors and stoke the spirit of service.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

(HHS) provides comprehensive programs for immigrants. The Refugee Act of 1980 is the legal basis for 

the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which has 

an annual appropriation of more than $400 million to 

provide newly arriving populations with critical resources 

to assist them in becoming integrated members of 

American society. The office coordinates with and funds 

states, community organizations, and other service 

providers that offer health, financial, social, education, 

business development, and other services to refugees.

Due to the breadth of services supported by ORR, it is 

often cited as a model integration program.

Building on the Task Force’s interagency cooperation as a national 

facilitator, the federal government plays a critical role in fostering 

immigrant integration. With a range of educational resources and 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 42 |

teaching modules created at the federal level since 2003, the Task 

Force is prepared to set in motion a national strategy to promote 

immigrant integration. These public domain resources provide 

a solid foundation from which to launch a new Americanization 

movement. More emphasis must now be placed on expanding the 

training activities currently underway, complemented by outreach 

events to promote a national vision and further dissemination of 

educational materials to organizations that work with immigrants. 

The comprehensive guide Welcome to the United 

States: A Guide for New Immigrants is a landmark federal publication from USCIS providing orientation and 

settlement information for new permanent residents.

The guide contains practical information to help immigrants settle in to everyday life in the United States, 

as well as basic civics information that introduces 

them to the U.S. system of government.Welcome to 

the United States is available at no cost in English, 

Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, 

Tagalog, Arabic, French, Portuguese, Polish, Urdu, and 

Haitian Creole. These translations represent the main 

languages of new immigrants and allow the orientation guide to be accessible to immigrants when they 

first arrive, with information to encourage their English 

language learning and civics education.

All the sectors highlighted in this report will need training and 

resources to participate effectively in a national movement. This is 

particularly the case for groups that are not traditional educators, 

such as civic organizations and service clubs, volunteers, community and faith-based organizations, and some libraries. Training and 

education should be the first priority and starting point of the federal 

government’s activities under the auspices of an Americanization 

movement. The second priority of the federal government should be 

to help coordinate among and promote the involvement of sectors 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 43

highlighted in this report. To do this, executive agencies should 

work with Congress to create a national integration infrastructure 

that links various state and local leaders on integration to the federal 

government and to resources promoting community programs. 

The third priority of the federal government should be to create a 

public campaign to encourage all Americans to support integration in relationship to our core political principles and to encourage 

volunteerism to help immigrants learn more about the country and 

become part of the community.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 44 |

Recommendations

The Task Force on New Americans’ research into immigrant integration reaffirms two fundamental notions about the nature and success 

of integration in the United States:

Diversity within Unity

Diversity makes America strong, but unity keeps America successful. 

Patriotic assimilation refers to a unifying civic identity that respects 

diversity, including individual religious and cultural traditions, but 

does not use these elements to define the identity of the political 

community. American identity is political and can be defined by 

three elements: 

• Embracing the principles of American democracy 

• Identifying with U.S. history 

• Communicating in English

Citizenship Is an Identity

Citizenship is an identity and not simply a benefit. Feeling and 

being perceived as part of the community is an important indicator of a person’s integration into a society. Integration cannot be 

defined solely by the naturalization process, although the choice 

to naturalize is a key indicator of integration. Therefore, successful citizenship promotion encompasses not only naturalization but 

also civic integration.

The Task Force on New Americans makes the following recommendations, which stem from these foundational concepts about integration. 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 45

1. An Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century

The Task Force calls for a national effort involving federal, state, 

and local governments, community and faith-based organizations, public libraries, adult educators, business and the private 

sector, foundations and philanthropies, and civic organizations and service clubs to promote immigrant integration. 

Recognizing diversity within unity and that citizenship is an 

identity, the federal government should use its resources to 

coordinate and facilitate efforts among different societal sectors.

• Create a welcoming literacy campaign to promote 

English language acquisition and shared political 

principles to allow immigrants to gain the tools 

and experiences to perceive themselves and be 

perceived as Americans. 

• Promote in every sector a sense of attachment to 

fundamental political principles and patriotism 

through integration initiatives. In order to be 

successful, integration initiatives should not be 

imposed, but instead effectively encouraged.

• Continue and enhance the celebration of citizenship and American civic identity. All sectors should 

become more involved in naturalization ceremonies, citizenship fairs, and public events, and these 

special events should regularly be organized in 

partnership with national landmarks, national 

parks, and other iconic American institutions.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 46 |

2. Viewing Integration as a Two-way Street

Immigrant integration builds community, but the community 

must also embrace American political principles in order to 

receive and successfully assimilate immigrants. This mutual 

understanding and appreciation opens communities to receiving immigrants.

• The Task Force calls for history and civics education to be strengthened at the primary, secondary, 

and collegiate levels.

• Civic education is a lifelong and participatory 

learning process; a public campaign targeting 

new immigrants and the native-born alike should 

provide a deeper understanding and celebration 

of American identity.

3. Improved Legislation on Integration and Citizenship

Integrating immigrants is a community undertaking that can 

be facilitated through improved legislation. 

• As called for in the 2007 U.S. Senate compromise 

immigration reform bill,39 the Task Force supports 

the creation of State Integration Councils comprising state and local governments, businesses, 

faith-based organizations, civic organizations, 

philanthropic leaders, adult educators, and nonprofit organizations that have experience working 

with immigrant communities.

• The USCIS Office of Citizenship should provide 

information to the national network of State 

Integration Councils, develop products, and 

convene the councils to share promising practices, develop initiatives, and assess program 

effectiveness.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 47

• As part of its responsibility to coordinate a national 

integration campaign and develop and promote 

collaborative programs with nonfederal entities, 

the Office of Citizenship should be given authority 

to accept gifts from the private sector and foundations, with due regard for avoiding conflicts of 

interest, in furtherance of these programs.

4. Federal Celebration of Citizenship 

The Task Force calls for continuing and enhancing the 

celebration of citizenship and American civic identity.

• Federal officials, including the president, cabinet 

members, and others, should use their positions to promote the importance of integration 

and raise public awareness through speeches and 

attendance at naturalization ceremonies and recognition events.

• The Task Force calls for the creation of a 

presidential medal to be awarded annually to 

naturalized citizens who have made outstanding 

contributions to the United States.

5. Federal Leadership on Integration 

A federal institutionalization of integration will lend 

credibility and support to efforts throughout all levels 

of government and in other sectors. 

• Recognizing the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, the Task Force calls on federal agencies 

to prioritize incorporating integration messages 

into their existing programs that serve immigrants and communities.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 48 |

• The federal government should build on the 

ongoing initiatives of the Task Force, such as 

WelcometoUSA.gov, the New Americans Project, 

and the Civics and Citizenship Toolkit, to further expand 

its reach and develop new interagency resources.

• U.S. embassies and consulates should incorporate 

these initiatives to support the integration process 

before an immigrant arrives in the United States. 

For example, information on tools to learn English 

and civics should be made available to immigrants 

before they arrive in the United States.

• Refugee orientation services should be expanded to 

include civics education for refugees settling in the 

United States.

6. Enhanced E-learning Tools for Adults

The Task Force recognizes the continued demand for 

high-quality English language educational services for 

immigrant adults in the United States. 

• E-learning and distance learning capabilities 

should be further developed and expanded. 

Educational components covering English, history, 

and government should be available to immigrants across the country through a Web portal.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 49

7. Encouraging the Private Sector to Promote Integration

The vast majority of immigrants contribute significantly to the 

American economy, and the businesses that hire them play a 

key role in fostering integration through the workplace.

• Businesses should consider including civics, citizenship, and English language instruction as part 

of ongoing workforce development programs.

• Trade associations, employee groups, labor organizations, and business groups should come 

together to support and expand integration programs for immigrant workers.

8. Mobilizing the Volunteer Community

Volunteering is a way to build social bridges and foster integration on a person-to-person level. Building 

on the work of the New Americans Project, the Task 

Force encourages citizens and immigrants alike to 

engage in community-based volunteer projects that 

both impart political principles and help immigrants 

learn English.

• The Task Force calls for the creation of a short 

training program to provide skills necessary for 

volunteers to teach basic English and citizenship 

to immigrants. This program would be nationally 

accredited and would build the capacity of community, faith-based, civic, and other organizations 

to offer educational opportunities for immigrants.

• Businesses should encourage their employees to 

volunteer in their communities, and consider offering them the opportunity to serve on paid time.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 50 |

9. Increasing Integration Stakeholders

The previous Americanization movement engaged a wide variety of societal players. As assimilation again enters our public 

discourse, a broader cohort of stakeholders should be ready to 

fully engage in integration efforts.

• Foundations and philanthropies play a powerful and historic role in setting the social agenda at 

the community and national levels, and the Task 

Force encourages them to make policy research and 

funding for immigrant integration efforts a priority.

• The Task Force recognizes the role of traditional 

civic organizations and service clubs in promoting civic duty and love of country and therefore 

encourages them to make immigrant integration 

part of their community-building efforts.

10. Broadened Analysis and Evaluation of Integration

The topic of immigration receives significant analysis and 

study. Fewer research institutions focus on the issue of political integration and civic attachment. Enhanced contributions 

in this area, such as indicators and attitudinal studies, would 

further the policy-making process with regard to assimilation 

both at the community and national level.

• Think tanks and academic institutions should 

incorporate political assimilation and attachment 

to the country into their analysis of immigrant 

integration. Federal and independent studies on 

immigrant integration should focus not only on 

quantitative naturalization rates and access to 

benefits, but also on more qualitative aspects of 

attachment and political identity.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 51

Appendix A: Executive Order 13404
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 52 |
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 53

Appendix B: Task Force and Technical Committee Members 

Department of Homeland Security

Task Force Chair

Michael Chertoff

Secretary of Homeland Security

Technical Committee Chair

Alfonso Aguilar

Chief, Office of Citizenship, USCIS

Department of Agriculture

Task Force Representative

Anabelle Romero

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

Technical Committee Representative

Winona Scott

Management and Program Analyst

Office of the Assistant Secretary 

for Civil Rights

Department of Commerce

Task Force Representative

Joel Harris

Senior Policy Advisor

Technical Committee Representative

Jennifer Sullivan

Policy Analyst 

Department of Defense

Task Force Representative

Leslye Arsht

Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for 

Military Community and Family Policy

Technical Committee Representative

Edward Adelman 

Deputy Director

Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Policy

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for 

Personnel and Readiness

Department of Education

Task Force Representative

Troy Justesen

Assistant Secretary for 

Vocational and Adult Education

Technical Committee Representative

Cheryl Keenan

Director

Division of Adult Education Literacy 

Department of Health and Human Services

Task Force Representative

James O’Neill

Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary

Technical Committee Representative

David H. Siegel

Acting Director 

Office of Refugee Resettlement

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Task Force Representative

Susan Peppler

Assistant Secretary for

Community Planning and Development

Technical Committee Representative

Anna Maria Farias

Director

Faith-based and Community Initiatives
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 54 |

Department of the Interior

Task Force Representative

James E. Cason

Associate Deputy Secretary

Technical Committee Representative

Katie Loovis

Director

External Affairs and

Take Pride in America®

Department of Justice

Task Force Representative

Elisebeth C. Cook 

Assistant Attorney General for

Legal Policy

Technical Committee Representative 

Ryan K. Higginbotham

Counsel

Office of Legal Policy

Department of Labor

Task Force Representative

Leon R. Sequeira

Assistant Secretary for Policy

Technical Committee Representative 

Stephanie Swirsky

Senior Policy Analyst

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy

Department of State

Task Force Representative

Janice Jacobs

Acting Assistant Secretary for

Consular Affairs

Technical Committee Representative

Suzanne Lawrence

Deputy Director

Office of Policy Coordination and Public 

Affairs, Bureau of Consular Affairs 

Department of the Treasury

Task Force Representative

Anna Escobedo Cabral

Treasurer of the United States

Technical Committee Representative

Sarah Carter 

Senior Advisor to the Treasurer 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 55

Additional Technical Committee Representatives

Corporation for National and Community Service

Kevin Cramer

Deputy Director, Office of Research and Policy Development

Federal Trade Commission

Laura DeMartino

Assistant Director, Division of Enforcement

General Services Administration

Edward O’Hare

Chief Information Officer, Federal Acquisition Service

Government Printing Office

Paul Erickson

Deputy Public Printer

Institute of Museum and Library Services

Kate Fernstrom

Chief of Staff

National Endowment for the Arts

Ann Hingston

Congressional and White House Liaison/Director of Government Affairs

National Endowment for the Humanities

Thomas Lindsay

Director, We the People Initiative

Small Business Administration

Raul Cisneros

Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations

Department of Homeland Security Staff

Laura Patching

Deputy Chief 

Office of Citizenship, USCIS

Nathaniel Stiefel

Chief of Staff

Office of Citizenship, USCIS

Michael Jones, Ph.D.

Senior Advisor 

Office of Citizenship, USCIS

Carlos Muñoz-Acevedo

Program Manager

Office of Citizenship, USCIS

Adam Hunter

Policy Analyst

Nortel Government Solutions

Office of Citizenship, USCIS

Sarah Kurapatskie

Program Manager

Office of Citizenship, USCIS
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 56 |

Appendix C: Task Force Initiatives

Since June 2006, the Task Force on New Americans has been working to develop interagency initiatives to help immigrants settle 

in the United States and maximize federal resources to promote 

integration. By providing technical resources to communities and 

organizations, encouraging volunteerism, developing effective 

training methods, and conducting targeted research efforts, the 

Task Force seeks to encourage successful immigrant integration 

through comprehensive programs. The following are ongoing Task 

Force initiatives:

Improve Access to Information and Resources for New Immigrants 

1. WelcometoUSA.gov: With the launch of WelcometoUSA.gov, the 

federal government presents newcomers with basic information, 

through a comprehensive Web portal, on settling in the United 

States and other essential guidance to help them fully embrace the 

common core of American civic culture. In addition to settlement information, WelcometoUSA.gov contains links to help new 

immigrants find English classes and ways to get involved in their 

community through volunteering.

2. Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants: Before arriving in the country, all successful immigrant visa recipients 

now receive a brochure from the Department of State providing 

instructions, in their native language, to call the USCIS forms line 

(1-800-870-3676) to request a hard copy—in English, Spanish, 

or Chinese—of the comprehensive publication for newcomers, 

Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants, at no charge. The 

publication is available online in electronic format in thirteen 

languages for download at www.uscis.gov/newimmigrants. 

Encourage Volunteerism among U.S. Citizens and New Immigrants

3. New Americans Project: A major Task Force initiative, the New 

Americans Project, seeks to encourage volunteerism among 

both U.S. citizens and new immigrants. The initiative includes a 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 57

zip code-based search engine listing volunteer opportunities to 

work with immigrants, a series of outreach events to promote 

volunteerism, and a targeted public service campaign. In addition, the New Americans Project aims to provide opportunities 

for immigrants themselves to integrate into their communities by 

volunteering. With the President’s Volunteer Service Award, the 

Task Force has recognized individuals across the country who volunteer time to help immigrants learn English and civics. The Task 

Force works closely with the White House Office of USA Freedom 

Corps on the New Americans Project. More information can be 

found at www.usafreedomcorps.gov/newamericans.

Provide Training and Technical Resources to Organizations that 

Serve Immigrants

The Task Force has provided public libraries, adult educators, and 

volunteers with training and resources to assist them in establishing programs to help immigrants settle in and learn about the 

United States. 

4. Civics and Citizenship Toolkit: Public libraries in the United States have 

a long history of helping immigrants integrate into their communities and better understand life in their new country. With more 

and more immigrants settling outside of traditional immigrant 

gateways, it is important that all public libraries be equipped with 

resources to assist immigrants. In response, the Task Force created 

and distributed more than 6,000 copies of the Civics and Citizenship 

Toolkit to public libraries across the country. The Toolkit contains 

educational materials to help immigrants learn about the United 

States. The U.S. Government Printing Office also distributed the 

Toolkit to the nearly 1,300 members of the Federal Depository 

Library Program. In February 2008, registration for the Toolkit was 

expanded to include all established immigrant-serving organizations. To date, the Task Force has distributed close to 15,000 

Toolkits. The Toolkit can be ordered at www.citizenshiptoolkit.gov. 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 58 |

5. U.S. Civics and Citizenship Online: Resource Center for 

Instructors: This is a Web-based tool hosted by USCIS that offers 

teachers and volunteers a single source to locate resources and 

incorporate civics into ESL instruction for adult students preparing 

for naturalization. The Web site includes links to curricula, lesson 

plans, teacher assessments, and other instructional material. More 

information is available at www.uscis.gov/civicsonline.

6. EL/Civics Online: In October 2007, USCIS and the U.S. 

Department of Education introduced a Web-based electronic 

training module for volunteers and adult educators that includes 

courses and materials in the following content areas: U.S. history, 

U.S. government, civic engagement, and the naturalization process. The Web site is located at www.elcivicsonline.org.

7. Training: Since October 2007, USCIS has convened training sessions in communities across the country designed to help prepare 

adult civics and citizenship instructors and volunteers for teaching 

American history, civics, and the naturalization process to immigrant students. To date, USCIS has provided free training to more 

than 2,000 people in more than twenty metropolitan areas. For 

more information, visit www.uscis.gov/teachertraining.

8. Expanding ESL, Civics, and Citizenship Education in Your Community: A 

Start-Up Guide: This short guide is designed to provide immigrantserving organizations, including community and faith-based 

organizations, and individuals with the information resources 

necessary to build and sustain a successful ESL, civics, or citizenship program for adult immigrants. 
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 59

Appendix D: Task Force Roundtables

Think Tanks and Immigrant-serving Organizations

Migration Policy Institute 

Washington, District of Columbia

February 6, 2007

Business and the Private Sector

Walt Disney World Resort

Lake Buena Vista, Florida

February 27–28, 2007

Community and Faith-based Organizations

Office of the Governor

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts

June 4–5, 2007

State and Local Government

Arizona State University

Tempe, Arizona

September 12, 2007

Public Libraries

National Constitution Center

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

January 14, 2008

Foundations and Philanthropies

Institute for Latino Studies

University of Notre Dame

South Bend, Indiana

March 18–19, 2008

Civic Organizations and Service Clubs

Institute for Latino Studies

University of Notre Dame

South Bend, Indiana

March 18–19, 2008
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 60 |

Appendix E: Participating Individuals and Organizations

The Task Force on New Americans would like to recognize the following 

individuals for their contribution to the roundtable discussions.

Alfonso Aguilar U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Gideon Aronoff Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)

Alejandro Aviles Legal Aid of Arkansas

Chris Becker National League of Cities

Carolyn Benedict-Drew International Institute of Boston

Toni Borge Bunker Hill Community College

Genr Borsh Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)

Carol Brey-Casiano REFORMA - American Library Association

Benjamin Broome North American Center for Transborder Studies

Allert Brown-Gort Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame

Derek Bruce Walt Disney World Company

Linda Calvin Daughters of the American Revolution

William Carlson U.S. Department of Labor

Richard Chacón Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Andy Chaves Marriott International

Raul Cisneros U.S. Small Business Administration

Brian Collier Foundation for The Carolinas

Christopher Coro Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of 

Education

Christina DeConcini National Immigration Forum

Lena Deevy Irish Immigration Center

Laura DeMartino Federal Trade Commission

Boyd Dunn City of Chandler, Arizona

Westy Egmont Association of New Americans

Anna Escobedo Cabral Treasurer of the United States

Anna Maria Farias U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Michael Fix Migration Policy Institute

John Fonte Hudson Institute

Vicki Ford Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress - Orlando, Florida

John Gay National Restaurant Association

Fred Gitner Queens Borough Public Library

Rosalyn Gold National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials 

(NALEO)

Martín Gómez Urban Libraries Council
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 61

Jaime Greene The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Peter Groux Retention Education, Inc.

Jose Luis Gutierrez State of Illinois Office of New Americans Policy and Advocacy

David Hagy U.S. Department of Justice

Joel Harris U.S. Department of Commerce

Dirk Hegen National Conference of State Legislatures

Phillip Henderson Surdna Foundation

Susan Hildreth California State Library

Jeff Horbinski U.S. Government Printing Office

Melanie Huggins Saint Paul Public Library

Pierre Imbert Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants, 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Carlos Iturregui U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Santiago Jackson Los Angeles Unified School District

Tamar Jacoby ImmigrationWorks USA

Troy Justesen Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of 

Education

Marty Justis American Legion

Bilal Kaleem Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation

Nancy Kaufman Jewish Community Relations Council

Donald Kerwin Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)

Mark Krikorian Center for Immigration Studies

Eli Lesser National Constitution Center

Lavinia Limon U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)

Thomas Lindsay National Endowment for the Humanities

Dale Lipschultz Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, American Library 

Association

Jonathan Lucas Lutheran Immigration Refugee Services (LIRS)

Joe Marnell Walt Disney World Company

Marilyn Mason WebJunction

Margie McHugh Migration Policy Institute

Robert Meek International Institute of Boston

Doha Melhem U.S. Department of Labor

Eva Millona Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition 

(MIRA)

Beth Mortuiccio Office of Refugee Resettlement, U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services

Mar Muñoz-Visoso Catholic Charities
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 62 |

Homa Naficy Hartford Public Library 

Martha Newton Office of Refugee Resettlement, U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services

Ali Noorani Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition 

(MIRA)

Bo Ollison U.S. Department of Commerce

Demetrios Papademetriou Migration Policy Institute

Sandra Pedroarias U.S. Department of the Treasury

Marjean Perhot Catholic Charities, USA

Daranee Petsod Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR)

Luis Plascencia Arizona State University

Robert Ponichtera Liberty’s Promise

Theresa Ramos Free Library of Philadelphia

Vong Ros Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association

Maria Rosario Latin American Health Institute

Peggy Rudd Texas State Library

Federico Salas-Isnardi Texas A&M University

Anne Sanderson International Institute of New Hampshire

Gema Santos Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Sharon Tomiko Santos State Representative, Washington State Legislature

Marilina Sanz National Association of Counties (NACo)

Emily Sheketoff American Library Association

Jacqui Shoholm U.S. Department of Labor

George Smith Institute of Museum and Library Services

Margarita Solorzano Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas

Matthew Spalding The Heritage Foundation

Laura Staley WebJunction

Pat Stanley Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of 

Education

Louis Stephens Civitan International

Regis Stites SRI International 

Linda Taylor Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS)

Steven Taylor United Way of America

Tsehaye Teffera Ethiopian Community Development Council, Inc.

David Terrell Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs

Damian Thorman John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Josh Trent Office of Refugee Resettlement, U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 63

Carol Van Duzer Center for Applied Linguistics

Mary Jane Vinella King County Library System

Michelle Waslin National Council of La Raza

Mary Rose Wilcox Government of Maricopa County, Arizona

Valerie Wonder Seattle Public Library

Dennis Zine Los Angeles City Council

Peg Zitko Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 64 |

Endnotes

1. See appendix A.

2. Assimilation stems from Latin origins meaning “to render similar.” 

The concept is also embodied in such terms as civic integration, 

political integration, patriotic assimilation, political assimilation, 

constitutional patriotism, and Americanization.

3. Matthew Spalding, “Making Citizens: The Case for Patriotic 

Assimilation,” The Heritage Foundation, March 16, 2006.

4. “President Bush Addresses the Nation on Immigration Reform,” 

White House, May 15, 2006.

5. “Comprehensive Immigration Reform,” White House Fact Sheet, 

www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060515-10.html.

6. “Census Bureau Projects Population of 303.1 Million,” U.S. Census 

Bureau News, December 27, 2007.

7. “From 200 Million to 300 Million,” Pew Hispanic Center Fact 

Sheet, October 10, 2007.

8. Aaron Terrazas, Jeanne Batalova, and Velma Fan, “Frequently 

Requested Statistics on Immigrants in the United States,” Migration 

Information Source, Migration Policy Institute, October 2007.

9. Jeffrey Passel and D’Vera Cohn, “U.S. Population Projections: 

2005–2050,” Pew Hispanic Center, February 11, 2008.

10. Kelly Jeffereys and Randall Monger, “U.S. Legal Permanent 

Residents: 2007,” Annual Flow Report, U.S. Department of 

Homeland Security, March 2008.

11. Ibid.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 65

12. Office of Immigration Statistics, U.S. Department of Homeland 

Security.

13. Emilio T. Gonzalez, Testimony for a Hearing on “Naturalization 

Delays: Causes, Consequences and Solutions” before the House 

Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, 

Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, January 17, 2008.

14. Jeffrey Passel and D’Vera Cohn, “U.S. Population Projections: 

2005–2050,” Pew Hispanic Center, February 11, 2008.

15. “Becoming an American: Immigration and Immigrant Policy,” 

U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform, September 1997.

16. Noah Pickus, True Faith and Allegiance: Immigration and American Civic 

Nationalism (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2005).

17. John Fonte, “Americanization Now: Getting Serious about 

Assimilation,” National Review Online, November 9, 2001.

18. See appendix E for the list of organizations.

19. Audrey Singer, Susan Hardwich, and Caroline Brettel, eds., 

Twenty-first-Century Gateways: Immigrant Incorporation in Suburban America

(Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2008).

20. “Overview of State Legislation Related to Immigrants and 

Immigration, January–March 2008,” National Council of State 

Legislatures, April 24, 2008.

21. Ibid.

22. www.iowaworkforce.org/centers/newiowan/index.html.

23. www.immigrants.illinois.gov/NewAmericans.htm.

24. www.houstontx.gov/moira/index.html.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century 66 |

25. www.iiboston.org.

26. Rick Ashton and Danielle Patrick Milam, “Welcome Stranger: 

Public Libraries Build the Global Village,” Urban Libraries Council, 

2008.

27. Margie McHugh, Julia Gelatt, and Michael Fix, “Adult English 

Language Instruction in the United States: Determining Need and 

Investing Wisely,” Migration Policy Institute, July 2007.

28. For a more detailed overview of local adult education programs, 

teachers, and students, see Educational Testing Service (ETS), “Adult 

Education in America,” Policy Notes 16 (1) (Winter 2008), www.ets.

org/Media/Research/pdf/PICPN161.pdf.

29. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult 

Education, National Reporting System. The prominence of ESL 

among adult education services is also discussed in James Thomas 

Tucker, “The ESL Logjam: Waiting Times for Adult ESL Classes and 

the Impact on English Learners,” National Association of Latino 

Elected and Appointed Officials, September 2006.

30. National Commission on Adult Literacy, Reach Higher, America: 

Overcoming Crisis in the U.S. Workforce, June 2008.

31. See, for example, Tamassia et al., “Adult Education in America: A 

First Look at Adult Education Program and Learner Surveys,” 2007, 

www.ets.org/Media/Research/pdf/ETSLITERACY_AEPS_Report.pdf. 

32. www.elcivicsonline.org.

33. “2006 American Community Survey and Census Data on the 

Foreign Born by State,” Migration Policy Institute, www.migrationinformation.org/datahub/acscensus.cfm.

34. Executive Office of the President, Council of Economic Advisors, 

Immigration’s Economic Impact, June 2007.
Building an Americanization Movement for the Twenty-first Century | 67

35. Amy Beeler and Julie Murray, “Improving Immigrant Workers’ 

Economic Prospects: A Review of the Literature,” in Securing the Future: 

U.S. Immigrant Integration Policy, Migration Policy Institute, 2007.

36. Audrey Singer, Susan Hardwich, and Caroline Brettel, eds., 

Twenty-First-Century Gateways: Immigrant Incorporation in Suburban America

(Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2008).

37. Ibid. 

38. www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/collections/civics.html.

39. See S. 1639, §707.




www.dhs.gov M-708 (04/09)

The Task Force on New Americans is an interagency effort to help 

immigrants embrace the common core of American civic culture, 

learn our common language, and fully become Americans. Created by 

President George W. Bush in June 2006, the Task Force was established 

within the Department of Homeland Security. Task Force membership 

includes representatives from 12 Cabinet-level departments and a 

technical working committee of eight additional federal agencies. 

The objectives of the Task Force on New Americans include:

• Improving access to federal information and 

resources for new immigrants; 

• Encouraging volunteerism among U.S. citizens 

and newcomers; 

• Providing training and technical resources to 

organizations that serve immigrants; and 

• Gathering input on and facilitating successful 

immigrant integration practices 

As a result of roundtable discussions, site visits, and the collective 

experience and research of Task Force members, the Task Force on 

New Americans recommends strengthening assimilation efforts 

across the nation and among all sectors of society. The integration 

efforts described in this report are a federal call to action that defines 

a modern-day Americanization movement.

F ro as le t yb eh S epu ri tn e edn tn fo D co mu e tn S.U ,s G . 

I tn er en t: tskoob ro e P vog.opg. enoh : lot l f ree ( )668 -215 81 

Fa :x ( )202 -215 aM 4012 il: I potS DCC W , ihsa tgn 

ISBN 978-0-16-082095-3

ISBN 978-0-16-082095-3

9 780160 820953

90000