Principles for a Secure and Successful Immigration System for America
Immigrants have long been a vital part of America’s success, contributing hard work, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit to our economy. However, in today’s challenging economic environment, it’s more critical than ever that we have a reliable and legal workforce to address the labor shortages in agriculture, housing, healthcare and manufacturing that also benefits everyday Americans.
As of July 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 11.3 million job openings, which are driving up inflation and compounding supply chain issues. ABIC and Texas A&M University released an economic study on the link between stabilizing the agricultural workforce and decreasing inflation and consumer prices. The study shows that ensuring farmers have a stable, secure, reliable and legal workforce is crucial to keeping America’s grocery shelves stocked, combating inflation, and lowering food prices (including milk, eggs, meat and produce) for all American consumers.
Unfortunately, the current immigration system does not serve the best interests of either our economy, national security or everyday Americans. Legal immigration channels have failed to keep pace with the needs of our growing economy, and the Department of Homeland Security estimates that 11.4 million people are in the country without proper documentation working and paying taxes.
America’s business leaders believe we need an immigration policy that supports economic growth, secures our borders, respects immigration laws and honors the contribution and hard work that dreamers and essential workers bring.
We believe that in order to make immigration work for America today:
- Orderly and Secure Borders are essential to national stability: Enhance border security, while ensuring that those who come here to work and contribute do so through lawful and efficient channels.
- Long-term, bipartisan solutions that benefit both the economy and American citizens: Congress must address the issue of long term immigrants who have contributed, worked and paid taxes for decades as essential workers and dreamers in a fair but firm manner. A clear, practical path to resolve the status of those living here without legal authorization is essential, and it must be done with securing our borders and ensuring future immigration is lawful and orderly.
- Expand legal pathways that benefit everyday Americans: The United States should prioritize the admission of immigrants who possess the skills necessary to grow our economy and compete on the world stage. A strong economy requires a workforce that is both capable, hardworking, and skilled to lower inflation, food and housing prices for everyday Americans and small businesses. We must create legal avenues for workers to fill essential roles in industries where labor shortages are most acute including Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM; agriculture; manufacturing; healthcare and hospitality.
- Protect American Citizens and Families: A modern immigration system should allow businesses to hire foreign workers when American workers cannot be found, ensuring that we remain competitive without undermining the job prospects of American citizens