Press Statement
June 18, 2024
Contact: Frank Knapp, 803-600-6874, fknapp@scsbc.org
Small business supports Biden’s immigration reform to address labor shortage
Today, President Biden announced that he will be taking action to allow undocumented spouses of Americans to apply for legal residency and a green card as well as receive a temporary work permit. The program will only be for undocumented immigrants that have been in our country for 10 years and married at the date of this announcement.
Below is a statement of Frank Knapp Jr., president and CEO of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, which has long called for immigration reform to address the country’s labor shortage.
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The number one problem small business face is the labor shortage. Almost every small business owner with employees will tell you that they simply cannot find the workers they need to meet customer demand. For years SC Senator Lindsay Graham and other members of Congress have sponsored immigration reform that would have addressed this serious problem.
Unfortunately, politics has successfully blocked any reform. So, we support the Biden Administration’s program to allow the undocumented spouses of Americans who qualify to apply for legal residency. About 500 thousand immigrants could apply for a green card and receive a temporary work permit, important steps in addressing the labor shortage our small businesses and economy face. These immigrants will be joining undocumented family members of our military members who have been eligible for the same program made available by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.