The latest from our network:
- Curious about the “Secure America’s Workforce” Fly In event in D.C.?
Learn more at the Fly In Preview and Employer Rights and Responsibilities Webinar on Feb. 28 at 11 AM CST / 12 PM EST. Register for the webinar
You’ll hear more about “Secure America’s Workforce” Fly-In goals and impact from co-sponsors the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, ABIC and Dairy Producers of New Mexico.
We’re also happy to have onboard as Fly In co-sponsors: the National Association of Minority Contractors, Hispanic Construction Council, US Hispanic Business Council, the Illinois Restaurant Association and others. You can join as a co-sponsor or attendee, join the webinar to learn more.
- In light of Florida lawmakers revoking in-state tuition for immigrant students, Mike Fernandez, co-founder of ABIC, wrote a powerful op-ed in the Miami Herald: Barring Florida Dreamers from affordable college is a blow to the state
News Briefing
Top News
- Federal Reserve officials warned that shifts in trade and immigration policy could derail inflation progress, according to minutes from their Jan. 28-29 meeting. After two years of battling inflation, progress has stalled, and policies like high tariffs and stricter immigration controls could be contributors.
- New polling shows Americans split on their opinion of President Trump’s immigration actions, with 50% approving and 48% disapproving of his immigration policies so far. Opinions turn negative, however, on questions about deporting immigrants who have broken only immigration laws and have deep U.S. ties:
- President Trump signed an executive order targeting sanctuary cities and cutting federal aid to undocumented immigrants late Wednesday. The order would withhold federal funding from jurisdictions that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
- An 11-year-old schoolgirl from Texas died by suicide after being bullied for months by classmates who threatened to call ICE. They allegedly told the girl that once her family was deported, she would be all alone in the U.S.
Immigration Enforcement and Deportations
- 41% of people detained by ICE in the first two weeks of February had no criminal conviction or pending charges, according to ICE data reported by NBC News. At the same time, the data showed detention centers are nearing full capacity.
- The DOJ dismissed 20 immigration judges this week who help decide if a noncitizen can be deported, amid a record 3.7 million case backlog. The Trump administration also ordered a halt to legal representation for unaccompanied migrant children, which affects nearly 26,000 children.
- Florida is moving quickly to enforce new tough immigration laws, with the creation of a new state immigration enforcement board and allocation of $300 million to ramp up. The new laws increase penalties for undocumented immigrants who commit crimes, create a state crime for re-entering the state illegally and revoke in-state tuition eligibility for undocumented students. See ABIC Co-founder Mike Fernandez’s oped in the Miami Herald here
Update from Capitol Hill
- Senate Republicans are continuing to advance a budget bill that emphasizes border security, defense spending, and energy initiatives. The Senate’s approach aims to address immediate policy areas, while the House of Representatives is working on a broader bill encompassing $4 trillion in tax cuts alongside immigration and defense funding.
Fights in the Courts
- The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the Trump administration’s birthright citizenship ban, ruling unanimously. The decision upholds a February 6 injunction, and the case may now head to the Supreme Court.
- Venezuelan nationals and advocacy groups have sued the Trump administration over its termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 348,000 Venezuelans, set to expire in April.
- A federal judge has temporarily stopped the deportation of eight asylum seekers who claim they face persecution if returned to their home countries.
- Denver Public Schools filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, accusing the administration of disrupting students’ education.
Industry Spotlight
Data on the top five U.S. industries that employ foreign-born workers. Immigrants are the backbone of so many industries that help make our economy prosper. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Get Involved
- Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voice be heard with your peers – sign up here. The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
- Share your story: If your business is interested in engaging with the press as part of ABIC or amplifying your story on social media, take this quick survey to let us know your preferences.
In Their Own Words
Quotes from newsmakers speaking about immigration policy and enforcement this week.
Tyler Montague, senior policy advisor for the American Business Immigration Coalition, on the Arizona bill that calls on county sheriffs and officials to support immigration enforcement.
“We don’t oppose removing dangerous people from the community. We acknowledge that there are dysfunctional parts of federal immigration law that need to be fixed and improved but the answer is not a state-level, enforcement-only provision that requires our local police departments to make their ‘best efforts’ at enforcing federal immigration law,” Montague said. “That’s what will break up families. That’s what could devastate our workforce.”
ABIC member Adam Lampert, CEO of Cambridge Caregivers / Manchester Care Homes:
“We need to build a system that benefits us as Americans. What works for us is having guest workers here, having people fill roles for things that we need and want as Americans,” Lampert said. “We are going to have a healthcare crisis in this country, we need more healthcare workers here.”
Secretary Kristi Noem:
“President Trump has a clear message: if you are here illegally, we will find you and deport you. You will never return. But if you leave now, you may have an opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American Dream.”
John Rosenow, a fifth-generation farmer in Waumandee, Wisconsin told CBS News Trump’s mass deportation plan would put him out of business
“[If workers are deported] I’m out of business. And it wouldn’t take long.”
Key Employer Resources:
Fact Sheet on Managing No-Match Letters, Form I-9 Audits and Worksite Visits
Always available: ABIC Employer Resources Folder
ABIC in the news. . .
- AZ Mirror: GOP ‘Arizona ICE Act’ forcing local police into immigration enforcement clears its first hurdle (2/17/25)
- Arizona Capitol Times, Senate panel gives immigration enforcement bill initial OK (2/18/2025)
- Wall Street Journal, ‘People Are Afraid of Going Out’—Trump Immigration Moves Hurt Small Businesses, (2/10/2025)
- Members of Comité de 100, spoke with the Wall Street Journal about the unfortunate impact of mass deportations and immigration raids on local businesses.
- WTTW News, Illinois Farm Workers, Consumers on Alert Amid Mass Deportation Threats, (2/6/25)
- The Packer: Much work remains to solve ag labor issues (2/6/25)
- Audacy: Alliance of business groups says inflation could increase due to Trump’s deportation push (2/3/25)
- Newsweek: Arizona Town Declares Emergency Over Donald Trump’s Deportation Policy (01/31/25)
Donate Now to Support ABIC