CPD is excited to help launch a bold new campaign to demand equality for non-citizens. The New York is Home campaign is dedicated to helping nearly 3 million noncitizen New Yorkers become state citizens, and is part of a larger movement to win state citizenship for immigrants in other states.

Working in tandem with a national coalition of elected officials, advocates, experts and community members, we are capitalizing on Eric Cantor’s recent defeat in Congress by moving quickly to refocus the debate on what states can do to extend full equality to millions of noncitizen residents in the United States.

CPD helped write the New York is Home Act, which was introduced earlier this week by Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assembly Member Karim Camara. The Act would grant New York state citizenship to noncitizens, giving them access to health care, drivers’ licenses, professional licenses, the right to vote, the right to run for elected office, equal access to higher education and protection against racial profiling. The New York is Home Act creates an ambitious new model of immigrant inclusion that we will work with states around the country to adopt.

“New York is Home recognizes and promotes the full equality and inclusion of all immigrant families in our democracy and our economy,” said CPD’s Co-Executive Director Andrew Friedman. “Washington may be deadlocked, but the movement for immigrant dignity is gaining real traction in states. What happens here in New York with this legislation will be watched around the country.”

Noncitizens should be treated with the same dignity and respect as American citizens. With state citizenship, countless immigrants, including millions of disenfranchised, aspiring Americans, will be able to exercise greater economic and political power, and help our communities grow and prosper.