Immigration Reform

Small firms are facing a shortage in skilled workers, making reform necessary. However, some reform proposals put the onus of verifying immigration status on small firms and include unfair and hefty penalties.

• According to NSBA data, more than one-in-three small employers hire some kind of immigrant worker: green-card holders, temporary foreign workers or VISA holders. Only one-half of one percent of small firms say they hire undocumented workers.
• More than half of all Small-Business respondents to the NSBA survey said they rely on highly-skilled workers with a STEM background—with one-third of Small-Business owners responding they are having difficulties hiring STEM workers. Thus, nearly half of Small Businesses support the creation of a new VISA category for students in STEM fields.
• Despite the high levels of concern over illegal immigration, just one-third of Small-Business respondents to the NSBA survey currently use the E-Verify system, making a gradual phase-in even more critical. However, the majority of small firms support some kind of required use of an improved E-Verify or similar employee verification system if it included a safe harbor clause for employers operating in good faith.
• Just 22 percent of small firms support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before beginning the process of becoming a legal citizen.