Here’s a dilemma.
The nation’s largest and most powerful advocacy groups representing large and small businesses are among the most ardent supporters of immigration reform. They view it as a critical economic issue. Say’s who? Let’s start with the George W. Bush Institute, that last year worked with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to undertake a statistical study of the role immigrants play in growing businesses and the economy. (Click to download the PDF of the study carried out by the Bush Institute.)
But it didn’t take such a study to convince business organizations, representing small business and large corporations, to become some of immigration reform’s most ardent supporters. These organizations have boards of directors comprised of men and women who run small and big businesses who know that immigration policy isn’t a partisan issue when it comes to being able to fulfill a major contract or to recruit the best engineers, mathematicians and scientists coming out of universities in the U.S.
So what’s the dilemma?
These business organizations that so ardently support immigration reform are among the leading opponents to President Obama on, well, just about everything to do with business-related issues. Moreover, they are among some of the leading supporters of the GOP candidates who are going to be the majorities of both the Senate and House in January.
In other words, the executive orders issued Thursday by President Obama regarding immigration reform contain many of the reforms advocated by the business organizations, but they are not interested in being seen celebrating such reforms–not when the lawmakers they support are blasting Obama for using executive orders to enact them.
So how are they responding?
Below, we’ve posted statements by some of the leading business advocacy organizations and trade groups to see how they are handling the dilemma. (If you don’t mind a spoiler, here’s the way they handle it: Praise immigration reform while paying respect to the need for a solution that is permanent and not subject to the next President reversing the executive order.)
Response to the President’s Executive Orders by Business Advocacy Groups
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
They did not issue a comment about the President’s address, but used Twitter to point to a blog post about an op-ed earlier this week written by the U.S. Chamber’s President Tom Donohue:
“Although we are disappointed that Congress did not pass immigration reform so far this year, the business community and its coalition of partners are more determined than ever to fix our broken system. True immigration reform cannot be achieved through executive actions. We need a bipartisan legislative solution.”
National Restaurant Association
Statement by President and CEO Dawn Sweeney:
“The National Restaurant Association has long advocated for sensible immigration legislation at the federal level (but) we are concerned that the President’s executive action on immigration will negatively impact Congress’ ability to accomplish real and lasting reform. Immigration reform is a highly charged issue that requires deliberate and constructive bipartisan dialogue. We have worked vigorously with both parties to move legislation forward to the benefit of our membership and our workforce. We hope that the debate over process will not derail progress on common sense immigration reform measures in the next Congress.”
The National Venture Capital Association – Document
Statement by President and CEO Bobby Franklin
“In the absence of congressional action to fix our broken immigration system, we appreciate President Obama’s leadership on this important issue. We are pleased to learn the president intends to expand visa opportunities for venture-backed entrepreneurs who all too often lose out in the race to secure U.S. visas. By targeting solutions to help foreign-born entrepreneurs build their businesses in the U.S., President Obama has made clear he understands the important role the entrepreneurial ecosystem plays in our economy and is prepared to do all he can to ensure the U.S. remains the global hub of innovation. We still believe that congressional action is the best way to deliver meaningful and substantive reform that will finally address the problems plaguing our antiquated immigration system. In the weeks and months ahead, we will continue with our outreach efforts on Capitol Hill and at the White House to secure a legislative solution. As an industry that prides itself on optimism, we disagree with those that say this level of collaboration and compromise is no longer attainable in today’s Washington, and remain hopeful agreement can be reached in the coming year.”
National Association of Manufacturers
Statement from President and CEO Jay Timmons:
“Today’s announcement further underscores that congressional action is critically needed on immigration reform. Voters overwhelmingly cast their ballots on November 4 for a Congress that will end the gridlock and address the tough issues facing this country. Congress shares the responsibility of governing, and manufacturers are counting on our leaders to end the uncertainty by fixing our broken immigration system. For manufacturers, immigration reform is a competitiveness issue that impacts our ability to grow in the United States. Without reform, we will fall behind in an increasingly competitive global economy as other nations offer a more inviting environment for innovation.”
Statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay:
“The nation’s retailers support common-sense and comprehensive immigration reform that addresses the needs of employers and employees, and is flexible enough to enforce and implement. We believe the current immigration system is broken and in serious need of reform. While it is regrettable the president felt it necessary to issue this executive order in an effort to alleviate the problem, we are disappointed that the administration and Congress could not work together toward a more comprehensive solution. This executive action only provides a temporary and incomplete fix to the immigration problem and may jeopardize the chance to achieve a more complete and permanent resolution.”
NFIB
No statement.