Patrick orders staff to craft plan on immigration

Massachusetts governor has ordered his staff to form a plan to help immigrants in their state to integrate better. They will use a recent report which listed 131 ways to do this. - - Donna Poisl

By Maria Sacchetti and Andrea Estes, Globe Staff

Governor Deval Patrick urged Massachusetts residents today to avoid getting mired in "the usual debate" over illegal immigration as he gave his cabinet 90 days to craft a plan for better integrating all foreign-born residents into the state's daily fabric.

The governor's remarks came at the State House unveiling of a report with 131 recommendations on ways to improve the lives of immigrants, who make up 14 percent of the state's population. The recommendations include expanded English classes and job training for any immigrant who needs them. But the report also urged him to push for two controversial steps: extending in-state tuition at public colleges and driver's licenses for immigrants here illegally.
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