Business and the Workforce
Immigrants not only bring diverse skills and perspectives to the U.S. workforce, they often fill employment gaps in crucial fields. We advocate for expanded work visas and related programs so our labor force can continue to benefit from immigrant workers and remain competitive in the global economy
High-Tech Immigrant Entrepreneurs are Crucial to Local Economies
Recently, a growing number of cities and states have begun pursuing strategies that attract and welcome immigrants and immigrant entrepreneurs in order to grow their economies. Encouraging immigrant high-tech entrepreneurship, and addressing the factors that cultivate an environment in which entrepreneurs may be more successful, is yet… Read More
Rosa Macias: Creating a Furniture Store Empire out of Humble Beginnings
When Rosa Macias and her husband, Venancio, moved to the United States in 1990, they faced some daunting hurdles. Rosa, a trained accountant, says she spoke “not a word of English” and had only been to the country once, to visit Disneyland. But the couple had a powerful motivation. “We… Read More
Edith Barco and Leo Esquivel, Co-Owners, El Buen Gusto Restaurant
Edith Barco, a restaurant owner in Central Iowa, knows a thing or two about sticking with a dream. Barco, an El Salvadorian immigrant, originally came to the United States in the late 1990s, taking a job—like many of Iowa’s immigrants—in one of the state’s meatpacking plants. But her real passion… Read More
Carmen and Jose Talavera: Starting a Family Grocery Business
Jose Talavera is someone who knows the virtues of hard work. Immigrating to the US from Mexico in 1977, he toiled for years doing difficult painting, plaster, and renovation jobs in California. In the last few years, however, he and his wife Carmen took on another challenge: In 2008, while… Read More
Eduardo Gonzalez: Turning a Love of Steel Into a Manufacturing Empire
Eduardo Gonzalez, the founder and CEO of a successful steel company, says he learned a lot watching his parents flee Cuba in the early 1960s. His parents, who’d been attorneys, arrived in America and had to start from scratch, ultimately finding new careers as Spanish literature professors. “Seeing your parents… Read More
Report Shows Surge in Rate of Hispanic Entrepreneurship
Hispanic immigrants now more likely to be entrepreneurs than broader U.S. population Washington, DC — New American Economy and the Latino Donor Collaborative today released a new report showing how the number of Hispanic entrepreneurs in America has grown exponentially over the past two decades, powering… Read More
American Workers Can’t Wait Another Minute
As Congress returns to Washington in a few days, no more pressing issue faces leaders in the House of Representatives than immigration reform. In 1990, Congress recognized how important immigration was to our economy and passed the Immigration Act of 1990. This law created a new visa category tied to… Read More
Broken H-1B Visa Program is Costing American Jobs
Compete America, an association of high-tech companies advocating for reform of immigration policies affecting higher-skilled workers, launched a job loss calculator today estimating the numbers of American jobs lost due to the lack of H-1B visas, the primary work visa for higher-skilled… Read More
Immigration reform: recognize contributions by making the system work
St. Patrick’s Day is not simply a holiday to celebrate Irish heritage; it’s also a celebration of the immigration of many Irishmen and women to the shores of our country. From America’s founding, immigrants from a vast array of countries have been a central cornerstone of our nation’s incredible economic… Read More
Mayors Agree, Immigrants Make Their Cities More Economically Competitive
“Mayors are looking for a fix,” said Mayor Scott Smith of Mesa Arizona, President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. “The status quo is not acceptable. It's as simple as that.” In a January 31 letter to Members of Congress, the United States Conference of Mayors urged expeditious action on immigration reform in 2014. As the letter stated: “Fixing our nation’s broken immigration laws is among the most important issues of interest to America’s mayors currently before the U.S. House of Representatives. We believe strongly that maintaining the status quo will further damage the economic, political and social structure of our cities and our country. As Mayors, we have a ground-level understanding of the pressing economic and moral imperatives that necessitate changing our national immigration system, and we urge the House to expeditiously bring legislation to the floor.” Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.
