CARRBORO, N.C. – Mayor Damon Seils has proclaimed June 2023 to be Immigrant Heritage Month in Carrboro.
According to American Community Survey estimates in 2020, more than 1 out of every 8 Carrboro residents was born outside the United States. Our town is home to nonprofit organizations like El Centro Hispano, the Refugee Community Partnership, and the Refugee Support Center that support immigrants, migrants, and refugees through community building and organizing, language access, legal assistance, after-school programs, job training, distribution of food and essential goods, and more.
Generations of immigrants, migrants, and refugees from around the world have built the nation’s economy and shaped the character of our communities. Immigrants have been leaders, not only in securing their own rights and access to equal opportunity but also in creating a fairer and more just society for everyone.
“I encourage all residents to celebrate the many contributions that immigrants have made in Carrboro and across the country, to learn more about immigrant communities and histories, and to offer assistance to local organizations that support local immigrant, migrant, and refugee communities,” Mayor Seils said.
The Town of Carrboro has long shown support for immigrants and immigrant communities by:
- Calling for comprehensive reform of immigration law and policy
- Working to defeat wage theft
- Supporting training and outreach programs for immigrant workers
- Supporting the federal Uniting American Families Act, noting that an important goal of immigration policy is to facilitate family reunification and enable families and individuals to reside legally in the United States
- Welcoming community for people seeking refuge from violence in their home countries
- Urging the federal government to ensure that those seeking safety in the United States receive due process and legal representation
- Providing funds to local organizations to assist Carrboro residents with costs related to the rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and to support community building and resilience during the COVID-19 public health emergency
- Calling for an extension of the Temporary Protected Status program and urging the US Department of Homeland Security to support refugees and other immigrants fleeing war, violence, and natural disasters
- Joining briefs in federal courts to support the DACA program and to resist government mistreatment of immigrants
Read the full proclamation here: https://www.carrboronc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12888/2023-Immigrant-Heritage-Month-Proclamation
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