Broadening the Base, Changing the Immigration Narrative: Lessons from the Ellis Island Initiative
In a new report IRI looks at the Ellis Island Initiative—a project that brought together business, labor, and community leaders in an effort to find common ground in managing immigration in suburban and rural parts of New York State. The Initiative began in 2023, to take on squarely the challenges of a sudden increase in the number of asylum seekers and other immigrants, intense politicization of the issues, and backlash from local communities.
The immigration and political climate has changed, but there are strong lessons for how to move away from a politics of fear and division and toward an agenda of shared prosperity that addresses the concerns of both immigrants and longstanding residents.
Yvonne Armstrong, president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, said on the occasion of the release of this report:
“Immigrants have always been at the heart of our union and the broader labor movement—working in every type of healthcare setting, caring for our families, and building our communities. That’s why 1199SEIU was proud to provide seed funding to launch the Ellis Island Initiative. It brought labor to the table alongside business and civic leaders to focus on what really matters: creating welcoming, common-sense solutions that meet our workforce needs and reflect our values. At a time when division is being used for political gain, this Initiative is a powerful reminder that New York is strongest when we stand up for inclusion, dignity, and opportunity for all. This is what we heard and saw time and time again from both employers and workers who shared their powerful stories as part of the narrative strategy of this project.”
Heather C. Mulligan, President and CEO, The Business Council of New York State, Inc., said:
“Throughout New York State businesses of all sizes are facing a harsh reality: there simply aren’t enough workers to fill the jobs that keep our economy running. Right now, there are 500,000 open jobs across the state in critical industries like healthcare, construction, and hospitality. That’s not a political talking point—it’s an economic emergency. The approach of the Ellis Island Initiative, which has been focused on practical, bipartisan solutions that will strengthen our workforce, support local businesses, and grow our economy, is an effective solution. As you will read in this report, the Coalition that The Business Council has been a founding member of and look forward to continuing this critical work with, is needed more than ever.”
Douglas Hovey, President and CEO, Independent Living, Inc. added:
“As untapped workers seek opportunities across our state, we need to not just embrace them here, but also ensure that they can access the good-paying jobs we have open, right now. I know this because I am an employer and run a small business with deep roots in the Hudson Valley. Independent Living, Inc. is a provider of in-home support and assistance to people with disabilities and older adults who need it. Right now, we are facing historic employee shortages, which means we can’t support our clients. I was proud to join the Ellis Island Initiative’s convening of local stakeholders in Kingston to identify practical bipartisan solutions for welcoming new arrivals to the Hudson Valley region including creating a ‘Welcoming Council.’ What’s so clear to me then and now is that what we need across the state is not scare tactics, but real solutions that help small businesses like mine.”