February 1, 2006

Reaction to the State of the Union: The Business Community Stands Ready to Work Collaboratively with the Administration on Comprehensive Immigration Reform

The business community is pleased with the comments made by President Bush during the State of the Union regarding immigration. In addressing and acknowledging the value of immigrant workers and noting the indispensable contributions they make to our nation, the President stated that,

We hear claims that immigrants are somehow bad for the economy, even though this economy could not function without them. All these are forms of economic retreat, and they lead in the same direction: toward a stagnant and second-rate economy. Tonight I will set out a better path: an agenda for a nation that competes with confidence, an agenda that will raise standards of living and generate new jobs. Americans should not fear our economic future, because we intend to shape it.

In regard to comprehensive immigration reform, during the State of the Union the President addressed the importance of practical reform, the impact of reform on our nation’s economy, national security and the role of a guest worker program. Specifically, the President stated that

Keeping America competitive requires an immigration system that upholds our laws, reflects our values and serves the interests of our economy. Our nation needs orderly and secure borders. To meet this goal, we must have stronger immigration enforcement and border protection. And we must have a rational, humane guest worker program that rejects amnesty, allows temporary jobs for people who seek them legally, and reduces smuggling and crime at the border.

Both statements were met with great applause and we applaud the President for publicly acknowledging that the U.S. cannot function without immigrant workers.