More than 90% of African migrants would again make the perilous journey to Europe despite the risks, UN News reports. Interviews with 1,970 migrants from 39 African countries living in 13 European countries led to noteworthy findings. Among them: “that getting a job was not the only motivation to move; that not all irregular migrants were ‘poor’ in Africa, nor had lower education levels. Around 58 per cent were either employed or in school at the time of their departure, with the majority of those working, earning competitive wages.”

We need solutions that help people remain in their countries while providing a safe, regulated way to migrate.

Welcome to Tuesday’s edition of Noorani’s Notes.

Have a story you’d like us to include? Email me at [email protected].

MEDICAID – More than one million children have left Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program between December 2017 and June of this year — and more than 400,000 children have lost insurance altogether over a similar period, report Abby Goodnough and Margot Sanger-Katz in The New York Times. Rising fears related to the Trump administration’s “public charge” rule have played a role: “In some states with large immigrant populations like Florida, doctors and patient advocates report growing concern among parents that signing up their children (who are citizens) may hurt their own chances of getting a green card or increase their risk of deportation.”

CULTURE – In our Out of Many, One report last year, we found that the issue of “culture” was central to how people feel about immigration – namely, whether Americans felt that immigrants were integrating or isolating. A new poll from Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs finds that a slight majority of Americans “think immigrants arriving in America should assume an existing U.S. culture and values, while 46 percent believe the country should be made of a blend of different cultures,” Christina Zhao reports in Newsweek. But the partisan breakdown is revealing: 77% of Republican want immigrants adopting shared American culture, compared to 32% of Democrats.

MAINE AND VERMONT – Maine and Vermont have the oldest populations in the country, dwindling birth rates, and some of the lowest levels of immigration — which “have transformed parts of northern New England into economic ghost towns,” Alfonso Serrano writes for Al Jazeera. Enter immigration: “Despite a palpable suspicion of immigrants among some Mainers, businesses have been making more overtures to newcomers.” The Maine State Legislature recently approved a measure creating a working group to study barriers immigrants face, and another to offer “immigrants an interest-free loan of up to $700 as they apply for permanent legal status.”
KENTUCKY – Immigration has seeped into the race for Kentucky governor — at least on one side, Conroy Delouche reports in LEX 18 News. Incumbent Republican Gov. Matt Bevin has repeatedly raised the issue; in a 30-second TV spot he “reaffirmed his position on banning sanctuary cities” and repeated the sentiment during a recent debate. Democratic challenger Andy Beshear is pivoting away from immigration: “During the debate, Beshear shifted the focus squarely on Bevin's record on health care, education, pensions and jobs.”
DHS PICKS INELIGIBLE – Sean Doocey, head of White House Presidential Personnel, broke the news to President Trump that his top two picks for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary are both ineligible for the job, Michelle Hackman and Andrew Restuccia report in the The Wall Street Journal. That means Ken Cuccinelli and Mark Morgan are no-goes — at least according to the law. “The federal statute that governs vacancies states that acting officials in cabinet-level positions must either be next in line for a position or hold a Senate-confirmed post. Under a third option, the official being elevated must have served for at least 90 days in the past year under the previous secretary.”

PUBLIC CHARGE – The “public charge” rule could significantly impact the Asian American community, Kimmy Yam reports for NBC News. “Given the community’s use of certain social services, high rates of limited English proficiency, and heavy reliance on the family reunification system to come to the United States,” advocates fear that the rule would disproportionately affect Asian immigrants. Of the estimated 941,000 green card holders who would have been impacted by the rule had it been in effect when they applied, 300,000 are from Asian countries.

HEALING & HOMEOWNERSHIP – After fleeing civil war in Congo, Obedi Aruna and his family now live in and own a home in North Akron, Ohio, thanks to a local community initiative, Doug Livingston reports in the Akron Beacon Journal. In 2011, local church Urban Vision founded a program to help immigrants become homeowners. Through volunteer efforts, the organization buys and renovates homes with the goal of selling them to immigrants who participate in renovations and complete financial empowerment classes at the church. “We could become a landlord and help people have a better renting experience. But really what we wanted to do is empower families to step into homeownership … We’re making a kingdom investment in our neighborhood,” said program leader Brendan Haggerty.

Thanks for reading,
Ali