Immigration

Immigrants make invaluable contributions to American society and the U.S. economy, contributing hard work and new ideas to our companies and communities. Unfortunately, U.S. immigration policy today does not serve the U.S. economy, especially amid a critical shortage of workers.

America’s business leaders support U.S. immigration policy reforms that will enable our economy to grow and compete, make our borders secure and keep our citizens safe, and remain true to America's history of welcoming immigrants.

A Modern Approach to U.S. Immigration Policy

Immigrants make invaluable contributions to American innovation, the American economy and the American Dream. They bring new ideas and fresh perspectives to our companies and our communities. They are workers and taxpayers who complement the domestic workforce and make contributions large and small to our everyday lives. They are also our neighbors. Immigrants built our country and are central to its future.

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On Immigration Policy, Businesses and Workers Need Certainty

To maintain America’s place as the global hub of innovation, our immigration system must be modernized to recruit and retain top talent. This requires advancing policies that deliver certainty for businesses, workers and their families. Not only must Congress and the Administration enact a permanent bipartisan solution for DACA recipients – who are hard-working students, employees and members of our armed forces – policymakers should also avoid policy changes that harmfully disrupt lives, business operations and our nation’s economy.

BRT Observes DACA’s 10th Anniversary, Urges Congress to Pass Bipartisan Solution

On June 15, 2022, the tenth anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program’s creation, Business Roundtable CEO Joshua Bolten issued a statement urging Congress to pass a bipartisan permanent solution.

BRT Immigration Chair Tim Cook Writes DHS Secretary Mayorkas on Unused Green Cards

On August 19, 2022, Business Roundtable urged the Biden Administration to use all available employment-based green cards to help ensure we do not exacerbate the existing backlog.

How the Future of American Immigration Can Impact the Economy

Providing new ideas and fresh perspectives, immigrants have always been a key part of America’s innovative spirit. A vast majority of economists and business leaders agree that immigration is a net positive for the U.S. economy. But, the system for welcoming these highly valuable workers is broken. This study explores how two potential policy scenarios—restricted and balanced—would impact the U.S. workforce and economy.

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U.S. Immigration Policy: Lessons from Canada and Australia

No matter what changes are made to the U.S. immigration system, the Canadian and Australian examples teach the United States that immigration is important to fuel economic growth.

Examining the immigration policies of Canada and Australia, Business Roundtable finds that both countries make it easier for international students and the spouses of visa holders to work than under U.S. policy; impose no annual limits on high-skilled temporary visas, which allows their systems to adapt to labor market needs; provide for much greater speed and transparency in processing business visas than the United States; and do a better job than the United States in addressing the demographic challenges of aging populations.

Modernizing America's Immigration System

Immigrants continue to play a critical role in strengthening America’s place in the world. That’s why America’s business leaders support policies that will keep the U.S. in the lead—those that benefit our communities, workers and our families. Modernizing immigration policy is an important step in continuing that tradition of excellence.