{"data":{"id":"us-de/29-del.-c.-8751","jurisdiction":"us-de","citation":"29 Del. C. § 8751","heading":"Legislative findings [Expires Sept. 30, 2029; see 85 Del. Laws, c. 535, § 2].","body":"The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:\n(1) In 2023, Delaware was home to 115,129 foreign-born individuals, which comprised 11.6% of this State’s population.\n(2) Throughout this State’s history, immigrants have played a critical role in this State’s economic, cultural, and political growth and success.\n(3) Policies that promote the attraction, retention, and inclusion of immigrants and refugees will help enhance this State’s economy and diversity, thereby improving the lives of all residents and helping to remove barriers that may undermine immigrants’ full potential.\n(4) Immigrants currently fill skilled and unskilled positions throughout this State’s economy and are a vital part of this State’s economy and tax base. In 2022, the American Immigration Council noted that immigrant business owners in this State generated more than $1.1 billion in federal and state tax revenue and immigrant spending power was $3.6 billion.\n(5) 42.6% of immigrants in this State have a bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, or graduate degree, compared to 36% of United-States-born Delawareans.\n(6) Organizations are providing leadership in this State’s immigrant integration efforts through programs and services that connect newcomers and longtime Delawareans to economic opportunity.\n(7) It is essential for this State’s future that skilled, energetic, and entrepreneurial immigrants are attracted, retained, and integrated. Immigrants help to bolster this State’s economy and strengthen the social, civic, and cultural fabric.\n(8) This State provides for many services, licenses, and educational and economic opportunities, which makes it imperative to coordinate the work of state agencies, leverage relationships with partner and nonprofit organizations, and recommend policies and programs that support immigrant inclusion. Immigrants on the path to full civic and economic participation will benefit from a welcoming environment and policies that do all of the following:\na. Increase immigrant access to English language instruction and workforce development and employment.\nb. Reduce exploitation and fraud against immigrants.\nc. Connect immigrants to legal services and assist on the path to naturalization.\nd. Provide individuals with meaningful access to State resources and opportunities regardless of English proficiency.\n(9) In recognition of these facts and in promotion of the stated goals, the creation of the Office of New Americans will help improve the lives and economic prosperity of immigrants and of Delawareans generally.","path":["Title 29. State Government","Part VIII. Departments of Government","Chapter 87. Department of State","Subchapter II. Office of New Americans [Expires Sept. 30, 2029; see 85 Del. Laws, c. 535, § 2]"],"source_url":"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title29/title29.pdf","current_through":"2026-10-01 (85 Del. Laws, c. 550)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-10-21T05:50:44Z","sha256":"1f53a8428c0b1020b297b5172fb916658be3c002eff7b677dfef0c5b0b1751e3","source_id":"us-de","stale":false,"prev":"us-de/29-del.-c.-8737-8743","next":"us-de/29-del.-c.-8752"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}