Dear President Biden,
As employers from across our nation, we are greatly encouraged by the recent news that you are strongly considering extending
work permits to the spouses of US Citizens. This action would not only be the right thing to do, it would also represent a huge step towards addressing our labor shortage. We fully support this action as both economically crucial and morally right.
For far too long, business leaders and employers of small and large operations across the U.S. have been struggling with labor shortages, bureaucratic delays in the processing of visas for foreign workers, and other issues stemming from the outdated immigration system. The US Chamber of Commerce estimates that if every person on unemployment got a job, there would still be 4 million unfilled positions. When we all work together, our economy will work for all of us.
Immigrants are here to work. Our immigration system is too broken to ignore. Economic and humanitarian emergencies require immediate action, and your administration has the authority to do more under current law. Business owners and industry leaders must be able to hire migrants who want to work in the U.S. and contribute to our economy as they try to better the lives of their families.
It is vital that you extend work authorization to long-term immigrants who can fill essential roles in agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality, tourism, healthcare, and more.
Long-term immigrants, including spouses of U.S. citizens, Dreamers ineligible for DACA and long-term workers are here and eager to work. Many have contributed to our workforce and paid taxes for decades.
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the U.S. economy will see a $7 trillion boost over the next decade, due to immigration bringing increased consumer demand and an expanded labor force. The U.S. is home to 10.6 million U.S. citizens who live in mixed-status households. Long-term undocumented immigrants have lived on average for 15 years in our country working, paying taxes and raising American children. Each year, undocumented immigrants earn $92 billion in household income and contribute almost $9.8 billion in federal, state and local taxes.
Congress is gridlocked and Americans want solutions. We look to your administration to follow through on reports you are considering extending the opportunity and dignity of a work permit to long-term immigrants, including the spouses of U.S. citizens, Dreamers ineligible for DACA and long-term workers, to keep families together and strengthen our state and national economies.
