ISSUES AND ADVOCACY
ISSUES AND ADVOCACY:
Immigration Reform
TODAY’ S immigration system is broken. It makes economic sense to fix it.
Restaurants embody the American Dream like no other industry. They’ re often the employer of choice for immigrants who come to America in search of new opportunities. This relationship benefits both sides: immigrants gain valuable job experience and immediate access to opportunities, and restaurateurs can fill positions at every level.
But if Congress and the president don’ t repair the broken immigration system, restaurants and other businesses will have a difficult time finding the employees they need to operate and grow. The result: slower economic growth and fewer new opportunities.
Over the next decade, restaurants will likely create more jobs than the US-born workforce can fill. The restaurant industry is expected to add 1.8 million positions over the next decade, which would represent a 14 percent increase in the industry’ s workforce. But the US-born workforce is expected to grow by just 10 percent over the same period. And the population of 16- to 24-year olds, a major source of restaurant employees, isn’ t expected to grow at all.
The National Restaurant Association( NRA) supports sensible, meaningful steps to reform America’ s immigration system like the following: A Clear Path To Legalization:
More than eleven million undocumented individuals are living and working in the United States. Many are paying taxes and contributing to the economy and their communities. These law-abiding individuals are hurt by the enforcement-only approach to immigration. Numerous polls have shown that the public strongly supports a clear path to legalization for these workers. Restaurants support this too. A Simple, Reliable, Federal Verification System:
Many states have made the federal E-Verify system mandatory for at least some businesses. This forces restaurants to comply with different laws across jurisdictions. The NRA supports a consistent national standard that helps employers hire employees in a timely, efficient, and respectful manner. Employers shouldn’ t face penalties if they use the system in good faith. Improved Border Security That Promotes Travel And Tourism:
The United States needs stronger security at its borders. But any steps to increase security should also facilitate legitimate travel and tourism to the United States. Tourism drives about a fifth of all restaurant sales and boosts economic activity across all sectors.
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