Solutions for 2024 & Beyond

Greetings,

Last week the National Immigration Forum began its webinar series Leading the Way Spring Series: Solutions for 2024 and Beyond. This series is bringing together leaders from different sectors to discuss topics such as: the economy and immigration, a solution for Dreamers, the fentanyl crisis, and challenges at the border.

Read what you may have missed in the first two webinars below, along with a reminder of the last two webinars coming up this afternoon and next Monday.

Economy and Immigration: How Foreign-Born Workers are Propelling the U.S. Workforce

Linda Chavez, Senior Fellow for the National Immigration Forum, facilitated this discussion on the correlation between the economy and immigration with Stuart Anderson, Executive Director of National Foundation for American Policy, Pia Orrenius, Vice President and Senior Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and Stephanie Martz, Chief Administrative Officer and General Council at the National Retail Federation. These experts discussed the positive impact of immigrants on the economy through their contributions as employees (especially in essential services like healthcare and agriculture), tax-paying community members, and as employers and innovators, concluding that finding pathways for immigrants to enter the country and work is essential for economic growth and America’s future.   

"The goal of immigration reform has always been to open up legal channels for the same number of people to come in who are finding undocumented ways to come in […] What we need is to find rational, legal ways to bring workers into the country that’ll ultimately make sense for everybody." – Stephanie Martz (Hear one idea Stephanie has that can help labor shortages here.)

Advancing the American Dream: How We Can Work Together on a Solution for Dreamers

In this webinar, Bri Stensrud, Director of Women of Welcome, moderated a conversation between Gaby Pacheco, President and CEO of TheDream.US, Dr. Dan Boone, President of Trevecca Nazarene University, and Jack Chen, Associate General Counsel for Microsoft about the importance of continuing the conversation around Dreamers and finding a permanent solution that provides over half a million DACA recipients a pathway to stay in the country they call home and obtain citizenship.

These leaders spoke to the significant contributions Dreamers make in their universities, communities, and workplaces, contributions that are invaluable but are at risk without a permanent solution. They emphasized the need to continue to talk about Dreamers, interact with them and see how integrated they are in our communities, and remember that the U.S. is a place of compassion that thrives when people are given opportunities, not driven away.

"One of the things that has characterized America is a compassion for people, for what happens in the lives of human beings. […] This is not who we are." – Dr. Dan Boone

"[We’re showing] Dreamers already deeply integrated in our business landscape because of the skills they provide, which then helps people see where Dreamers can fit across the entire landscape, […] helping people understand the incredible contributions and responsibility Dreamers play." – Jack Chen

Upcoming Webinars

Beyond Enforcement: New Solutions to Tackle the Illicit Fentanyl Crisis

When: Thursday, May 30^th at 3:15 pm ET

Separating Facts from Fiction: 21st-Century Challenges at Our Southern Border and Beyond

When: Monday, June 3^rd at 2:15 pm ET

Register here to join these webinars and learn from leading experts on these important topics and what needs to happen in order to move forward.

Please join us in these important conversations and speak up for solutions that give opportunities for everyone in this country, both immigrant and native-born, to thrive together. 

Stay committed and hopeful,

Allison

Allison Bassett
Field and Constituencies Manager
National Immigration Forum 

NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE:

THE HILL: Senate downs border bill for second time

CBS NEWS: Migrant crossings at U.S.-Mexico border plunge 54% from record highs, internal figures show

NEW YORK TIMES: Judge Temporarily Blocks Florida From Criminalizing Transport of Undocumented Immigrants

ASSOCIATED PRESS: NYC is beginning to evict some people in migrant shelters

ASSOCIATED PRESS: DOJ adds Oklahoma to list of states it’s suing to block their immigration laws

NBC NEWS: U.S. imposes sanctions, visa restrictions on Nicaragua over repression and migrant smuggling