Wall Street Journal
By Laura Meckler
November 14, 2017
Large U.S. businesses and their lobby groups are redoubling a push for legislation to protect young people brought to the U.S. illegally as children, urging lawmakers to act before the year is out.
On Wednesday, executives from about 40 companies plan to travel to Capitol Hill to lobby members of Congress, with some of them bringing along so-called Dreamers who work for them. Also this week, the advocacy group Fwd.us, which is backed by tech companies, is releasing a study documenting the number of people who will lose their jobs if Congress doesn’t act.
Early next month, a group called New American Economy is planning a day of pro-Dreamer events across the country, involving local chambers of commerce and business leaders.
The push comes as key Senate Republicans work to find a package of immigration measures that can win bipartisan support. A group of GOP senators is close to agreement on a package that includes border security measures along with legalization for a band of young undocumented immigrants who are now protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program.
Republicans also favor enforcement aimed at people living illegally inside the country, though they know it will be harder to win Democratic support for those measures. Another question is how many people will be covered by the legislation, with Republicans favoring a group that is more limited than versions preferred by Democrats.
In September, President Donald Trump ended the DACA program, established by executive order in the previous administration, which provides work permits along with protection from deportation. Absent congressional action, those benefits will begin to end in March.
Some Republicans oppose legislation giving these people legal status as a form of amnesty that will encourage more illegal immigration. Others support it but only if coupled with more enforcement.
Democrats are pushing for legislation addressing the matter before the year is out, and hope to force the matter as part of a year-end spending bill, when their votes will be needed.
Neil Bradley, chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which plans a Wednesday news conference, said their lobbying will be directed at persuading Republicans to approve the protections but also to Democrats. Democrats support a legalization program, he noted, but may need to be pushed to make compromises needed to win GOP support.
International Business Machines Corp. is bringing to Washington eight employees who are legal to work thanks to the DACA program, said Christopher Padilla, vice president of government and regulatory affairs for IBM. He said he hopes business, which has long taken pro-immigrant positions, can succeed on this immigration issue where it failed in years past.
“I’m hoping this one is so discrete and so compelling that perhaps finally we can make good policy and allow them to stay,” he said. He said that the company won’t be able to continue employing DACA participants if their work permits expire. “We’ll follow the law whatever the law is,” he said. “We’re hoping that doesn’t happen.”
Separately, the New American Economy group, founded by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is planning a series of events for Dec. 6. The group’s goal is at least one event in every state and includes religious groups, conservative think tanks and Hispanic groups as well as local chambers of commerce and other business groups.
Jeremy Robbins, the group’s executive director, said it isn’t specifying details of the legislation but wants action by the end of the year. “There is a real window and imperative to do something,” he said. “The longer you wait the harder it is.”
Write to Laura Meckler at laura.meckler@wsj.com
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
No comments:
Post a Comment