In an irony of all ironies, states with Republican governors are showing public support to immigrants.
No, seriously, they are.
Governors and other elected officials in red states around the country are issuing their proclamations declaring June as Immigrant Heritage Month (IHM).
Since the kickoff on June 1, these Republican governors have joined the effort, signing proclamations (two of the proclamations are available online):
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson
Missouri Governor Eric Greiten
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder
Ohio Governor John Kasich
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (Not a type. Seriously, Abbott did one as well, Yes, the same Abbott who did this.)
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam
These are the Democrats who signed proclamations:
Montana Governor Steve Bullock
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf
This nationwide IHM effort was launched in 2014 by Welcome.Us, a nonprofit organization that advocates for immigrant rights in the United States. This project gives “opportunity to explore their [people in the U.S] own heritage and celebrate the shared diversity that forms the unique story of America.”
In 2015, President Barack Obama officially recognized the month of June >to honor immigrants. Celebrities and nonprofit pro-immigration organizations such as FWD.US have joined the movement as well.
Maria Praeli is part of this project as the Immigration Policy Associate for FWD.US helping with the most recent campaign of the IHM: “I stand with immigrants.” The campaign will have different initiatives to invite people around the U.S to show support for immigrants.
“This is not political. This is to celebrate the beauty and the contributions that immigrants bring to the U.S,” Praeli said in an interview via phone, encouraging “other leaders to really join our effort that are coming for multiple elected officials, celebrities and leaders to take on this.”