Immigrant families are an essential part of the fabric of Arkansas, from their contributions to our communities and workforce to our overall culture. For all Arkansans to have a bright future, we must make sure that children in immigrant families grow up healthy, economically secure, and with a good education.
Arkansas’s children in immigrant families are more likely to live in poverty than kids who have two U.S.-born parents. This disparity is maintained by policies that keep immigrants from participating fully in our economy, driving down wages for families in all ethnic and racial groups. We need all families and children in Arkansas to reach their full potential if we are to reach ours as a state.
Immigrants and their families are powerful advocates for policy change. Over the past decade, Arkansas has extended health care access to lawfully residing immigrant children, SNAP and Medicaid access to families born in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and established a more equitable higher education tuition policy for immigrants. It’s important that we not backtrack on these important wins, even as a movement nationally seeks to reverse such policies and strip children of immigrants of their citizenship.
Join us in the fight for children’s rights and family support. Your involvement can help shape a better future for our community.
