                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS (§ 63.2-209.1)

A. There is created in the Department an Office of New Americans (the Office) to
assist immigrant integration within the Commonwealth on an economic, social, and
cultural level.

B. The Office shall:

   1. Implement a statewide strategy to promote the economic, linguistic, and
   civic integration of new Americans in the Commonwealth;

   2. Work with localities to coordinate and support local efforts that align
   with the statewide strategy to promote the economic, linguistic, and civic
   integration of new Americans in the Commonwealth;

   3. Provide advice and assistance to new Americans regarding (i) the
   citizenship application process and (ii) securing employment, housing, and
   services for which such persons may be eligible;

   4. Provide advice and assistance to state agencies regarding (i) the
   coordination of relevant policies across state agencies responsible for
   education, workforce, and training programs, including professional licensure
   guidance, small business development, worker protection, refugee resettlement,
   citizenship and voter education or engagement programs, housing programs, and
   other related programs, and (ii) the dissemination of information to
   localities and immigration service organizations regarding state programs that
   help new Americans find and secure employment, housing, and services for which
   they may be eligible;

   5. Educate localities and immigration service organizations on health
   epidemics and unlawful predatory actions, such as human trafficking, gang
   recruitment, and fraudulent financial and other schemes, to which communities
   of such persons may be especially vulnerable;

   6. Serve as the primary liaison with external stakeholders, particularly
   immigrant-serving and refugee-serving organizations and businesses, on
   immigrant integration priorities and policies;

   7. Partner with state agencies and immigrant-serving and refugee-serving
   organizations and businesses to identify and disseminate beneficial immigrant
   integration policies and practices throughout the Commonwealth;

   8. Manage competitive grant programs that replicate beneficial practices or
   test new innovations that improve the effectiveness and efficacy of immigrant
   integration strategies; and

   9. Advise the Governor, cabinet members, and the General Assembly on
   strategies to improve state policies and programs to support the economic,
   linguistic, and civic integration of new Americans throughout the
   Commonwealth.

HISTORY: 2020, cc. 1078, 1079.