Business and Community Leaders Urge House Judiciary Committee Not to Advance H.R. 2 Without Work Permits for Long-Term, Law-Abiding Immigrants
Nationwide campaign to Secure America’s Workforce urges Americans to tell Congress: Pair immigration enforcement with a work permit solution to support affordable food, housing, elder care, and other essentials
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the House Judiciary Committee prepares to consider H.R. 2 as early as Monday, business and community leaders are urging Chairman Jim Jordan and committee members not to move forward with an enforcement-only approach that fails to address the nation’s urgent workforce and cost of living needs.
The Secure America’s Workforce campaign is calling on Congress to pair border security and immigration enforcement with a targeted work permit solution for vetted immigrants who have contributed to the United States for years.The campaign makes it easy for all Americans to tell their members of Congress that we need a work permit solution to combat significant staffing shortages that are reducing supply and increasing costs in our country’s food system, housing supply, elder care system and other essential industries. “Passing H.R. 2 without a workforce solution would be a costly mistake,” said Rebecca Shi, CEO of the American Business Immigration Coalition. “America can secure its borders, enforce its laws and strengthen its economy at the same time. An enforcement only bill that removes long-term, law-abiding workers without providing a legal work permit solution will deepen workforce shortages, raise costs for families and destabilize the essential industries every community depends on. We stand ready to work with Congress and the Administration to advance a balanced solution that delivers on both priorities—a strong border and a strong economy.”
Across the country, employers in agriculture, food production, hospitality, construction, healthcare and elder care are struggling to fill critical positions. Making matters worse, many of these essential industries are losing hundreds of thousands of workers right now due to the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) authorizations. Removing experienced, long-term workers from the workforce without a lawful alternative would further constrain the supply of food, housing and care—raising costs and reducing access for American families.
“Every American is impacted by rising food costs,” said Dr. Emily Williams Knight, Ed.D., President & CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association. “Already food costs are up 35% since the COVID-19 pandemic, and experts predict prices will increase an additional 14.5% if we stick to our current enforcement-only immigration approach. From farms and ranches to restaurants, hotels and supply chain partners, America’s food system relies on long-term, law-abiding immigrants who not only work critical jobs, but also, they start and run businesses that employ others. It’s never been more urgent for our lawmakers to create commonsense solutions that prioritize border security and public safety as well as the workforce we need to feed America.”
“Every day, immigrant caregivers help older Americans live with dignity, independence and safety,” said Kevin Heffner, President and CEO of LifeSpan Network. “Our sector was already facing a severe workforce shortage before thousands of caregivers lost their TPS status. Advancing immigration enforcement without a solution that allows trusted, long-term caregivers to work legally will hurt seniors, families and care providers. Congress should protect the people we serve by protecting the experienced workforce they rely on.”
“These workers are beyond essential,” said Matt Teagarden, CEO of the Kansas Livestock Association and Chair of the American Business Immigration Coalition Agricultural Council. “Food security is national security, and if Americans want to be able to count on a domestically-produced food supply, the answer is to create long-term protections for the immigrant workers doing jobs in agriculture that Americans simply won’t. Not only are these individuals literally putting food on American plates and protecting our nation’s ability to feed itself, they are valued members of rural communities across America they share with our ag producers. It’s time to act.”
“America cannot solve its housing shortage while shrinking the construction workforce,” said Mario Guerrero, Executive Director of The South Texas Builders Association. “Construction teams are already turning down work and delaying projects because they cannot find enough people. Removing long-term workers from job sites will raise the cost of housing and essential infrastructure even further. Congress should pair enforcement with a realistic work permit solution so we can continue building the homes, schools, hospitals and communities Americans need.”
The coalition emphasized that immigration enforcement and economic security are not competing priorities. Congress can strengthen border security while also creating a legal, orderly process for long-term immigrants who pass background checks, pay taxes and meet other requirements to continue working in key sectors.
“This isn’t a choice between border security and economic security,” Shi said. “Americans deserve both. We urge every American who believes families should have access to affordable food, housing, elder care and other essentials to join us by contacting Congress today.
Tell your lawmakers: don’t advance H.R. 2 without a work permit solution for the long-term, law-abiding workers our communities depend on.
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ABOUT THE AMERICAN BUSINESS IMMIGRATION COALITION ACTION
ABIC Action represents more than 1,700 employers, from Fortune 500 companies and family farms to small businesses across the country. ABIC Action advocates for immigration reforms that secure the border, stabilize the workforce, lower costs, and create legal pathways for immigrants already contributing to the country.
ABOUT THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
Formed in 1937, the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) serves as the leading advocate and resource for the foodservice industry in Texas. Representing the state’s $138 billion restaurant industry and its 57,000+ locations, the TRA works to protect, advance, and educate the industry’s 1.4 million employees. Alongside the Texas Restaurant Foundation, the TRA continues to drive growth and innovation in the hospitality sector. For more information, visit www.txrestaurant.org.
ABOUT LIFESPAN NETWORK
Lifespan Network is the largest and most diverse senior care provider association in the Mid-Atlantic, representing more than 500+ senior care providers in Maryland and the District of Columbia. LifeSpan’s members include not-for-profit and for-profit organizations providing care and services to seniors across the continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, continuing care retirement, subsidized senior housing, and community-based and hospital-based programs.
ABOUT THE KANSAS LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATION
The Kansas Livestock Association is a trade association representing 5,600 members on legislative and regulatory issues. Today, KLA represents the state’s multi-billion dollar cattle industry at both the state and federal levels. KLA members are involved in all segments of the livestock industry including cow-calf, feedlot, swine, dairy and sheep. Dues paid by the membership fund legislative, educational and communications activities.
ABOUT THE SOUTH TEXAS BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
The South Texas Builders Association (STBA) stands as the premier builders association in the Rio Grande Valley.