Listen to the full press conference here.

Read the full transcript here.

Washington – As Congress advances immigration reform legislation, Business Roundtable, representing CEOs of leading U.S. companies from every sector of the economy, today outlined policy recommendations to fix America’s broken immigration system. The solutions come after months of consultation with business organizations, trade associations, labor unions and other stakeholders.

“America’s business leaders believe fixing our immigration system is essential to a healthy, growing economy,” said Greg Brown, Chairman & CEO of Motorola Solutions, Inc. and Chair of Business Roundtable’s Select Committee on Immigration. “With support from both political parties and the president, realistic solutions for reforming our immigration system in a way that strengthens national security and boosts growth are within sight.”

Among the policy solutions outlined today by Business Roundtable are the following:

Improving security and enforcing immigration laws

• Eliminating the magnet of illegal employment through mandatory compliance with the current electronic employment verification system under a single nationwide standard.
• Pursuing more effective strategies to secure American borders and ports of entry, such as mandating additional physical and surveillance resources to meet ongoing security needs.
• Providing for consistent and effective enforcement of immigration laws across the country.

Welcoming legal immigrant workers to contribute to America

• Increasing the number of H-1B visas and exempting from the annual cap H-1B workers who have degrees in needed fields from universities in the United States.
• Allowing individuals with advanced STEM degrees (science, technology, engineering and math) from universities in the United States to qualify immediately for a green card to work and live in the United States.
• Establishing a manageable legal system for workers who may not have higher education but are needed for specific sectors, including agriculture, hospitality and construction.
• Maintaining flexibility in employment-based visa categories by avoiding overly bureaucratic rules that inhibit access to needed workers.

Finding a solution for unauthorized immigrants

• Allowing unauthorized immigrants already residing in the United States to come forward, pay a penalty and undergo a series of requirements, including a security screening and learning English, to earn legal status.
• Enabling individuals who entered the United States as minors (under age 18) and who have been educated in U.S. schools to obtain green cards, subject to appropriate screening and restrictions.
• Facilitating the integration of immigrants into American society through incentives and programs designed to encourage the learning of English and U.S. history and civics.

Read the full principles here. Read Greg Brown’s recent op-ed here.