U.S. Public Policy
WES seeks to develop and enact supportive state and federal policies that increase opportunities for immigrants, refugees, and international students. Our efforts support economic and academic inclusion by breaking down the barriers that keep immigrants, refugees, international students, and other newcomers from fully contributing their skills and talents.
We do this vital work in close partnership with organizations, community leaders, and civil servants who believe that our collective commitment to welcoming state and local economies is key to our country’s future resiliency.
Priorities
Portrait of a medical professional working in a hospital in the North East of England. She is dressed in scrubs with a stethoscope around her neck looking at the camera smiling.
Occupational Licensure
WES supports states in removing policy barriers that keep internationally educated professionals in high-demand sectors such as health care and teaching. This includes efforts to help legislators draft and enact policies that streamline the pathway to licensure in key professions.
Priorities
Welcoming and Inclusion
We work at the state and community level to promote inclusive policies that enable people to thrive – in part by resuming their careers. One focus of this work is support for the establishment of Offices of New Americans in states across the U.S.
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WES U.S. Policy Tracker
The WES U.S. Policy Tracker monitors state and federal policies that create pathways to employment and educational opportunity for immigrants, refugees, and other displaced people in the United States. This tracker supports the efforts of advocates, policymakers, and practitioners working to promote economic inclusion.
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International Student Success
As a founding member of the U.S. for Success Coalition, WES and its partners work to foster supportive policies and practices that position the U.S. as a top destination for international students and as a welcoming environment where students can contribute their skills after graduation.
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The Imprint Coalition
As part of its policy work, WES houses the IMPRINT Coalition. The coalition consists of national and local nonprofits and advocacy groups committed ensuring equitable access to opportunity for immigrants and those who have experienced forced migration.
Our Impact: The Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act Became Law
On September 19, 2022, the U.S. Congress passed the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act, and the bill became law on October 17, 2022. More than 200 partners joined WES’ campaign to pass this bipartisan legislation, which directs the U.S. Department of Labor to study the factors limiting employment opportunities for immigrants and refugees who hold credentials from another country.
Our Impact: Recommendations to the White House Task Force on New Americans
Approximately two million immigrants and refugees who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher are either unemployed or underemployed in the U.S. according to the Migration Policy Institute. The IMPRINT Coalition calls upon the White House Task Force for New Americans to ensure that internationally trained immigrants and refugees are served through future federal policies, programs, and funding initiatives.