Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Maryland Council for New Americans?

The Maryland Council for New Americans was recently established by Executive Order 01.01.2008.18 on December 3, 2008 to assist the Governor and State agencies to facilitate immigration integration in Maryland. The objective of the Maryland Council for New Americans is to help Marylanders be as American as can be - learning English, becoming a citizen, and getting a better job.

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Who serves on the Maryland Council for New Americans?

Membership of the Maryland Council for New Americans reflects the partnership of private and public sectors within the State. Leaders from government, business, non-profit organizations, and the faith-based community have been appointed to the Council and participate in its Working Groups, which include:

  • Workforce Development
  • Citizenship
  • Financial Services
  • Governmental Access

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What is the purpose of the Maryland Council for New Americans?

The purpose of the Council is to provide policy recommendations for Governor Martin O'Malley in order to promote full immigrant integration into the economic and civic life of Maryland.

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What are the anticipated outcomes for the Maryland Council for New Americans?

The Workforce Working Group will make recommendations regarding credential transfers, job training, and recruitment. Further, this Working Group will identify best practices to assist in the economic integration of new Americans, such as the role of "One Stop" employment centers and expediting English as a second language for children in the public school system and for working adults.

The Citizenship Working Group will plan a coordinated citizenship promotion and assistance program to better facilitate the naturalization of Maryland's estimated 175,000 legal permanent residents who are eligible for naturalization.

The Governmental Access Working Group will focus on improving accessibility to State and local government resources for those with limited English proficiency, and will assess the availability of vital documents in other languages. The group will also develop a specific government wide performance metric through the use of the Governor's StateStat program.

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Is the Maryland Council for New Americans the same as the New Americans Initiative?

Other states, such as Illinois, and a variety of organizations have a "New Americans Initiative" to address immigration policy; these programs are independent of the Maryland Council for New Americans.

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What is the difference between the Maryland Council for New Americans and the New Americans Caucus?

The New Americans Caucus of the Maryland General Assembly is a group of approximately a dozen lawmakers - many of whom are immigrants themselves - who focus on immigration issues through legislation and education.

The Maryland Council for New Americans was established through Executive Order with 45 members representing public, private, and civic sectors across the State. The Council has specific charges outlined in the Executive Order and is responsible for making recommendations to Governor Martin O'Malley nine months after the signing of the Executive Order

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