EWIC commends Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) and Veronica Escobar (D-Tex.) on the introduction of their bill, called the Dignity Act of 2023.  This bill, would, among other things, provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers, individuals with Temporary Protected Status and undocumented immigrants, update the legal immigration process and provide the resources needed to secure our borders.

Congress has an opportunity to make meaningful changes to key immigration-related policy.  We understand the need to find immigration solutions at the border and in other key areas and urge Congress to work together to find a compromise and include it in any legislation that will pass in 2023. 

The Essential Worker Immigration Coalition (EWIC) was established decades ago and continues as a vital voice to advance solutions that address U.S. workforce and economic needs with balanced immigration reform.  Among the principles we have long-held, today’s debate on Immigration Reform needs EWIC’s brand on national policy that includes:

• A workable visa program that is desperately needed to provide for America’s current and future workforce needs; and
• An employment verification system that is easily accessible, fair, inexpensive, and efficient for all employers.

EWIC is a broad-based coalition of national businesses and trade associations from across the industry spectrum concerned with the shortage of both semi-skilled and unskilled (“essential worker”) labor.  EWIC also looks forward to continuing to work with all involved in the 118th to find a solution to the nation’s immigration policy problems.