- March 06, 2024
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- March 06, 2024
On March 6, 2024, the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany hosted the eleventh discussion in the virtual event series State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue with German and U.S. state legislators. While global challenges are traditionally addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have stepped up to take action when nation-states have been unable to make progress due to political polarization and partisan gridlock. This trend has also characterized transatlantic relations and the German-American partnership.
Immigration has deeply influenced the development of both the United States and Germany historically and today. Recent crises, such as the wave of refugees after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the migration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border have posed multifaceted challenges in providing immediate necessities and integrating migrant’s long term. Challenges to economic integration and social inclusion persist, including language barriers and recognition of foreign qualifications. Though immigration policy falls under federal jurisdiction, the role of U.S. states and German Länder in successful integration is crucial. State governments can aid integration by providing accessible resources for housing, language education, vocational training, and cultural programs. Recent public debates between the federal government and the Bundesländer over how to limit the influx of migrants and distribute costs for refugees have dominated the headlines. Many U.S. states have outlined the need for additional support to manage a surge of asylum seekers as some states are subject to a greater influx of migrants than others. In this discussion with state legislators on both sides of the Atlantic, we examine the impacts of immigration challenges at the state level and how collaborative efforts across different levels of government and stakeholders can best address these hurdles in light of current affairs.
We discussed these issues with Franziska Baum, Member of the Parliament of Thuringia (FDP) and Senator Brian Fernandez, Member of the Arizona Senate (Democrat).
This event is part of the State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue which the Aspen Institute Germany and the American Council on Germany have launched to provide a platform for subnational exchange amongst German and American state legislators and a broader audience on common transatlantic challenges. The project builds on Aspen Germany’s Laboratories of Democracy Initiative, a transatlantic exchange program for German and American state legislators.
