Rebecca Shi, Executive Director of ABIC: “Trump and Congress have an opportunity to finally get to a bipartisan deal that secures the border and fixes our broken immigration system.”
WASHINGTON — Today, business leaders with the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), alongside a young Dreamer, hosted a virtual press briefing to discuss the 2024 election results and the impact of the new administration and Congress on U.S. immigration policy and the economy. Speakers highlighted how immigration policy intersects with economic stability in key sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and construction and shared the importance of bipartisan immigration solutions to support workforce needs and economic growth in 2025 and beyond.
Those joining the call discussed how the incoming Trump administration has an opportunity to embrace a pragmatic approach to immigration and workforce solutions that align with its priorities. Instead of mass deportations, which could potentially cost $88 billion in just one year, causing significant economic harm, ABIC is advocating for common-sense solutions that will grow our workforce in key industries like agriculture, construction, and healthcare.
Here’s what speakers had to say about why President-elect Trump and Republicans in Washington should pass bipartisan policies to support these industries and students who graduate from U.S. colleges, helping create a stronger economy, increased business growth, and a stabilized workforce:
Rebecca Shi, Executive Director of ABIC, said: “Americans sent a clear message this election: Congress must act on immigration. […] Over 80 percent of American voters, including 61 percent of Trump voters, support legal status for Dreamers and other long-term workers. […] President Trump and Congress have an opportunity to finally get to a bipartisan deal that secures the border and fixes our broken immigration system. Businesses stand ready to support.”
Bob Worsley, Co-Chairman of the American Business Immigration Coalition and former Arizona Republican State Senator, said: “We know firsthand that if we don’t fix our systemic workforce issues–let alone removing millions of critical workers from our workforce–dreamers, farm workers, TPS holders, and other visa holders, it will immediately impact our economy and our GDP growth in America. Businesses and all Americans are in for a world of hurt, including hyper-labor inflation and delays to get any normal routine work done in this country.”
Jennifer Tilton Flood, a Maine dairy farmer with Flood Brothers Farm, said: “The values of rural America and agriculture are a commitment to fairness and opportunity, and immigrants who contribute to our economy should have a pathway to stability. Because this isn’t just about our farm businesses across the U.S.—this is about economic stability, food security, which is national security, and it is about America.”
Oscar Silva, a Dreamer and spouse of a U.S. citizen who has applied for the Keeping Families Together program, said: “I came to the United States as an infant and have lived here for over 20 years. Texas has been my home for as long as I can remember, and my wife, Natalie, and I have built her life together here. Natalie is a U.S. citizen, and we’ve been together since high school. She’s my best friend, my partner, and my family, but because of our country’s broken immigration system, the stability we need to truly move forward has been out of reach. [Mass deportation] policies threaten not only our future but our peace of mind and sense of security. It’s policies like these that hurt America’s potential to grow and innovate […] It hurts our communities and weakens our shared future.”
Adam Lampert, CEO of Cambridge Caregivers / Manchester Care Homes, said: “The reality is when we think about common sense immigration policy, and how that’s defined, a lot of it has to do with our economy, and that our economy can’t grow and we can’t meet the needs of our economy if we deport all these people. We are going to have inflation without immigrants in the workforce. There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of jobs available that need to be filled that affect us as Americans, and this is a pocketbook issue. If we were to deport these immigrants, it’s simply going to hit us in the pocketbook, because we need the immigrants to push our economy.”
Sam Sanchez, Owner of Third Coast Hospitality; Board Member of the National Restaurant Association, said: “I’ve been a registered Democrat for the past 40 years, and this election, many like myself, decided to go with the other option and vote for a Republican by voting for President-Elect Donald Trump. […] We delivered a message this election and we are going to continue to deliver the message to the new administration […] Please stop ignoring the needs of our people who live and contribute to our country. If you’re going to deport everybody—if these restaurants close—massive amounts of revenue and income will go on a downfall. We believe that as a business owner, President Trump recognizes this.”