Why Should Delaware Care?
A newly created state office will help thousands of immigrants establish themselves in Delaware, bolstering a community that makes up about 11.5% of the state’s population and account for more than $1 billion in local, state and federal tax contributions.
Gov. Matt Meyer established the Delaware Office of New Americans on Monday to aid the state’s nearly 119,000 immigrants amid a period of unprecedented hardships, yet continued prosperity, for many.
Delaware joins nearly half of all U.S. states that already have a similar office to help newly arrived immigrants with citizenship aid, workforce development and civic engagement resources. Meyer appointed Rony Baltazar-López, a native of Milford and a child of immigrants, as the office’s inaugural director, who will provide “integral support” to the state’s immigrant communities, according to a statement released by the Governor’s office.
The creation of the office, which will be housed within the Department of State, comes at a time when immigrant communities are facing a slew of challenges, largely due to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Many of Delaware’s Haitian immigrants have fled to Canada as the Trump administration jeopardizes their legal status, while Venezuelans have already had their temporary protected status revoked.
The crackdown has upended the lives of Latino immigrants across the state, mirroring nationwide trends that are punctuated by people being too scared to leave their homes for fear of being targeted.
Still, Delaware’s diverse immigrant population has steadily grown and prospered over the past 30 years. Immigrants represent about 11.5% of the state’s population and account for more than $1 billion in local, state and federal tax contributions.
Most of Delaware’s immigrants come from Mexico, India and Guatemala, with newcomers from China and Haiti following close behind, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
There are 6,900 immigrant entrepreneurs in the state who bring in more than $126 million in business income, according to the American Immigration Council, a nonprofit immigration research group.
Overall, there are nearly 80,000 immigrants in the workforce, comprising just more than 15% of laborers across the state. More than 28% of immigrants work in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields in Delaware.
“I’m really excited,” Baltazar-López told Spotlight Delaware about his new role and the creation of the office. “I hope that this office reduces some of those barriers to make it easier for immigrants to integrate.”
On Wednesday, Baltazar-López joined legislative and community leaders for a tour of immigrant-owned businesses in Georgetown on his third day as director of the office.
La Plaza organized the community walkabout where Baltazar-López, Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay and Rep. Mara Gorman (D-Newark), among others, spoke with numerous Latino business owners who were preparing to expand throughout Sussex County.
The Office of New Americans will soon launch a statewide listening tour to better understand the needs of Delaware’s immigrant communities and the organizations that currently support them, according to Meyer’s statement.
Additionally, the office will work together with the Delaware Department of Justice’s Office of Immigration Assistance to provide citizenship assistance to residents.
The DOJ’s Office of Immigration Assistance was instrumental in rescuing a victim of domestic violence from deportation back to her Central American country, where she would have been reunited with her abusive ex-husband.
Funding questions
Delaware immigrant advocates have long asked for a state government arm to help newcomers integrate into life in the First State. State Sen. Darius Brown (D-New Castle) introduced bills both in 2023 and again in January to create the Office of New Americans, but the legislation stalled in the Senate Finance Committee both times.
On Wednesday, Rep. Bryan Shupe (R-Milford South, Lincoln, Ellendale) called for increased transparency around the new office, its cost and functions going forward. Shupe said Delawareans support legal immigration but that taxpayers deserve more transparency and purpose when a new government office is created, especially during a budget shortfall.
The Office of New Americans was established with pre-existing funds that were allocated for a vacant position within the Department of State that would be dedicated to addressing immigrant issues in Delaware, according to Meyer’s office and the state’s 2026 fiscal year budget.
In the budget text, the position is characterized as serving as a central source of information for state agencies on immigration-related information impacting Delaware immigrants. The position was also tasked with helping new Delaware immigrants and coordinating with the DOJ’s Office of Immigration Assistance.
In the stalled 2023 bill’s fiscal note, the Office of New Americans was projected to cost about $1.7 million over its first three years of operation. The first year of operations was slated to cost about $543,620, which would pay for operating and personnel costs, including four employees within the office.
In the stalled 2025 legislation, the creation of the office was estimated to cost $648,809 over its first three years of operation with a one-time cost of $30,000 tacked on to the first year.
The past fiscal notes don’t reflect the current iteration of the Office of New Americans, since it was created through executive action. It remains unclear how much funding will be allocated to the office for fiscal year 2027.
Community leaders rejoice
Immigrant advocates celebrated the creation of the office and the naming of Baltazar-López as its director.
Rossana Arteaga-Lopenza, president of Casa de Venezuela Delaware, described the creation of the office as “long due” for Delaware. The office will allow the state to more effectively integrate existing Latino talent into the contributions of Delaware.
“This is only the beginning of a much more prominent career for (Baltazar-López),” Arteaga-Lopenza said.
Baltazar-López previously served as the director of policy and communications at the Delaware Department of State and is currently the board president for La Red Health Center, a clinic focused on serving immigrants in Sussex County.
Baltazar-López was elected as vice chair of the Delaware Hispanic Commission in 2021 and currently serves as the youngest member of the delegation.
“The creation of the Office of New Americans marks a pivotal moment for Delaware,” said Carlos de los Ramos, chair of the Delaware Hispanic Commission, in a written statement.
Gov. Meyer first voiced his support for an Office of New Americans during an August 2024 gubernatorial debate, where he said he wanted to include its creation in his first budget. The debate was organized by Spotlight Delaware.
“When immigrants arrive in Delaware, they don’t just add to our population – they strengthen our neighborhoods, enrich our culture, and build businesses that benefit all Delawareans,” Meyer said in a written statement.
