Patrick kicks off immigration initiative at ‘New Americans’ swearing in

New Americans take the oath of citizenship at Faneiul Hall: Politicker PhotoBOSTON -- A day after signing an executive order creating the New Americans Initiative, Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Milton) kicked off the project in a symbolic way Thursday by welcoming a group of immigrants as they took the oath of citizenship.

Patrick joined U.S. District Court Judge Richard Stearns in granting citizenship to 365 individuals in the Grand Hall in Faneuil Hall. The historic chamber and its balcony were nearly filled with the new American citizens and their friends and families.

In his brief remarks, Patrick discussed the goal of the initiative.

"It's about you," he said. "It's to help you integrate into our communities and into our commonwealth. I look around in this room and all around this commonwealth and I see, and I experience, and I feel how much richer our lives are because of the immigrant and refugee populations in the commonwealth."

Patrick's program requires policy advisors, state officials and advocates to conduct public meetings across the state and draft policy recommendations that would prepare legal immigrants join their communities and the work force. The deadline for these recommendations will be July 1, 2009.  A similar program already exists in Illinois.

Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Milton)Patrick said the country and Massachusetts are organized around specific ideals like equality and opportunity and "when we are true to those ideals, I think we are the envy of the world."

Patrick stressed the economic importance of helping immigrants integrate into society and the work force. Currently, immigrants compost 14 percent of the commonwealth's population and 17 percent of its work force.

"Every giant step forward we have ever taken in Massachusetts economically," he said, "has been in a moment in time when we have shown a warm welcome to newcomers."

The governor also said that to see the impact of immigrants on the state, one need to look no further than a Saturday night at the ballpark. He highlighted foreign born Red Sox stars Daisuke Matsuzaka, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz as well as one third of the Boston orchestra that was not born in the United States.

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, more than half of the science faculty is immigrants, he said. And, most strikingly, 85 percent of Dunkin' Donuts franchise owners are immigrants.

Patrick was warmly received by the crowd and given a standing ovation at the conclusion of his remarks.

"Let me simply say on behalf of the people of Massachusetts that I am honored to welcome my new American brothers and sisters. I do so with arms open and spirits high," he said. "Here in Massachusetts we stand ready to help your dreams come true."