It is no secret that the Trump administration has ramped up its efforts against immigration. The administration’s widespread crackdown has made it difficult for many immigrants to find a safe and welcoming home in the country that they love.To combat the widespread animosity toward the immigrant community, several cities have increased their efforts to attract newcomers from all countries. A new list examines some of these cities and ranks them according to how welcoming they are for immigrants.
The New York Immigration Coalition and the money transfer service TransferWise examined the 50 most populous cities in the United States and selected the 10 that are friendliest for immigrants. The two organizations considered a broad range of criteria including availability of programs to assist immigrants, willingness to shield immigrants from deportation and level of cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Three of the cities on the list are located in California. This may be due to California’s status as a so-called “sanctuary state” that limits the cooperation of local authorities with federal immigration enforcement. The three California cities ranked among the best in the country for immigrants are:
- Los Angeles
The City of Angels was ranked ninth on the list, likely because of its high minimum wage and universal preschool program. Thirty-eight percent of the city’s population is composed of immigrants– among the highest percentage in the nation.
- San Jose
The fourth best city in the U.S. for immigrants is San Jose, and with good reason. Over the past few years, the city has introduced several programs designed to assist immigrants. Local officials have also pledged over $1 million for legal aid for immigrants who are facing deportation.
- San Francisco
San Francisco’s high public-school graduation rate, affordable transportation and quality infrastructure helped make it the number one city in the country for immigrants. The city has also remained devoted to its “sanctuary” policies despite heavy pushback from anti-immigration advocates.
The 10 best cities in the U.S. for immigrants
The complete list of the top 10 best cities in the country for immigrants is as follows:
1. San Francisco, CA
2. Chicago, IL
3. New York, NY
4. San Jose, CA
5. Washington, DC
6. Baltimore, MD
7. Seattle, WA
8. Boston, MA
9. Los Angeles, CA
10. Milwaukee, WI
