Garcia pushing to expand work permits for migrants
CHICAGO - Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia is leading the fight to help migrants get work permits as a way of solving the labor shortage.
"Today we have a very simple message for President BIden: let immigrants work!" Garcia said Wednesday outside the U.S. Capitol Building.
Garcia is spearheading an effort to convince President Biden to fast-track work permits for America's new and existing immigrants. He says the formula is obvious: address chronic labor shortages by clearing the path for migrants to fill those positions.
"Many of my constituents have worked and paid taxes for years, but still live without the freedom and stability that comes from a work permit," he said.
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Right now, American employers have an estimated 10 million unfilled positions in industries ranging from manufacturing to leisure and hospitality. There are an estimated 12 million undocumented workers – a number growing every day.
"The solution is staring us right in the face!" said Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from Texas.
The congressmen say with the stroke of a pen, President Biden could provide humanitarian parole for undocumented workers by allowing them to legally work, and bypass the existing 15-month backlog to process work permit applications at the Immigration Services Department.
"President Biden, today we call on you: use your pen," said Rep. Lou Correa of California. "[Issue an] executive order and give these workers a work permit and make sure you stop having these employers from breaking the law."
Garcia and other representatives also say with more and more Americans reaching retirement age, the workforce crisis in fields like agriculture and home health care will keep getting worse if this isn't addressed, not to mention how the overall labor shortage is affecting inflation.
"Here's the reality: employers are facing a stark labor shortage and there are people ready to work," said Rep. Garcia.
Opponents argue this move would only worsen the border crisis, or that it should instead be left to individual states to sponsor migrant workers.
Nearly 40 Democratic Congresspeople have signed on to the effort to fast track work-permits, including Mike Quigley, Delia Ramirez and Jan Schakowsky from Illinois.