Iowa Immigrant Worker Initiative

In the mid to late 70’s, Iowa Republican Governor, Bob Ray, initiated one of the greatest humanitarian efforts In Iowa history to assist refugees from Southeast Asia and coordinate efforts to assimilate this immigrant population into the mainstream of Iowa life.  As a result of this effort, thousands of refugees (now tens of thousands of their progeny) obtained invaluable help in housing, education, business development, all the while being protected by the law from prejudice and from those who would take advantage of their immigrant status, including lack of education, lack of language skills and overall familiarity with American culture. 

Now, more than 30 years later, the success of this effort is demonstrated by the seamless integration of this immigrant population into Iowa’s culture.  These immigrants, and particularly the sons and daughters of these immigrants, are notable leaders of the state in education and business.  By all means of measurement, the state of Iowa is far better off by the inclusion of this immigrant group into the present day culture and population of the state. 

The challenge that faced Governor Ray in the mid to late 70’s faces Iowa again today.  Nothing is different except that instead of immigrants from Southeast Asia, they now come from Mexico, Central America and the war torn Balkans.  The same reasons that caused Governor Ray to act exist today.  The same benefits that Iowans reaped by fully integrating this population, remains the potential benefit that Iowans can enjoy in the decades to come. 

The “rule of law” is singularly the greatest attribute of America. Individual rights must be respected and held inviolate irrespective of politics, social trends or the infusion of fear into our daily lives.  The basic tenant of democracy that “the majority rules” can be as destructive to individuals in society as any dictatorship if the rule of law does not carry the day over all other concepts of governance.  For the rule of law to flourish, there must be a two-way flow between the rules imposed by law and the rights protected by these rules.  If our immigrant work force is to fully appreciate, love and protect a society where the rule of law prevails over all else, then the immigrant population must also experience fully the benefits that are afforded to individuals in a society ruled by laws.  Otherwise, the laws are only viewed as a chain of constraint rather than a shield of individual liberty and a lifeline to a better future.  Failure to instill this idea into our immigrant population can spell disaster for the next generation of Iowans who will face unbelievable challenges in-state, nationally and abroad in the decades to come. 

The Iowa Immigrant Worker Initiative is an effort to instill the principle of the rule of law to our ever growing immigrant workforce.  The effort is two-fold.  First, the Initiative will focus on informing and eventually educating through firm sponsored scholarships the immigrant workforce on the law – both the rights and the responsibilities that go hand in hand.  The second component of the Initiative is to provide legal services by the firm’s professionals at a reduced rate and in a manner conducive for immigrant workers.  Regrettably, the legal representation provided to immigrants oftentimes falls far below the standard of what most Iowan’s would expect from their attorneys.  The firm would make its professional services available to members of the immigrant population at a reduced rate.

The firm offers legal services to immigrants in the established areas of the firm’s practice – workers’ compensation, employment law, immigration law, small business creation, family law and civil litigation.  The goal of the initiative is to bring quality legal services to a clientele that typically cannot afford  or have access to these types of legal services.