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Border crossings have continued to decrease during the first month of the Trump administration as his deportation operations continue to ramp up. Now, a coalition of worker and immigration advocates plead with the president to protect the workforce and offer legal pathways for migrants with different status to remain in the country.
The initiative, called “Secure America’s Workforce,” was launched by American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Comité de 100 and the Latino Donor Collaborative. They are asking the White House and Congress to enact bipartisan, “common-sense” immigration solutions to “balancing security and economic strength.”
“We congratulate and thank President Trump for delivering on the key promise of securing the border. Now, Congress and the President must deliver on the second half of that promise, which is driving down prices for everyday Americans by securing our workforce,” said Rebeca Shi, CEO of ABIC.
“This means that long-term residents, our Dreamers, our farm workers, and our essential workers— many who have been here for decades— are able to work, pay taxes, and legally come out of the shadows. It also means that employers need access to a stable and reliable pipeline of talent across sectors to make our country globally competitive,” she continued.
Among the members of the initiative are Republican businessmen like Bob Worsley, who was previously a state Senator for Arizona, and now leads construction, energy and real estate companies, as well as Massey Villarreal, the owner of a technology company based in Houston, Noticias Telemundo reports.
“We have [immigration] laws that have not been updated or reformed since before the internet existed. It is time to do so to safeguard our economic security,” Worsley said.
Worsley highlighted that in the last weeks, his company has faced troubles hiring workers because among them are Latinos who fear they will be deported. The former lawmaker says this could have negative repercussions on the country’s economy.
“Trump has hinted that one of the reasons behind his tariffs on Mexico and Canada is that he wants more production to happen in the United States, but where are we going to get enough experienced factory workers if there is a perceived hostile environment or legal immigration avenues are closed?” he said.
The coalition is asking Washington to enact bipartisan legislation, such as a 2023 proposal called the dignity act. The bill, sponsored by Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) and Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) provided for five to seven-year programs that would allow immigrants without legal status to regularize their status and “come out of the shadows” and “help fill thousands of job vacancies.” However, that bill has been stuck in House subcommittees since the end of last year.
The group will take the campaign to Washington, D.C. for a Congressional fly-in to meet with Republicans and Democrats in Congress from March 25-27.
“Creating a better America is a bipartisan issue and we certainly need the workforce to do it. President Trump said he would secure the border and deport the criminals. We were happy to see progress on that, but we now ask for the support for legal pathways for our essential workers and Dreamers,” said Villarreal, who is also Comité de 100 Co-Chair and CEO and President of Precision Task Group.
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