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Reporting Highlights:
- Effective Partners: For years, the business lobby played a crucial role in shaping immigration legislation, collaborating closely with immigrant advocacy groups.
- Trump Effect: During the Trump administration, many businesses evaluated immigration politics as more risky than beneficial, opting to focus on tax reductions and deregulation.
- Fewer Deals: Without the leverage of businesses, reaching consensus on reforms has become increasingly challenging, even as companies seek more migrant workers.
In 1996, a Republican presidential candidate labeled an “America-first" populist expressed anti-immigrant sentiments at a rally in Iowa. This candidate, Pat Buchanan, advocated for stricter immigration control and supported policies mirroring these views, raising concerns in Congress, which was already working on a bill imposing severe restrictions on immigration.
Despite the projected success of the restrictive immigration bill, the business community, deeply reliant on immigrant labor, mobilized against it. Corporate lobbyists from leading tech firms and other business organizations joined forces with civil rights groups to challenge the bill. They effectively defeated the proposal, leading to modifications in Congress’s approach to immigration reform.
The business community historically played a moderating role in immigration politics, largely driven by economic interests. By forming alliances with Democrats and other groups, businesses have influenced significant legislative changes over the years. Their continuous engagement provided a crucial counterbalance to nativist factions within the Republican Party. However, in recent years, businesses have withdrawn from immigration politics, prioritizing issues like tax cuts over reform efforts.
In the current political climate, fear of jeopardizing their standing within the business community has led many corporate leaders to avoid publicly supporting immigration reform. This reluctance persists even as businesses face labor shortages and depend on immigrant workers. Some leaders express concern about potential backlash from aligning with pro-immigration stances or drawing negative attention, particularly amidst Trump’s influence on anti-immigrant rhetoric within the GOP.
Despite the pressing workforce needs and chaotic immigration system, businesses have generally refrained from active participation in reform advocacy. Instead, some focus on low-profile efforts, such as addressing visa backlogs and refugee support in cooperation with the federal government. The prevailing political environment and fear of public backlash discourage vocal advocacy for comprehensive immigration reform.
Overall, the business community’s disengagement leaves advocacy groups lacking a powerful ally in immigration debates. This absence reduces the impact of pro-immigration arguments in legislative discussions and challenges efforts to balance the current focus on border security and crime with broader immigration policies.
