About US
The Center for American Interest and Policy (CAIP) is comprised of Americans with experience in government both domestically and abroad; derived from these experiences, CAIP recognizes a critical breakdown in the transition and integration of immigrants into the United States. We believe correcting this breakdown is essential to the future prosperity and security of the nation. Moreover, we believe that ongoing analysis of the situation abroad is essential to understanding the American interest. We stand prepared to address these policy challenges through analytical studies, coalition building, and community engagement.
By analyzing how other cultures understand, appreciate, and are compatible with the principles that have led to American exceptionalism, we will better understand how American interests will best be advanced. American or Western values and beliefs such as assimilation can be complicated but essential to freedom and prosperity. This transition for new entrants is essential to living up to our American ideals and creating a successful pathway for potential countrymen. Dedication to assimilating can also have significant long-term benefits for reducing domestic unrest and strengthening national security. Absent tools and resources, this often-vulnerable demographic can unintentionally, and through no fault of their own, create drains on our public infrastructure. Isolation keeps them down and leaves them vulnerable to targeted violence and terror. Conversely, well integrated immigrants contribute to the overall health of our society, workforce, and social fabric.
Our initial research from 2021 titled, “Elements of Refugee Success” studied what underpins a successful transition and the cascading (positive) effects that informs our aim to educate policymakers and stakeholders to improve federal, state and local initiatives to support legal immigrants and newcomers invited to remain in our country. Since that time, we have expanded our study of how these elements apply to all new entrants to the United States.
Several other values and beliefs point to the fact that culture matters. Government policy that seeks to impose certain activities, practices, and cultural traits have long-term impact on both domestic tranquility and prosperity. Our core team and advisors have developed key initiatives to study and inform public policy with this objective in mind.
Executive Director
Charles Dobbs has worked with governments, nonprofits, and business leaders to address acute migration crises in the Middle East, South America and Africa with durable solutions by providing reliable security and opportunities for prosperity. He also advises on the setup and promotion of special jurisdictions to accelerate economic growth in places like the poorer states of Mexico. Closer to home, in one of the most segregated cities in the US he has facilitated structured discussions for local government, church leaders, and for a series of police-neighbor listening circles targeting areas with violent crime, division and distrust of law enforcement. He co-founded a regtech startup for financial inclusion. He reads and writes on new tools powering old insights to do regulatory reform with faster process, greater transparency and accountability to better standards for focused enforcement, and stronger growth.