Ohio, District 11

Afghan Entrepreneur is Behind one of Maryland’s Most Successful Technology Startups
Haroon Mokhtarzada knows all too well what it’s like to start over. When he was just 3 years old, his parents fled the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, ultimately moving their family to the United States as political refugees. Although his family was quite well off back home, the war… Read More

As Colorado Considers “Seal of Biliteracy” Legislation, New Study Shows Increased Demand for Bilingual Employees in State Workforce
Denver, CO– As the Colorado legislature considers the bi-partisan Senate Bill 123, co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Kevin Priola and Democratic Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, on the creation of a state Seal of Biliteracy, New American Economy (NAE) released a study showing the growing demand for bilingual workers in the state. The Seal of Biliteracy… Read More

The Contributions of New Americans in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is one of several states in the country that, while not boasting a huge foreign-born population now, is increasingly drawing more immigrants. In recent years, Wisconsin has faced weak population growth: Between 2010 and 2014, the state’s overall population grew by a mere 1.2 percent. The native-born population, meanwhile,… Read More

The Contributions of New Americans in Michigan
Over the last several decades, Michigan has become increasingly attractive to immigrants—a development that has had a positive impact on the economy of this Midwestern state. Rust Belt cities like Detroit were particularly hard-hit during the Great Recession, suffering both economic downturns and population loss, but recent influxes of immigrants… Read More

This Regional Franchise Owner Recognizes Value of Immigrant Business Owners
As the regional franchise owner for commercial cleaning giant Jan-Pro Cleaning Systems Midwest, Alison Mairet oversees more than 40 franchisees, ranging in size from single-person businesses with revenues of $5,000 a year to million-dollar operations with large teams that serve scores of commercial clients. Mairet estimates that 40 percent of… Read More

Visa Process Too Daunting for U.S. Firms, Says Award-Winning Entrepreneur
The story of Radhika Reddy is a classic immigrant rags-to-riches tale. In 1989, Reddy left a low-paying banking job in India to come to Cleveland, Ohio, to earn a master’s degree in business administration at Case Western Reserve University. When she received permanent residency status six years later, she started… Read More

International Students Are U.S. Business’ Best Hope For Growth
This week, as anti-immigrant rhetoric continues to permeate the national debate, hundreds of thousands of international students will say goodbye to the United States to return, degrees in hand, to their home countries. Far from being a drain on the American economy or threat to U.S. jobs, these talented graduates—disproportionately… Read More

Immigration Reform Is Vital for Virginia’s Businesses, Says Founder & CEO of Challa Law Group
As owner and CEO of Challa Law Group, located in Virginia’s 7th congressional district, and special counsel on immigration matters to Virginia’s attorney general, Lakshmi Challa knows how vital immigration reform is to her local economy. “The seventh district has many companies with multinational workforces that help boost the economy… Read More

Ohio Entrepreneur Shares his Reason for Reform
Abe Miller co-owns an apparel embroidery and design business in Cleveland, Ohio. He supports immigration reform because he feels a connection between his largely Chinese workforce and his own immigrant grandparents who came to the United States from Eastern Europe. When Abe Miller looks out over his apparel factory in… Read More

Weekend Reading: Highlights from this week’s immigration news (May 23-27)
In case you missed the compelling image of 2nd Lt. Alix Schoelcher Idrache standing at attention with a tear streaming down his cheek during the commencement ceremony at West Point’s U.S. Military Academy going viral on social media this week, check out the Washington Post’s feature on Idrache, who… Read More
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