COUNCIL URGES CAUTION ON NEW PROPOSAL TO LIMIT IMMIGRATION

The Bay Area Council issued the following statement responding to legislation introduced Wednesday (Aug. 2) by President Trump and Sens. Tom Cotton and David Perdue that proposes to dramatically lower legal immigration levels.

“Immigrants are and have been a powerful source of ideas, innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation helping drive the Bay Area’s world-leading knowledge-based economy,” said Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council. “Our broken federal immigration system has long needed comprehensive reform, which in addition to other objectives must ensure that newcomers are making positive and productive contributions to our economy and our communities and not putting America workers at a disadvantage. It will be important that any reform legislation recognize the important role immigrants play in growing our economy, creating jobs and bolstering our global competitiveness.

“We must be extremely careful not to impose limits that hurt our ability to attract foreign workers to help employers meet a wide range of workforce needs, including high-skilled positions and lower-skilled jobs in such industries as agriculture and construction. High-skilled immigration is a bedrock of the Bay Area’s economy and we must keep the door open to people from around the world who are prepared to contribute. While there is room for reform – H-1B visas are an example – any process should be built on a considered, transparent process and bipartisan agreement.”

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