The members of the Essential Workers Immigration Coalition (EWIC), representing a broad range of American industries outside of the high-skilled and agriculture sectors, would like to congratulate President-Elect Biden and look forward to working with the Biden/Harris Administration on legislative and regulatory measures to stabilize and improve our immigration system.

EWIC was established as a voice to promote and advance balanced immigration reform to meet the needs of the American workforce that is necessary to promote higher levels of economic growth and job creation. EWIC members represent employers that depend upon sound immigration policies that are vital to addressing growing workforce shortages that greatly limit their ability to sustain and grow their businesses by meeting consumer demand.  

EWIC urges the new administration to address the most urgent immigration policies issues, especially the destabilized situation with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival status (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).  The vast majority of these immigrants are hardworking individuals who have been contributing to our national economy, our communities and our industries for many years and even decades. Going forward, a policy that recognizes their substantial contributions to U.S. employers and the economy is urgently needed.

EWIC commends President-Elect Biden for indicating he will make legislative reforms in immigration policy that will not only address DACA and TPS but also serve to help stabilize the U.S. workforce for both workers and employers as a key part of his agenda.  Such broad reforms are long overdue and failure to address essential workers in this debate will cause turmoil and irreparable harm in industries like construction, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing, which are already experiencing workforce shortages of unprecedented severity to meet demand across the economy.  Only with balanced immigration reform can our economy meet its long-term potential to provide high-paying jobs and rewarding careers for American workers. 

EWIC looks forward to continuing to work with all involved to find a balanced solution to our nation’s immigration policy challenges and the needs of the U.S. workforce.