Governor Matt Meyer announced on Monday the launch of the Delaware Office of New Americans.
A news release disclosing the establishment of the new agency stated that it would be based within the Delaware Department of State and “will provide dedicated support to the immigrant community.”
Rony Baltazar-Lopez, the son of Latino immigrants, a 2024 Democratic candidate for state representative, and former Director of Policy and Communications at the Department of State, has been selected as the office’s first director.
“Immigrants are vital to the strength of our economy,” Mr. Baltazar-Lopez said. “It’s time we fully recognize and support their contributions. This new office will ensure that immigrants have access to the resources, opportunities, and tools—such as workforce development and language access—needed to successfully build their lives in Delaware and across the United States.”
According to data provided by the American Immigration Council, approximately 11.5 percent of Delaware’s population, or 118,900 people, are immigrants. Approximately 79,700 of these individuals are reported to be part of the workforce. An estimated 30,500 are believed to be “undocumented,” residing in the country due to either civil or criminal violations, depending on the circumstances of their arrival.
The Delaware Office of New Americans was first proposed in Senate Bill 27, introduced at the start of this year, but it failed to clear the Senate Finance Committee. Instead, it was created with epilogue language inserted into the FY2026 state operating budget.
According to a fiscal analysis completed by the Office of the Controller General, the Delaware Office of New Americans will cost $648,809 to establish and operate through Fiscal Year 2028.
Nearly half of all U.S. states reportedly have similar agencies. According to the news release, the office will soon host a statewide listening tour to understand the needs of Delaware’s immigrant community, as well as organizations that currently support them.
