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Colorado has an unusually fast-paced economy. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, our states economy has recently been growing consistently at about twice the rate of the rest of the nation. Thats great news but it means we face some unusual challenges, too, like making sure that our employment pipeline is full of qualified workers. Because the different sectors of the economy are so tightly linked, workforce shortages in one field could lead to problems all across the economic chain.

Of course, there is a simple solution to filling these workforce shortages: immigrants. For decades we have failed to overhaul an immigration system that has not evolved with a changing global economy. Americas needs have shifted and we need immigration laws that match the economic realities of 2016.

Fortunately, Colorado benefits from the presence of a large immigrant population. Most immigrants come to the United States to work, which means that while a large share of Americans are aging into retirement, many immigrants are ready to enter the workforce. Compared with the native-born population, foreign-born Coloradans in the 6th Congressional District are over 20 percent more likely to be of working age than natural born citizens, according to data from the New American Economy (NAE), a bipartisan organization that supports immigration reform benefitingthe American economy. Immigrants fill the vital positions in our economy that move us forward.

Its true that immigrants are major contributors to some of the sectors you might think of first. The 6th Congressional Districts agriculture sector depends on immigration it supplies about 21 percent of its workforce. But immigrants are also critical to our growing advanced-technology sector. Close to 10 percent of workers in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields in Colorado are immigrants.

Yet, our farmers dont have a functional H-2A visa program to bring in the labor they need, and for many of those talented Ph.D. students, there is no clear path to stay after graduation. We need an immigration system that helps our economy grow, not one that sends people home after theyve trained at our universities and fails to provide the workforce that our industries need.

In addition to filling workforce needs, Colorados immigrants are big economic contributors as well. According to NAE, immigrant-led households in our district earned more than $3.3 billion in 2014. That same year, these same individuals contributed more than $240 million in state and local taxes, money that gets reinvested into our schools and roads. This is on top of the close to $544 million they paid in federal taxes, contributing to entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare.

So, while immigration reform is a moral imperative for many, it is an economic necessity for all. We need deliberate, thoughtful policies that address the whole spectrum of immigration issues from ensuring that our businesses can attract and retain the talent they need to grow to providing our farmers the workforce they need to put food on our tables. We should embrace the moment, and I encourage you to visit NewAmericanEconomy.org to learn more about the contributions of immigrants in Colorado. Together, we can realize the new American economy.

Robert Golden is president and CEO of the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce.

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GOLDEN: Immigration reform a moral imperative for many, an ... - Aurora Sentinel

Alexander Acosta, President Donald Trumps replacement choice to run the Department of Labor, advocated for easier immigration and amnesty for people who previously had come to the United States illegally.

Acosta, who served on the National Labor Relations Board in the George W. Bush administration, expressed his views at a 2012 forum sponsored by the Hispanic Leadership Network Conference. He called for comprehensive immigration solutions and lamented the failure of previous legislative efforts.

We need them here. They provide construction jobs. They provide agricultural jobs. We need to figure out a way to address that.

Part of that means figuring out what we do with all the individuals that are already in our nation, he said. We need them here. They provide construction jobs. They provide agricultural jobs. We need to figure out a way to address that. We need to figure out a way to then have a pathway to further, future legal immigration. And if we dont take it all at once, were not going to solve it. Because you cant solve part of it without solving the other part.

Immigration hawks expressed concern over those sentiments.

He essentially advocates for amnesty for the basis for immigration reform, said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation of American Immigration Reform. That kind of sounds like open borders.

Although the labor secretary is not as intimately involved in immigration enforcement as other Cabinet-level officials, experts say the Labor Department does conduct workplace inspections and help set overall labor policies.

William Gheen, founder of the Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, said the views Acosta expressed at the 2012 forum are disturbing.

Its very clear that this guy is from the amnesty side of the aisle, he said. Its very unfortunate that someone like that would ever be considered for any position in the Trump administration.

Gheen also expressed concern that Acosta has been backed in the past by the National Council of La Raza. The group, in 2003 testimony supporting Acostas bid to be an assistant attorney general, called him a bridge-builder, not only with the Latino community but with other ethnic and racial groups.

Acosta, who currently serves as dean of Florida International Universitys law school, would add diversity to the administration. The son of Cuban immigrants, he is the first Hispanic named to the Cabinet. Trump mentioned Acosta briefly during a combative news conference dominated by dueling with reporters pushing him on allegations that his presidential campaign was in constant contact with Russian officials.

He will be a tremendous secretary of labor, Trump said.

Rep. Bradley Bryne (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, praised the selection.

Alex Acosta has a clear record of protecting American workers and upholding the law, Byrne said in a statement. From his time on the National Labor Relations Board to his service as a U.S. attorney, he has the background and experience necessary to excel as secretary of labor.

Acosta also drew praise from the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

We are thrilled to work with Acosta on a host of economic and labor issues which directly affect our members and the Hispanic community as a whole, the groups president, Javier Palomarez, said in a statement.

After his stint on the National Labor Relations Board, Acosta became the first Hispanic to serve as an an assistant attorney general. After that, he became the U.S. attorney in Mimi, where he oversaw prosecutions of lobbyist Jack Abramoff on fraud charges and terrorism suspect Jose Padilla.

Other high-profile cases included founders of the Cali drug cartel and the son of former Liberian leader Charles Taylor. Charles Chuckie Taylor Jr. was convicted of leading a campaign of torture against his fathers political enemies.

But it is Acostas immigration comments that are likely to cause the most consternation among conservatives. Immigration hawks expressed similar concerns about Trumps first choice to run the Labor Department, Andrew Puzder, who withdrew his name Wednesday amid mounting opposition over personal issues.

During the 2012 forum, Acosta told the story of a Haitian women who paid smugglers to come into the country and endured repeated rapes during the journey.

"The cost of illegal immigration is not simply exclusion, but it's the abuse of those individuals that are looking to our nation as beacons of freedom, and so we need to take it on, we need to figure out a way to address illegal immigration and give everyone a pathway to get here legally, in a transparent way, and in a fair way," he said.

Mehlman, the FAIR spokesman, said Acosta seems to view immigration through the same lens as Puzder.

"He seems to also advocate for an unlimited, or virtually unlimited, flow of immigrant labor," he said.

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Immigration Hawks Sweat Trump Labor Pick - LifeZette

It was never referenced directly, but President Donald Trump's travel ban loomed over RSA Conference 2017 and led to several speakers delivering pro-immigration remarks during the show.

Starting with the opening keynotes on Tuesday, several RSA Conference speakers called for tech immigration reform and addressed Trump's recent executive order, which prohibited visitors, refugees and legal U.S. residents from seven predominantly Muslim nations from entering the U.S. Those nations are Libya, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

The remarks were at times subtle references to immigration and diversity, while at other times stronger critiques of Trump's actions. Zulfikar Ramzan, CTO of RSA, delivered Tuesday's opening keynote and got the ball rolling on the issue.

"Do we believe in the power of diversity? Can we address the complex cybersecurity challenges on the horizon and the massive staffing crunch that faces our industry and plagues it, if we continue to alienate half of the population across gender, race and culture? No," Ramzan said. "This year, in fact, we held our inaugural cybersecurity and diversity session at the RSA Conference. I'm asking you to join that conversation."

Brad Smith, Microsoft president and chief legal officer, offered more explicit comments on Trump's executive order and compared it to a different controversy featured at last year's RSA Conference: the legal battle between Apple and the FBI over encryption.

"Just as we came together last year in an important moment in time when everyone was focused on the Apple case, there is an obvious issue that is uniting our industry today that I think has some relevance as well," Smith said during his RSA Conference 2017 keynote. "As the country and world talk about immigration, they look at the technology sector and they recognize that, as an industry, we in many ways have brought the world together. We bring the world together in our technology and products and connections we forge with people across borders every day. But it's more than that. We almost uniquely have brought the world together under our own roofs."

Microsoft was one of more than 100 companies, including Google, Intel and Facebook, that signed an amicus brief opposing Trump's executive order and calling for tech immigration reform. Smith explained why the travel ban was particularly relevant to both Microsoft and the tech industry as a whole; he said Microsoft has employees from 157 different countries and that the company is like "the United Nations of information technology."

"And our company is not unique," he said. "Every company in our industry is like that. We have brought the world together. And it has put us in a position to forge perhaps almost a unique level of mutual understanding and respect for the needs of people around the planet. As we think about protecting the planet [and] as we think about addressing nation-state attacks, that is a powerful force that should inspire us and on which we can build."

Finally, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas.), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, delivered the most extensive remarks on the topic during his keynote address Tuesday. McCaul initially praised the executive order and then days later qualified that support; he also found himself at the center of the controversy after former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani claimed he worked with McCaul as part of a commission to compose a "Muslim ban" for the Trump administration, which McCaul denied.

Before beginning his talk on nation-state cyberattacks Tuesday, McCaul tried to set the record straight regarding his views on immigration and Trump's executive order.

"This morning some of you are joining us from overseas, and for many others, you began your journey to America years ago," McCaul said. "I'm proud that our nation is a beacon of hope to people in all corners of the globe who seek to create, collaborate and innovate. Thank you."

"But in light of recent events in Washington, I know there is deep concern in this room about whether U.S. policies will continue to welcome that international talent. So let me say this, and we should never forget this: This is a country built by immigrants. This is a nation where the oppressed have long sought refuge, and our country is a magnet for creators and entrepreneurs who are willing to take risks and pursue their dreams. The United States must maintain that tradition, not only for our country's credibility but for the survival of liberty itself. That is why I will fight to ensure that America continues to extend an open hand to peaceful, freedom-loving people regardless of where they were born, regardless of how they worship and regardless of the color of their skin -- because that is who we are," he said, to audience applause. "And that is how we will attract the world's best thinkers to build a strong country and a more vibrant global economy."

McCaul also called for tech immigration reform, stressing the need for a "talented cybersecurity workforce on the front lines" and stating his support for H-1B visas.

"I believe America's doors must stay open to high-skilled workers who will contribute to our society and join us in building an innovation economy," he said, with the audience applauding. "And that is why I'm supporting efforts in Congress to streamline our H-1B visa process to make sure tech companies can get the right people from the right places at the right time."

While the conference itself saw no protests or disruptions regarding Trump's executive order, a pro-immigration rally occurred a few blocks away from the Moscone Center on Monday that reportedly included some RSA Conference attendees.

Find out what the cybersecurity skills shortage means for enterprise CISOs

Read what leaders in the open source cloud community think about the immigration ban

Discover how online recruitment software can boost tech hiring diversity

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RSA Conference speakers tackle tech immigration reform, travel ban - TechTarget

Protestors hold signs during a protest against the Muslim immigration ban at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 28, 2017 in New York City. Stephanie Keith Getty Images

America is a nation of immigrants. Our diversity is our strength. And yet, President Donald Trump won the presidency, in part, because he attracted voters who believe immigrants are taking job opportunities away from U.S.-born citizens. For many Americans, this is a genuine source of frustration.

They may have a point. President Trump and his supporters correctly perceive that the current U.S. immigration system is broken and needs to be revised to support the nations labor market and grow the economy.

How can we do this? First, we must dispel two myths surrounding todays immigration debate.

Myth #1: Immigrants hurt economic growth

The birth rate in most developed countries is well below replacement, and it is especially low among western nations. Replacement requires 2,100 births for every 1,000 womena requirement America has not met since 1971. In 2015, there were only 1,843 births for every 1,000.

Immigrants play a key role in bringing in a new generation of workers to support the growing number of retirees. Thats why developed countries, such as Canada, where birth rates represent only one-third of population growth, actively encourage immigration. The same concern prompted China to dump its one-child policy in favor of a two-child policy.

In America, immigrants have played a critical role in growing the U.S. economy. Its success depends on the countrys ability to attract the best and brightest. Over half of U.S. startups now worth $1 billion or more were founded by immigrants. Forty percent of Fortune 500 companies were started by immigrants or their children. And all six of Americas 2016 Nobel Prize winners in science and economics were immigrants.

Myth 2: Immigrants steal American jobs

High-skilled immigrants expand the American job market. For every 100 immigrant STEM workers with postgraduate degrees, 262 jobs are created for native-born citizens. And for every 100 H-1B visas issued, 183 jobs are created for native-born citizens, according to the American Enterprise Institute. Of all self-employed workers in America, 19% are immigrants . And, according to a 2012 report by The Partnership for a New American Economy, one in every 10 American workers is employed at an immigrant-owned company.

Immigrants help make our country what it is a dedicated and diverse democracy. If we are to welcome them to our shores, we must tackle the challenges that face our system, particularly the employer-sponsored visa system. Although many high-tech corporations need the H-1B visa program to acquire top talent, some companies have abused the category. They send over large numbers of low-paid programmers, often from India , and cheat American workers out of a job. Republican Congressman Darrell Issa of California recently introduced a bill designed to limit this practice, but it will only address one fragment of our broken system.

The U.S. needs a new approach to immigration in America.

We must determine what skills and talents we need in the U.S., and then create a system that appropriately values those attributes. Australia, Canada and the UK use a points-based system to determine immigrant desirability and award the majority of visas to high-skilled workers, while still allowing for family and humanitarian visas. This is a thoughtful approach to immigration that would work well in the U.S.

As Congress and President Trump begin the reform process, I suggest they consider a points-based system, and in so doing consider factors, such as immigrants proficiency in English; whether they attend American universities and work on research which receives taxpayer funding; whether they are entrepreneurs; have been in a startup accelerator or have funding for a business idea; whether they have the skills we need to make U.S. companies stronger; whether they will fill jobs Americans are not interested in; whether they will burden our social benefits system; and whether they will embrace both the opportunities and the responsibilities that come with being citizens in our nation .

In the weeks and months to come, it is crucial that we do not give way to fear. Rejecting immigrants not only wrecks our economy, it betrays our values. We must embrace strategic immigration reform that boosts our industry without compromising our humanity. With smart policies, America can continue as the worlds leader in diversity, ingenuity and equality.

Gary Shapiro is president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). He is also author of the books, Ninja Innovation: The Ten Killer Strategies of the World's Most Successful Businesses and The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream.

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What America Can Learn From Canada About Immigration Reform - Fortune

February 15, 2017 6:29 PM By Greg Argos

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) Immigrants in Philadelphia, and across the country, plan to walk off the job Thursday to prove a point to President Donald Trump.

It may be a little harder to find a place for lunch and it may be a little quieter at construction sites throughout the city because of a social media movement called A Day Without Immigrants.

The message for them tomorrow is were here for work, said Tamalex Restaurant owner David Pena.

The planned protests are nationwide, but Pena said he expects at least 20 shops in South Philly alone, which employ mostly immigrants, to close for the day.

I decided to close my business because we want to support all the people all the immigrant people, said Pena.

Report: Trump Campaign Had Repeated Contact With Russia Before Election

From California to Philly, fliers are being shared online, urging both legal and undocumented immigrants to stay home, close their businesses and keep their children out of school.

All five employees at Tamalex will not work.

Im going to lose tomorrow between $3,500 to $4,000, said Pena.

Its all in an effort to show how important the immigrant community is to the local and national economy, with the hope of getting Trumps attention.

We want to let him know were not criminals. Were workers. We support our country, said Pena.

Some larger companies are also supporting this movement.

Philadelphia Councilwoman Looking Into Why So Few African-American Males Go To College

Jose Garces, who owns restaurants in Philly, New Jersey, New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, said in a statement he supports the right for hospitality industry employees to have their voices heard.

We are in close communication with any employees who plan to participate Thursday and [we are] doing our best to mitigate against any potential impact to our guests experience. We will not take any adverse action with any employee who chooses to participate, said Garces.

However, not everyone is supporting the movement. Aldrick Gessa-Lang, a Cuban immigrant, believes the protest is misguided.

Its confusing the issue of illegal immigration with legal immigration, said Gessa-Lang.

She said the protests should be over immigration reform.

I think the movement should be to reform government as far as the immigration system itself because thats really what the issue is, said Gessa-Lang.

At least 800 immigrants are expected tonot show up for work Thursday in Philadelphia.

Greg Argos joined CBS 3s Eyewitness News team as a general assignment reporter in August, 2015. A New Jersey native who grew up in Dover, Delaware, Argos came to CBS 3 from KPHO-TV in Phoenix where he had been a reporter and back up anchor s...

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Immigrants Nationwide Plan To Walk Off Job To Prove Point To Trump - CBS Local