Congress must act on comprehensive immigration reform
July 24, 2018
by David Rattray
The past few months have brought some challenging developments in immigration policy -- challenges that have put additional pressure on communities working to create a safe, inclusive environment for immigrants and their families.
Los Angeles is home to 3.5 million immigrants, and the Chamber understands how immigrants are inextricably tied to this country’s social fabric and economic success. With unemployment at historic lows, and immigrants adding billions of dollars to our gross domestic product and tax revenue, we need immigration policies that pave the way toward citizenship, encourage diversity in thought and talent, and ensure businesses have the workforce needed to compete in a 21st century global economy.
For more than a decade, the Chamber has played a key role in advancing immigrant-friendly policies, including championing in-state tuition for immigrant students, access to college financial aid for DREAMers, professional licensing for ITIN holders and driver’s licenses for undocumented residents; and has held a long-standing commitment to supporting important issues like comprehensive immigration reform.
The L.A. Area Chamber strongly urges Congress to act expeditiously on comprehensive reform that provides for a reasonable path to citizenship for immigrants who are members of the community and bolster the economy, both in L.A. and far beyond. It is crucial that Congress enact permanent legislative solution that includes safeguarding work permits, keeps families together, protections from deportations and a pathway to citizenship, combined with smarter border security utilizing technology and a more comprehensive border strategy.
With a congressional election before us this November, it is critical that we urge congressional candidates to support creating a future that builds on the strengths and economic contributions of immigrants, and commit to helping us fix our broken immigration system so that L.A., California and the nation can continue to thrive.
And that's the Business Perspective.
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