Immigrant policy: Issues for social work practice

Immigrants make up a significant segment of U.S. society. Immigration to the United States has been characterized by steady growth, dramatic changes in ethnic composition, and declining socioeconomic levels. The challenge for social work is to respond to the social services needs of immigrants by designing appropriate programs that will contribute to the social and economic integration of immigrants. This article provides an overview of the major policy issues relevant to social work practice with immigrants and describes the recent U.S. immigrant population. It discusses current federal policy that affects service provision to immigrants, defines immigrant eligibility for social services, outlines the major areas of need among immigrants, and considers implications for social work practice.