Fear within immigrant “receiving communities” has increased all across the country, but has been most pronounced in places where immigrant populations have appeared suddenly outside of traditional settlement areas. Since the 1990s there has been an unprecedented “immigrant dispersal” that has put immigration in the spotlight – for the first time – in all 50 states. This increased anxiety has in turn led to mistrust and fragmentation within communities; a record increase in hate crimes and punitive legislation targeting foreign born residents; and reluctance among immigrants to interact with long-time residents. As a result, the integration of immigrants into mainstream American society is faltering.

Despite the alarming growth in immigration-related anxiety, and all of the negative consequences for communities, almost no resources are currently being devoted to reducing receiving community fears. The time has come to develop a receiving community strategy for communities across the U.S. Such a strategy will take into consideration the underlying causes of immigration-related anxiety and tension, and will identify key actions that community actors can take to mitigate the anxiety. The Receiving Communities Initiative (RCI) is a new project that is determined to develop that strategy.