[[link removed]]
October 2025
As the leaves change and temperatures drop, communities across the country are continuing to feel the impact of the major shifts in federal policies, including the ongoing government shutdown [[link removed]] and increased enforcement in major U.S. cities. More than three-quarters of state legislatures have already adjourned for the year, and many are gearing up for 2026—including new legislative sessions and midterm elections—where immigration will remain a top issue.
The State & Local Initiatives [[link removed]] team at the American Immigration Council is closely monitoring new policy developments that impact our partners, and we are preparing for 2026 by equipping those partners with data—including Map the Impact [[link removed]] data that was updated this summer—and advocacy tools to advance welcoming policies. At the same time, we continue to work alongside other Council departments to drive federal advocacy, uplift the voices of impacted communities, and ensure our partners have access to timely, fact-based analysis and information about the policies affecting their work and communities. You can learn more in the Council’s 2025 Mid-Year Report [[link removed]] .
Thank you for the invaluable work you do in your community. We appreciate your continued support and partnership.
– Rich André, Director of State & Local Initiatives
State Policies
* So far this year, we have tracked over 950 immigration-related bills across the country, seeing a mixture of states introducing and passing inclusive policies like expanding protections for students [[link removed]] , occupational licensure [[link removed]] , and immigrant civil rights protections. [[link removed]] On the other hand, we’ve seen states take harmful actions, such as Texas repealing access to in-state tuition, [[link removed]] restricting access to driver’s licenses for non-citizens [[link removed]] in Wyoming, and increasing state enforcement [[link removed]] in Texas or cooperation with federal immigration authorities [[link removed]] in North Carolina. We’ve also been watching the activities of state attorneys general who are on track to sue the federal government more times during the second Trump administration [[link removed]] than they did during the first administration (already a record-breaking 138 times).


* Texans defeated nine separate bills attempting to repeal the Texas Dream Act [[link removed]] , a 2001 policy [[link removed]] that allows Texas students, regardless of immigration status, to pay in-state tuition rates at public universities. Despite the successful defense of the Texas Dream Act in the state legislature, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit to invalidate the Act a few days later, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton quickly joining the effort [[link removed]] . The Council’s Texans for Economic Growth [[link removed]] business coalition signed onto an amicus brief [[link removed]] in support of the plaintiffs in the ongoing Texas Dream Act litigation. Other states, like Florida [[link removed].] and Oklahoma [[link removed]] , have repealed similar policies and the threat persists [[link removed]] in other states the DOJ has sued, including Minnesota, Kentucky, and Illinois. The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration created this fact sheet [[link removed]] and is closely monitoring changes.


* State policies related to immigrants were front and center for the DOJ when it published a list [[link removed]] of “sanctuary” jurisdictions on August 5. Listing cities, counties, and states, the DOJ contends—without evidence—that these localities impede federal immigration enforcement through alleged “ sanctuary jurisdiction characteristics [[link removed]] .”
States Invest in Immigrant Inclusion
* In 2025, the Office of New Americans (ONA) State Network [[link removed]] grew to 24 bipartisan states with the addition of Delaware and Vermont. The Network now accounts for over 30 million immigrants—64% of the total U.S. immigrant population. This summer, ONAs visited New York and New Jersey to discuss how to best support their states’ immigrant communities [[link removed]] and learn best practices on improving access to legal and language services.

* Spotlighting our ONA partners’ summer activities, North Dakota hosted their second-annual Global Talent Summit [[link removed]] to discuss attracting and retaining immigrant workers to meet the state’s labor needs. And in June, partners in Wisconsin hosted the Immigrant and Refugee Support Summit [[link removed]] , which brought together community leaders to best support immigrants and refugees’ pursuit of their education and career goals.
Business Leadership on Immigration
* In partnership with the Grand Rapids Chamber [[link removed]] and Global Detroit, [[link removed]] the Council hosted the ninth-annual Global Talent Chamber Network [[link removed]] convening in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on September 25 and 26. The two-day event brought together 15 chambers of commerce from 11 states. The convening kicked off with a site visit to BAMF Health [[link removed]] to learn about how international talent contributes to their ground-breaking medical research and treatment of cancer and Alzheimer's. Day two featured sessions exploring the changing federal landscape, how Michigan leaders are navigating the current environment with innovative practices to meet workforce demands, and maximizing the business community’s influence through strategic advocacy approaches. Check out this op-ed [[link removed]] recapping the event and why it was important for the business community!


* WorkPermits.US [[link removed]] , World Education Services [[link removed]] (WES), the American Immigration Lawyers Association [[link removed]] (AILA), and the Council hosted a webinar on August 12 to empower employers by explaining employer obligations for employment (re)verification, addressing potential discrimination issues in the reverification process, discussing I-9 audits and immigration enforcement trends under the Trump administration, and looking at expected changes to work authorization in the near future.
Federal Policy Updates
* The Trump administration has taken over 450 immigration policy actions [[link removed]] to date, as tracked by the Immigration Policy Tracking Project. The Council continues to track these policies alongside other actions, such as the largest raid ever conducted at one worksite at a Hyundai plant in Georgia [[link removed]] on September 4 and Congress’ passage of unprecedented spending for mass deportation [[link removed]] .

* Tens of thousands of DACA recipients [[link removed]] in Texas may soon be stripped of their ability to work in the U.S. lawfully [[link removed]] . In January 2025, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals held that portions of a 2022 DACA regulation – those that grant employment authorization and “lawful presence” – are unlawful. The Court preserved the part of DACA that provides protection from removal, however, treating it as lawful and severable from the other provisions. The Court limited the geographic scope of a prior nationwide injunction to the state of Texas, meaning that the decision would apply only within Texas. The case has now returned to U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen to determine how DACA should work under the new modified ruling.

* The Council’s report Mass Deportation: Analyzing the Trump Administration’s Attacks on Immigrants, Democracy, and America [[link removed]] , explores the administration’s immigration policy agenda to date, including who is allowed into the U.S. and who is excluded, the ongoing treatment and forced removal of immigrants who already call the U.S. home, and proposes alternative policy recommendations to create a safer, more inclusive country.
Welcoming Communities
* Efforts to protect immigrant communities continued this fall as students returned to the classroom, despite fears spurred by increased immigration enforcement. Across the country, lawmakers, local communities, and schools have united to ensure that schools can remain safe spaces [[link removed]] where everyone can learn.




* In September, communities across the U.S. celebrated the vibrant contributions of immigrants during Welcoming America's 2025 Welcoming Week, [[link removed]] “The Stories We Share.” The City of Lincoln, NE [[link removed]] , became one of only two cities to receive a four-star welcoming certification, the City of Charlotte, NC [[link removed]] , kicked off their celebrations with a naturalization ceremony, and the City of Austin, TX [[link removed]] , celebrated their first-ever Welcoming Week with a variety of events, including storytelling circles, cultural showcases, and community panels.




* At the same time, U.S. cities are bracing for the possible deployment of the National Guard to their communities [[link removed]] , as seen in Chicago, LA and Washington D.C., and the impact they will have on local communities, small businesses, and community wellbeing.


Council Resources
* Blog (Sept. 30): What a Government Shutdown Means for the Immigration System [[link removed]]

Blog (Sept. 24): Trump’s $100,000 Fee for H-1B Visas: What You Need to Know [[link removed]]

Blog (Sept. 10): New USCIS ‘Special Agents’ Will Be Given the Power to Arrest, Use Deadly Force Against Immigrants [[link removed]]



Blog (Aug. 20): A Backdoor for Immigration Enforcement: Why Trump’s Federal Takeover of D.C. Matters [[link removed]]



Special Report (Aug. 20): Nearly Half of Fortune 500 Companies in 2025 Were Founded by Immigrants or Their Children [[link removed]]



Fact Sheet (Aug. 6): Trump’s 2025 Travel Ban: Who Is Affected and What It Could Cost the U.S. Economy [[link removed]]



Report: (Jul. 10): Transforming Together: Practices and Possibilities From the First Belonging Innovation Lab [[link removed]]



Blog (Jun. 27): How Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Threatens the World Cup [[link removed]]


The State & Local Initiatives team supports policymakers, business leaders, and civic organizations across more than 100 local communities and nearly 40 states by equipping them with economic research, technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning, and advocacy opportunities. Our partners use Council resources to champion evidenced-based policies and programs that welcome immigrants and drive economic growth for all residents. Make a donation today. [[link removed]]
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