Category: Immigration - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

QC IMBY Giveaway

5/27/2026

QC IMBY - It's giveaway time!
Vote by Friday, May 29th

Immigration Coalition of the Quad Cities

QC In My Back Yard is celebrating the amazing immigrant-owned businesses that help make our community stronger, more diverse, and full of incredible food! You need to have a Facebook account to participate.

We’re giving away THREE $25 gift certificates to some amazing local immigrant-owned restaurants:
Eddy's Snack Bar
Restaurante Sabor Catracho
Nally's Kitchen, Inc.

THREE winners will each receive ONE $25 gift certificate!

HOW TO ENTER:
1. Like & Share this Facebook post.
2. Tag a friend in the comments.
3. Follow this page.
(You must complete all 3 to be entered!)

Winners will be randomly drawn on Friday, May 29th. Make sure you’re following our page so you don’t miss future spotlights, stories, and giveaways highlighting the positive impact immigrants make in our community every day.

Allison Ambrose

Quotes from immigrants in 1840s Iowa-Immigration Coalition QC

5/3/2026

Excerpts from The Goldfinch

Immigration Coalition of the Quad Cities

The Goldfinch: Iowa History for Young People was a magazine published four times a year between 1975 and 2000 by the Iowa Historical Society. The November, 1981 edition, edited by Margaret Atherton Bonney, focused on immigrants, particularly in Iowa. Her edition includes quotes from actual immigrants in Iowa.

QCIMBY (Quad Cities In My Back Yard) will be sharing interesting things from this edition in a series of posts. For example, in 1848, a Dutch immigrant in Pella, wrote to his father, “…if we remain healthy, within a few years we can start on our own farm, which would never have become a reality in Vriesland (province in the Netherlands). …there is not one person who, by moving to America, does not earn more than a common laborer over there.”

Sign up for the Immigration Coalition of the Quad Cities Substack here.

Allison Ambrose

QCAIR 8th Annual Honors Dinner Of Interest to Our Community

4/22/2026

QCAIR 8th Annual Honors Dinner
Friday, May 15th at 5 pm

Putnam Museum and Science Center
1717 W 12th ST
Davenport, Iowa (map)
Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees (QCAIR)

Join us for a special evening recognizing immigrants and refugees who have become U.S. citizens and are making outstanding contributions in our community. This event celebrates perseverance, achievement, and the strength that diversity brings to the Quad Cities.

Social hour begins at 5 pm and the program starts at 6 pm. To purchase tickets scan the QR code or register here.

Susan Leuthauser (she/her)
[email protected] or 563-594-0854

An Immigrant Story - Of Interest to Our Community

4/17/2026

An Immigrant Story

Immigration Coalition of the Quad Cities

Yen's story is the first in a series of stories about local immigrants that will be appearing on the QCIMBY (Quad Cities In My Back Yard) Facebook page. These stories are also available in the Immigration Coalition QC Substack email. Please subscribe here.

Yen Dao immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam at age 7 with her mom and four older siblings to join Yen's father, who worked multiple jobs to bring them to their new home. “My parents wanted us to have a chance at freedom and education,” said Yen, now 41 and thriving in her education career and volunteerism in the Quad Cities.
Name: Yen Dao

Age: 41
Family: I have a son, four siblings and their children, and my dad. My mother passed away five years ago.

Residence: Bettendorf
Native country: Vietnam
Occupation/Volunteer or School: High School Staff Member

When did you immigrate to the United States? 1992

What motivated your decision to immigrate? My parents wanted us to have a chance at freedom and education. Since I was seven, I didn’t have a say in whether I wanted to go.

Who accompanied you when you immigrated to the U.S.? My mom and four older siblings accompanied me to the US. My dad was already in the US working multiple jobs to save enough money to bring us over.

Why did you choose the Quad Cities area for your new home? We landed in Des Moines first. I moved to the Quad Cities because my sister was already here.

What language or languages did you speak when you arrived in the U.S.? Vietnamese

If English is not your first language, how did you become more familiar with English? I learned English while I was in school. The fact that I had to use English all the time helped me become more familiar with it.

How were you treated when you first arrived in the Quad Cities area? I didn’t notice how I was treated when I first arrived to the QC. However, there was a large gathering at the airport when I arrived in Des Moines to welcome my family to the US. I definitely felt out of place and an outsider while at school because I didn’t know the language.

How did get more involved in life in the Quad Cities area? I became more involved and met more people by joining the Quad Cities Tennis Meetup group over 13 years ago. Shortly after I joined, the organizer moved and needed someone to take over the role. I have been the organizer for QC Tennis Meetup ever since. Later, I joined the Quad Cities Pickleball Club and became involved with running leagues and tournaments. I also participate in neighborhood gatherings to meet more people around me.

What work, volunteer activities, children’s activities and/or hobbies keep you engaged? I work at a high school to help students with disabilities prepare for life after high school. Outside of work, I stay involved with the tennis and pickleball community. My interest in gardening has helped me meet many neighbors as they walk by my property.

What gives you the most joy? I love working in my garden! I’m constantly working on my garden and look forward to seeing new growth.

What challenges have you navigated as an immigrant? Language barrier was the most difficult part to navigate as an immigrant. This affected my ability to make friends and perform well in school. When I was at home, my parents expected me to speak Vietnamese so I wouldn’t forget it. I wasn’t allowed to speak English. It made the process to learn English a little slower at first. I’m grateful that my parents insisted I speak Vietnamese only because I do retain most of it compared to my peers.

Who are your mentors, the people you admire most? I admire my parents the most. My parents showed me the value of hard work, perseverance, and honesty. My mother had a 9th grade education and raised her five children on her own while my dad worked in the US to bring all of us over. With limited English, they were still able to provide us with what we needed by working multiple jobs, saving money, and teaching us valuable lessons. I can attribute my love for gardening from my dad, who is a master gardener.

What gives you hope? I think people in general are good and kind to others. I see this every day with the teachers, counselors, admins and neighbors I interact with.

What is your favorite quote, motto or religious verse? Treat others the way they want to be treated.

Allison Ambrose

QC Civic Conversation on Immigration - After Action Report

2/21/2026

**QC Civic Conversation with Peter Kvisto on Immigration Fact, Fiction, and Solutions - After Action Report**

Over 80 people attended the 4th Quad Cities Civic Conversation event, co-sponsored by PACG, One Human Family, Quad Cities Interfaith and Iowa Citizens Action Network. Dr. Peter Kivisto, retired Augustana professor of Social Thought, informed the audience about various facts about immigration and immigrants in our country, revealing the contributions that the immigrant population brings to the country. He also discussed the needs and challenges for positive legislation and policy going forward. A question and answer session ended the event. The audience was very engaged and learn a lot about the state of immigration today.

If you missed the event, you can view it at Vince Thomas’ YouTube channel where he posts for Community News & Views which airs on Public Access TV Channel 11 Mediacom in the Quad Cities area of Rock Island-Moline, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa. Here is a link to the video: Pete Kivisto, Sociologist on Immigration Fact, Fiction and Solutions.

Allison Ambrose

Half of Fortune 500 Companies founded by immigrants

9/12/2025

Nearly Half of Fortune 500 Companies in 2025 Were Founded by Immigrants or Their Children

American Immigration Council

In the 2025 New American Fortune 500 Companies list, 46.2 percent, or 231 companies, were founded by immigrants or their children—109 by immigrants and 122 by children of immigrants. Additionally, 10 out of 22 companies that were either new to the list or returning after a previous appearance were founded by immigrants or their children. These new American firms make important contributions to both the U.S. and the global economies.

View this report.

Susan Leuthauser (she/her)

US views on immigration have changed - No Hate in Our States

7/29/2025

How US views of immigration have changed

Franciscan Peace Center

Months after President Donald Trump took office amid a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment, the share of U.S. adults saying immigration is a "good thing" has jumped substantially, including among Republicans, according to a new Gallup Poll. About eight in 10 Americans — 79 percent — say immigration is good for the country, an increase from the 64 percent a year ago and a high point in the nearly 25-year trend. Only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults say immigration is a bad thing right now, down from 32% last year. Read the Associated Press article here.

Current State of Immigration - Immigration Coalition of QC

7/20/2025

The Current State of Immigration

Immigration Coalition QC

Here are where things are as of July 8th, 2025:

From January to July, there have been many changes to the immigration system. These rapid changes have completely reformed the immigration landscape and have been so numerous that it is difficult to keep track of them all! Here are where things are as of July 8th, 2025:

Deportation

At least 56,000 immigrants are currently being held in ICE detention centers
- Almost 30,000 of those detained have no criminal record
- The number of immigrants detained without a criminal record has nearly doubled since May
The Trump Administration has a goal of making 3,000 ICE arrests a day
- For reference, on June 3rd, 2025 ICE made the most arrests ever in a single day at 2,200.
The Supreme Court has blocked a lower court order that required 15 days’ notice to individuals the Trump Administration is trying to deport to countries other than their own. Potential deportees now are not guaranteed time to contact their lawyers and present evidence showing their lives would be in danger if deported to their own or third countries. This has resulted in deportations to third countries being conducted within 24 hours.

ICE and Immigration Enforcement Strategies

ICE is now the largest law enforcement agency in the country, with a budget of $170 billion
- $45 billion has been allocated to expand their detention capabilities to at least 116,000 beds
- $30 billion has been allocated for transportation and removals, and to hire 10,000 new deportation officers
- $46.5 billion has been allocated to complete a wall along the US-Mexico border
Top Health and Human Services officials directed the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services to share data with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about millions of Medicaid recipients for the purposes of immigration enforcement. The data already shared pertained to residents of California, Illinois, Washington, and Washington D.C..
The Department of Agriculture has told states that they need to turn over names, social security numbers, addresses, and dates of birth for all those who applied for SNAP benefits in the past five years or risk losing federal funding. DHS has also brokered agreements with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to get data on noncitizens.
In order to raise arrest numbers, DHS is now asking for immigration cases to be dismissed and arresting immigrants immediately at the courthouse.

Asylum, Temporary Legal Protections, and Naturalized Citizenship

In an executive order signed in January, seeking asylum through our southern border has been completely halted – meaning all claims are denied.
- In July, a federal judge ruled that this order is unlawful. This decision is being appealed.
The Trump Administration has ended or attempted to end temporary legal protections for migrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Nepal, Haiti, and Venezuela.
The Justice Department has been directed to prioritize denaturalization in cases involving immigrants who have gained their citizenship but committed certain crimes (or at the discretion of the Justice Department).

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City Proclamations in support of Immigrant and Refugee - After Action Report

6/27/2025

Immigrant and Refugee Proclamation - After Action Report

Civil Rights Forum

The Immigration Coalition of the Quad Cities had two more successes! Both the cities of Bettendorf, Iowa and Silvis, Illinois graciously supported our Pro-Immigrant and Refugee proclamation!

Allison Ambrose

Davenport Immigrant and Refuge Proclamation - After Action Report

6/3/2025

Immigrant and Refugee Proclamation presented to the City of Davenport - After Action Report

Civil Rights Forum

The Immigration Coalition of the Quad Cities presented a proclamation to the Davenport City Council affirming the value of immigrants and refugees in our community. Several coalition members were in attendance, and the proclamation was accepted with support!

Allison Ambrose