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Your weekly summary from the Council
LATEST ANALYSIS
The White House’s recent executive order on artificial intelligence marks an important shift in employment-based immigration law, signaling the beginning of a potentially transformative process. Read More »
After weeks of uncertainty, Congress passed a continuing resolution bill that funds the government through the end of the year. But this delay will only last a matter of months. In the meantime, Congress is still debating what to do with President Biden’s request for emergency supplemental funding to address the situation at the southern border. Read More »
Map the Impact, an annual analysis of U.S. immigration data reveals notable shifts from 2016 to 2021 in the demographics of foreign-born residents and how they continue to make significant contributions to the American economy. Read More »
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
- This week, several bills were introduced and passed in the Texas legislature that would, among other things, attempt to empower state officials to carry out immigration enforcement activities, as well as appropriate state funding for a border wall.
The American Immigration Council joined nearly 150 organizations, in partnership with the TRUST Coalition, to oppose these bills in Texas.
The TRUST and the undersigned organizations oppose SB 4 (88S3), HB 4 (88S4), and SB 3 (88S4). Together, we’re calling on Governor Abbott to abandon his unconstitutional efforts and veto these bills or risk thrusting the state into costly litigation.
Read more: Joint Statement Opposing Anti-Immigrant Legislation in Texas
ACROSS THE NATION
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This week, the American Immigration Council released the 2023 Map the Impact Report, an interactive data-map showcasing the contributions of immigrants in the country, all 50 states, and industry sectors across the economy.
With information on immigrant tax contributions, spending power, entrepreneurship, workforce, home ownership, demographics, voting power, and more, Map the Impact shows that immigrants are helping to grow the economy everywhere.
Read more: Map the Impact on Immigration
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After filing an asylum application, asylum seekers are forced to wait at least six long months before they can obtain a work permit. Often, processing delays stretch the waiting period to eight months or more. This isn’t right—especially when worker shortages in the U.S. could be filled by people who want to work.
This week, the Council joined over 100 business organizations, including chambers of commerce and trade associations throughout the country, to call on Congress to remove the current barrier to getting asylum seekers work permits quickly.
The letter calls for the waiting period to be reduced from the current 180 mandatory days to 30 days and additional funding for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for faster work permit processing.
Read more: More than 100 Business Organizations Sign Onto Council Letter Urging Congress to Reduce the Waiting Period for Asylum Seekers to Obtain Work Permits
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This week, the Council and partners released a new report that emphasizes the crucial role immigrants play in Sante Fe County’s labor force, business creation, and consumer spending power.
In 2019, more than 16,000 immigrants lived in New Mexico County, representing 11.1% of the total population. The same year, immigrants paid over $122 million in taxes and held over $365 million in spending power.
Read more: New Americans in Santa Fe County
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Across the country, there are too many open jobs without enough workers to fill them. There is a solution in plain sight: let asylum seekers work quickly. The current barrier is statutory, and it requires Congress to act. There are several proposals currently introduced in Congress that reduce the waiting period for asylum seekers to obtain work permits from 180 days to 30 and fund work permit processing so USCIS can increase its capacity to quickly process employees’ work permit renewals in the future. We urge Members of Congress to pass legislation that would make these crucial and critical changes that will bolster the workforce, allow businesses to grow, and further strengthen our economy.”
— Rich André, Director of State and Local Initiatives at the American Immigration Council
FURTHER READING
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