Governor encourages acceptance of immigrants

Governor Vilsack is encouraging Iowans to be more accepting of immigrants.Vilsack says Iowa’s population gains this decade are solely a result of newIowans who come from foreign soil.Vilsack says census figures prove the trend.Vilsack says in the 1970s, Iowa religious and community organizationswelcomed immigrants from Vietnam, and he’s encouraging those groups extendthe same welcome mat to new immigrants from other lands. Vilsack may direct the opening of a “Center for New Iowans” — an ideaadvanced in the legislature as an alternative to establishing English asIowa’s official language.Iowa’s Lieutenant Governor, Sally Pederson, will host a statewide diversityconference this fall, focusing on how to best help immigrants settle inIowa.