MLive (MI): Immigrants drive economy, ease population decline in Detroit, study shows
Immigrants in Detroit are helping to drive business activity and ease the city population decline, according to a study of demographic and economic impact of immigration in the Motor City. The study by Global Detroit and New American Economy found immigrant-owned businesses in Detroit generated $15.5 million in business income in 2014. “Detroit is an early pioneer in the… Read More
Without Immigrants, Dairy States Would Suffer
In Shelly Mayer’s view, the United States isn’t facing an immigrant labor shortage but a rural labor shortage. Specifically, a farm labor shortage. Mayer is the executive director of the Professional Dairy Producers® (PDPW), a national development organization for dairy professionals. She sees the labor shortage problem close up, and it’s nationwide. “We have fewer farms,… Read More
Immigration Policy Needs to Support American Farms, Says Iowan
When the government makes it difficult for immigrants to come to the United States, “we’re shooting ourselves in the foot,” says John Weber, an Iowa farmer and past president of the National Pork Producers Council. His farm, Valley Lane Farms Inc., in Dysart, Iowa, produces 2,400 acres of feed corn… Read More
To Grow US. Apples, America’s Farmers Need Immigration Reform
In 2011, third-generation apple farmer Phil Glaize, drove up and down the eastern seaboard searching for farm workers. He had made a point of only hiring Americans to work his 650-acre farm, which produces roughly $5.5 million in revenue annually. But as the economy improved after the recession, he found… Read More
Pakistani Aid Worker is Citizen of the World but Calls Oregon Home
When Amarah Khan arrived at the Houston airport from Pakistan as a fresh-faced 23-year-old student, immigration officials detained and questioned her for five hours, she says. “You can imagine what a rude awakening this was for me. This was my first time on a plane, and I thought I was… Read More
Washington Times: Foreign language ‘emergency’ hinders U.S. economy and foreign policy, report warns
The inability of too many Americans to learn or speak anything but English constitutes a foreign language “emergency” that could end up harming the economy and impairing U.S. foreign policy, according to a survey. Only 20.7 percent of American adults can speak a foreign language — compared with 66 percent… Read More
The Knoxville Mercury (TN): In Knoxville, World Refugee Day is so big it lasts a week
“Y’all means all” is the motto for Knoxville’s upcoming World Refugee Day and a week of films, games, and other opportunities to interact with local refugees. The festivities were planned by Bridge Refugee Services to celebrate the contributions of immigrants who fled persecution in foreign countries to resettle in Knoxville The… Read More
No Field Workers Means No Food — and No Food Security, Says Agriculture Exec
In 45 years in the agriculture business, Frank Gasperini, former CEO of the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE), has seen the phenomenon time and again: U.S. farms scrapping crops because they don’t have enough workers for harvest. “When farmers realize their labor is going to be really late, they’ll… Read More
CNBC: 10 iconic US companies started by immigrants
As the debate over travel bans continues, it’s worth remembering the importance of immigrants on America’s business landscape. Some of the most iconic companies in the Fortune 500 were started by the children of immigrants. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, famously, is a child of a Syrian immigrant. Other founders with immigrant parents… Read More
Immigrant STEM Students the ‘Lifeblood of American Research,’ Says University President
Harris Pastides, president of the University of South Carolina (USC), says immigration reform is key to the future of the United States. The son of Greek-Cypriot immigrants — those hailing from the island of Cyprus —Pastides grew up in New York State and learned about citizenship from his immigrant parents,,… Read More
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