Immigration reform-these two words have stirred up quite a lot of controversy lately.
U.S. senators brokered a deal to move a comprehensive immigration bill forward before the July 4th recess which starts on June 28. If it passes, it will be on to the House of Representatives.
The “Gang of Eight”–made of Senators Marco Rubio, John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Jeff Flake, Chuck Schumer, Robert Menendez, Michael Bennet, and Richard Durbin—were responsible for initially bringing forward the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013. For the first time in three decades, immigration reform is addressed in this bill.
For business, economic and community leaders in the Silicon Valley, this bill is a breath of fresh air and desperately needed to help fill high-skill jobs here in California.
Carl Guardino, president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and board member of California Forward, wrote an op/ed that appeared in the San Jose Mercury News recently.
Immigration reform is “fundamentally important to Silicon Valley’s success.”
The hot button issue garnered big discussions at the second annual Silicon Valley Regional Economic forum.
Guardino and many other state and local leaders shared their thoughts with California Forward.
