While immigrants in Baltimore are clearly becoming successful and integral entrepreneurs, neighbors and colleagues, we must continue to increase civic participation opportunities among new Americans, as well as among all Baltimoreans. It’s not a case of either/or. This is particularly important as we move closer to the next decennial census count in 2020 because immigrants have been historically undercounted. Fostering civic participation may prove difficult due to the current disconnect between federal policies and welcoming cities like Baltimore. Proposals such as the inclusion of a citizenship question in the next Census and ongoing debates about the value of immigration have eroded trust and confidence in public institutions. Nevertheless, as mayor and chair of the Census U.S. Task Force for U.S. Conference of Mayors, I am committed to working with stakeholders to ensure a fair and equitable census process and more importantly, an approach that fosters trust and long-term partnerships between local government and immigrant communities across our city.