Immigration Reform

During the first session of the 113^th Congress, more than half-a-dozen immigration bills were introduced in the House of Representatives, but no major immigration-related legislation had made it to the House floor by the end of 2013. The following discussion outlines some of the significant immigration bills introduced in 2013 and 2014 and provides analysis of their key points.

Read more...

Published On: Wed, Mar 26, 2014 | Download File

In North Dakota, there is no doubt that immigrant entrepreneurs and innovators play an important role. Immigrant entrepreneurs bring in additional revenue, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the state’s economy. Highly skilled immigrants are vital to the state’s innovation industries, and to the metropolitan areas within the state, helping to boost local economies. Furthermore, local government, business, and non-profit leaders recognize the importance of immigrants in their communities and support immigration through local “welcoming” and integration initiatives.

Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute to North Dakota’s economy.

• From 2006 to 2010, there were 381 new immigrant business owners in North Dakota, and in 2010, 1 percent of all business owners in North Dakota were foreign-born.

• In 2010, new immigrant business owners had a total net business income of $20.6 million, which is 1 percent of all net business income in the state.

• North Dakota is home to successful companies with at least one founder who was an immigrant or child of an immigrant, including Hebron Brick Company. Founded by German immigrant Charles C. Weigel, the company employs over 50 people and brings in $2.5 million in revenue each year.

Highly skilled immigrants are vital to North Dakota’s innovation industries, which in turn helps lead American innovation and creates jobs.Read more...

Published On: Mon, Aug 19, 2013 | Download File

In Nebraska, there is no doubt that immigrant entrepreneurs and innovators play an important role. Immigrant entrepreneurs bring in additional revenue, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the state’s economy. Highly skilled immigrants are vital to the state’s innovation industries, and to the metropolitan areas within the state, helping to boost local economies. Furthermore, local government, business, and non-profit leaders recognize the importance of immigrants in their communities and support immigration through local “welcoming” and integration initiatives.

Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute to Nebraska’s economy.

• From 2006 to 2010, there were 3,905 new immigrant business owners in Nebraska, and in 2010, 3.9 percent of all business owners in Nebraska were foreign-born.

• In 2010, new immigrant business owners had a total net business income of $126 million, which is 2.7 percent of all net business income in the state.

• Nebraska is home to many successful companies with at least one founder who was an immigrant or child of an immigrant, or companies whose success relies on immigration like ConAgra. Many brands now sold by ConAgra, which employs more than 26,000 people and has more than $13 billion in revenue, were brands that started as immigrant founded businesses.

Highly skilled immigrants are vital to Nebraska’s innovation industries, which in turn helps lead American innovation and creates jobs.Read more...

Published On: Wed, Oct 16, 2013 | Download File

In Montana, there is no doubt that immigrant entrepreneurs and innovators play an important role. Immigrant entrepreneurs bring in additional revenue, create jobs, and contribute to the state’s economy. Highly skilled immigrants are vital to the state’s innovation industries, and to the metropolitan areas within the state, helping to boost local economies. Furthermore, local government, business, and non-profit leaders recognize the importance of immigrants in their communities and support immigration through local “welcoming” and integration initiatives.

Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute to Montana’s economy.

• From 2006 to 2010, there were 1,061 new immigrant business owners in Montana, and in 2010, 1.5 percent of all business owners in Montana were foreign-born.

• In 2010, new immigrant business owners had a total net business income of $44 million, which is 1.4 percent of all net business income in the state.

Highly skilled immigrants are vital to Montana’s innovation industries, which in turn helps lead American innovation and creates jobs.Read more...

Published On: Thu, Jul 18, 2013 | Download File

In Kansas, there is no doubt that immigrant entrepreneurs and innovators play an important role. Immigrant entrepreneurs bring in additional revenue, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the state’s economy. Highly skilled immigrants are vital to the state’s innovation industries and to the metropolitan areas within the state, helping to boost local economies. Furthermore, local government, business, and non-profit leaders recognize the importance of immigrants in their communities and support immigration through local “welcoming” and integration initiatives.

Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute to Kansas’ economy.

• From 2006 to 2010, there were 7,378 new immigrant business owners in Kansas and in 2010, 5.7 percent of all business owners in Kansas were foreign-born.

• In 2010, new immigrant business owners had a total net business income of $351 million, which is 5 percent of all net business income in the state.

• Kansas is home to successful companies with at least one founder who was an immigrant. In 1989, Kansan Gary Burrell and Taiwan native Min Kao founded Garmin, with headquarters in Olathe, Kansas. Garmin develops consumer, aviation, and marine products with GPS (Global Positioning System) technology. The company currently employs over 9,200 people and generates over $2.7 billion in total revenue.

Highly skilled immigrants are vital to Kansas’ innovation industries, which in turn helps lead American innovation and creates jobs.Read more...

Published On: Sat, Aug 17, 2013 | Download File

In the District of Columbia, there is no doubt that immigrant entrepreneurs and innovators play an important role. Immigrant entrepreneurs bring in additional revenue, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the region’s economy. Highly skilled immigrants are vital to the district’s innovation industries, helping to boost local economies. Furthermore, local government, business, and non-profit leaders recognize the importance of immigrants in their community and support immigration through local “welcoming” and integration initiatives.

Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute significantly to the District of Columbia’s economy.

• From 2006 to 2010, there were 4,003 new immigrant business owners in District of Columbia, and in 2010, 19.2 percent of all business owners in the District of Columbia were foreign-born.

• In 2010, new immigrant business owners had a total net business income of $242 million, which is 10.8 percent of all net business income in the state.

• In 2010, the foreign-born share of business owners was 33 percent in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, which includes the District of Columbia and parts of northern Virginia and Maryland.

Highly skilled immigrants are vital to the District of Columbia’s innovation industries, which in turn helps lead American innovation and creates jobs.Read more...

Published On: Thu, Jul 11, 2013 | Download File

In Maine, there is no doubt that immigrant entrepreneurs and innovators play an important role. Immigrant entrepreneurs bring in additional revenue, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the state’s economy. Highly skilled immigrants are vital to the state’s innovation industries, and to the metropolitan areas within the state, helping to boost local economies. Furthermore, local government, business, and non-profit leaders recognize the importance of immigrants in their communities and support immigration through local “welcoming” and integration initiatives.

Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute significantly to Maine’s economy.

• From 2006 to 2010, there were 2,711 new immigrant business owners in Maine, and in 2010, 3.2 percent of all business owners in Maine were foreign-born.

• In 2010, new immigrant business owners had a total net business income of almost $120 million, which is 3.3 percent of all net business income in the state.

• Maine is home to many successful companies with at least one founder who was an immigrant or child of an immigrant, including well-known companies such as Fairchild Semiconductor International, which employ nearly s 8,000 people and produces more than $1.5 billion in revenue.

Highly skilled immigrants are vital to Maine’s innovation industries, which in turn helps lead American innovation and creates jobs.Read more...

Published On: Mon, Jul 15, 2013 | Download File

In Idaho, there is no doubt that immigrant entrepreneurs and innovators play an important role. Immigrant entrepreneurs bring in additional revenue, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the state’s economy. Highly skilled immigrants are vital to the state’s innovation industries and to the metropolitan areas within the state, helping to boost local economies. Furthermore, local government, business, and non-profit leaders recognize the importance of immigrants in their communities and support immigration through local “welcoming” and integration initiatives.

Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute significantly to Idaho’s economy.

• From 2006 to 2010, there were 4,051 new immigrant business owners in Idaho, and in 2010, 5 percent of all business owners in Idaho were foreign-born.

• In 2010, new immigrant business owners had total net business income of $192 million, which is almost 5 percent of all net business income in the state.

Highly skilled immigrants are vital to Idaho’s innovation industries, which in turn helps lead American innovation and creates jobs.Read more...

Published On: Thu, Jul 25, 2013 | Download File

In Massachusetts, there is no doubt that immigrant entrepreneurs and innovators play an important role. Immigrant entrepreneurs bring in additional revenue, create jobs, and contribute significantly to the state’s economy. Highly skilled immigrants are vital to the state’s innovation industries, and to the metropolitan areas within the state, helping to boost local economies. Furthermore, local government, business, and non-profit leaders recognize the importance of immigrants in their communities and support immigration through local “welcoming” and integration initiatives.

Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute significantly to Massachusetts’ economy. Read more...

Published On: Sun, Jul 21, 2013 | Download File

On October 2, 2013, Democrats in the House of Representatives proposed an immigration reform bill addressing border security, legalization of the undocumented, interior enforcement of immigration laws, and fixes for our dysfunctional legal immigration programs. The bill is based on S.744, the bipartisan bill passed by the Senate by a vote of 68-32 on June 27, 2013. However, the bill removes the Corker-Hoeven border security amendment and replaces it with the bipartisan House border security bill, H.R. 1417, which was passed unanimously by the Homeland Security Committee in May 2013.

Read more...

Published On: Wed, Mar 26, 2014 | Download File