As deportation efforts escalate, a bipartisan coalition of business leaders from agriculture, healthcare, food services, and commerce gathered today to launch the “Secure Our Borders, Secure Our Workforce” campaign in partnership with the American Business Immigration Coalition. The initiative calls on the Trump administration and Congress to pursue commonsense immigration reforms that balance border security with the protection and legalization of essential immigrant workers.
With immigrant workers making up nearly 20% of the U.S. workforce and contributing over $80 billion in taxes annually, business leaders warn that mass deportations could deepen the existing labor shortage, drive inflation, and cause trillions in economic losses. By addressing these pressing concerns, the coalition aims to safeguard critical industries, bolster economic stability, and build bipartisan support for long-term solutions.
The Economic and Human Cost of Deportations
According to The Wall Street Journal, a recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation reported detaining 613 individuals with criminal histories and 566 with no criminal histories. These actions have heightened fear in immigrant communities and among business owners who rely on a stable workforce.
Rebecca Shi, Executive Director of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), highlighted the broader consequences of workforce disruptions. “If undocumented immigrant labor is removed, it would slash the gross domestic product by 4.2%,” she said, according to Axios.
Industry Leaders Raise Alarm
A bipartisan group of employers, led by ABIC, launched the “Secure Our Borders and Secure Our Workforce” campaign to advocate for balanced immigration reforms. The coalition represents 1,700 employers nationwide and emphasizes the critical role immigrant workers play in sustaining key sectors.
Marc Schulman, president of Eli’s Cheesecake in Chicago, underscored the value of his workforce during an ABIC press conference. “We can’t imagine our business without the contributions that these individuals make,” Schulman said, noting his company’s 30-year partnership with Refugee One, a resettlement organization. “They have made our culture better. They have great skills.”
Sam Toia, CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, warned of the economic risks posed by large-scale deportations. “We’re gonna see inflation in this country like we haven’t seen since the late ’70s or early ’80s,” he said during the same event, adding that the effects would extend beyond hospitality to construction, farming, and other industries.
A Growing Labor Gap
The challenge of workforce shortages is not new. Shi noted that “even if every unemployed American found a job today, we would still have 1.7 million open positions,” according to federal data. This gap is particularly acute in industries like construction, agriculture, and senior care.
Business leaders echoed this sentiment. Tony DiMare, president of DiMare Homestead tomato growers in Florida, emphasized the stakes: “We can import workers and continue to produce our food here in the United States, or we can import food” and risk food security, he told Axios.
Adam Lampert, CEO of Cambridge Caregivers in Dallas, pointed out the difficulty of finding domestic workers for certain roles. “Offering even higher wages is not going to attract Americans. And as we’re paying [workers] more money, the American consumer is paying the price,” he explained to Axios.
Moving Forward
The calls for reform stress the need for bipartisan solutions that increase legal pathways for immigrant workers. Employers and advocates agree that securing borders and addressing workforce needs are not mutually exclusive. Policies must balance enforcement with pragmatic solutions that ensure economic stability and protect vital industries.
By adopting a balanced approach, policymakers can support businesses, safeguard the economy, and provide a pathway for immigrant workers to continue their contributions.
For more details, read the full reports from The Wall Street Journal, Axios, and WBEZ.