Author: FarAwayJobs

At a time when anti-immigrant rhetoric is splashed across the news, it can be easy to get lost in the whirlwind of misplaced fear politicians continue to foster. But this year’s eighth annual Global Talent Chamber Network (GTCN) Convening: Business Leadership on Immigration During an Election Year served as a critical reminder that business leaders across the country continue to push for immigrant inclusion and find common ground on the issues businesses care about: modernizing an outdated immigration system to better meet the needs of the local, state, and national economies. In early October, more than 20 representatives from 17…

Since its conception in 1977, International Women’s Day has evolved into a global celebration highlighting women’s achievements and the challenges they face. The holiday’s origins can be traced back to the women’s suffrage and labor movements in the early 20th century – predominantly those led by women in the workforce.  Along with U.S.-born women, female immigrants play an integral role in American society. As of 2022, there were 23.6 million immigrant women in the United States, making up 7.1% of the total population and 7.6% of the labor force. Their stories are intertwined with the ongoing struggle for gender equality and…

In April, the Department of Labor (DOL) published an expansive regulation aimed at increasing protections for the growing number of temporary agricultural workers entering the United States on H-2A nonimmigrant visas. A key component of the regulation establishes new protections for H-2A workers to engage in collective action to advocate for themselves or others regarding working conditions. Since its publication, four lawsuits have been filed against the DOL by 22 states, several farm owners, and trade associations seeking to block these protections from being enforced. The regulation specifically requires employers to certify that they will not intimidate, threaten, or otherwise…

Without fail, each Tax Day a prevalent myth resurfaces that conceals the truth about immigrants’ contributions to federal, state, and local taxes. Bolstered by social media and other outlets, it misleadingly asserts that immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented, evade taxes. The facts don’t back up these claims. Immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, pay taxes. Our analysis of the 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) found that immigrants in the United States have a combined household income of $2.1 trillion and contribute $382.9 billion to federal taxes and $196.3 billion in state and local taxes, leaving them with $1.6 trillion in spending…

Foreign workers have long provided critical support to American businesses in the busy seasons—filling temporary, seasonal jobs when domestic workers were not available. This support—almost always of manual labor—is possible due to the H-2 visa program, which Congress created in 1952 with the aim of “alleviating labor shortages … particularly in periods of intense production.” Specifically, the H-2A visa allows employers to hire temporary agricultural workers, and the H-2B visa lets employers hire non-agricultural workers, like landscapers and hotel staff. Both are popular with businesses. However, it’s becoming clear that the H-2B program is not doing enough to meet the…

Immigrant entrepreneurs continue to shape our economy and play a critical role in the success and innovation of major corporations. In 2024, this trend is clearer than ever, with 46% of Fortune 500 companies being founded by immigrants or the children of immigrants. This year marks the highest share the American Immigration Council has recorded since we began this project in 2011. As our report highlights, these “New American” companies have not only contributed significantly to the U.S. economy, but they have also created millions of jobs and sparked innovation across many U.S. industries. In 2024, a total of 230…

With the approach of Thanksgiving, when many families will be celebrating with food and gratitude, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the people who help make Thanksgiving celebrations possible. Many of the fruits, vegetables, and other staples of our Thanksgiving celebrations are harvested by immigrant farm workers. In fruit and vegetable crop production, 49.6% of the workforce is comprised of immigrants, and 24.3% of the workforce is comprised of undocumented immigrants. These workers play an essential role in our nation’s food supply, yet their futures in the U.S. remain uncertain as the incoming Trump administration rolls out plans…

Tax Day is approaching, but the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts may make many undocumented immigrants hesitant to file taxes. Some worry that providing personal information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) could be used against them. Undocumented immigrants pay billions in taxes every year. However, the Trump administration’s efforts to enlist the IRS to increase arrests and deportations of immigrants has spread fear around what had become a commonplace practice to file taxes. The federal government is at risk of losing tax revenue that the United States has long counted on, especially as the IRS is already anticipating a…

On December 13, the Biden administration issued a permanent rule that automatically extends the validity of certain work permits by up to 540 days if they are timely renewed.  The American Immigration Council and many other organizations and businesses made this a key ask to the outgoing administration to protect workers from employment gaps as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continues to address its processing backlogs. This final rule is effective starting on January 13, 2025. While processing backlogs are not new to USCIS, their size has significantly increased in recent years. In 2016, USCIS updated its regulations to…

On April 30, the House Judiciary Committee advanced a budget reconciliation bill which, if signed into law, would represent the single biggest increase in funding to immigration enforcement in the history of the United States. The bill would provide nearly $80 billion for internal immigration enforcement, including $45 billion dollars for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention and $14.4 billion for ICE transportation and removal operations. This adds to the nearly $67 billion the House is also planning to give to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including $51.6 billion for border barriers. On top of these staggering sums of…