BALTIMORE, MD (Thursday, June 27, 2024) – Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott was joined by members of the City Council, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MIMA), advocates, and community members to sign City Council Bill 23-0438 into law which makes the existence and operations of MIMA permanent.

MIMA serves to promote community wellbeing, economic development, and the integration of immigrant communities by identifying needs and opportunities that immigrants bring to Baltimore, while developing public-private partnerships to strengthen the development of these communities. In Baltimore, the immigrant population has been a consistent source of growth. From 2010 to 2021, the city’s foreign-born population grew by over 4,571 people, and, today, Baltimore’s foreign-born population represents 8% of the city’s total population.

“For a decade, MIMA has been instrumental in providing essential information, advocacy, and support to our immigrant population – often in the most difficult circumstances and assisting community members through significant hurdles,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “My vision for MIMA is to continue building a welcoming, supportive community where immigrants can thrive and contribute, and this legislation marks a significant step towards that goal. By signing this bill today, we are ensuring that Baltimore’s immigrant population and our city as a whole will continue to see the benefits of MIMA’s tireless work, no matter who is in office.”

“I’m proud to have introduced legislation to ensure the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs is a permanent office,” said Councilwoman Odette Ramos (District 14). “Thank you to Mayor Scott for signing the bill, making it official! We are sending a message to reassure our community and reiterating that Baltimore City is a welcoming city. Our Hispanic/Latine community is the fastest growing population in the city and I am proud to represent them. We must continue to do the work to ensure our immigrant communities thrive here in Baltimore.”

MIMA’s key features outlined in the legislative proposal include:  

Established in 2014, MIMA has served as a hub for technical assistance, immigrant support, civic engagement, information, resources, and advocacy. In 2021, Baltimore City was ranked number #5 in the country in immigrant integration efforts by the American Immigration Council and the New Americans Economy. The index measures and compares immigrant integration across the 100 largest cities in the United States by assessing local policies such as language access, immigration legal services, government infrastructures dedicated to supporting New Americans and more. In addition, in 2019, Baltimore City earned the nationally recognized designation of Certified Welcoming. This designation is possible after an intensive audit process in which Welcoming America, a national organization that provides support to welcoming communities, assessed Baltimore’s City’s programs and policies against identified national best practices.

“MIMA was established through tireless advocacy of dedicated partners who believed in more than just symbolic gestures. We envisioned a city where immigrants were fully integrated into the fabric of our city. This requires influencing systems that were not originally designed to serve our diverse populations.”  said Catalina Rodriguez, Director of MIMA. “Today’s milestone ensures that MIMA's mission will endure for years to come. However, its success depends on all of us. We must remain vigilant and proactive, ensuring that MIMA remains an important component of our local government. As advocates, service providers, and partners, your roles are crucial in holding local government accountable and ensuring that immigrants are prioritized.

About the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MIMA)
The establishment of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MIMA) was a recommendation from The New Americans Task Force, a diverse group of community stakeholders. MIMA’s mission since its formation in 2014 has been to promote community well-being, economic development, and the integration of immigrant communities by identifying needs and opportunities that New Americans bring to our city while developing public-private partnerships to strengthen the development of these communities. For more information regarding MIMA, please visit https://mima.baltimorecity.gov