Increasing rates of both legal and undocumented immigration, greater diversity among new immigrant populations, and more dispersive settlement patterns create challenges for all levels of government. The most intense and direct pressures are felt at the local level in counties, cities, towns, and villages across the nation.

In the absence of comprehensive immigration reform at the national level, local governments across the United States are struggling to balance the goals of public health and safety, economic development, and community cohesion in the face of increasing immigration.