February 23, 2021

Following an announcement from the White House of an immigration reform bill, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 was introduced to Congress last week by Sen. Bob Menendez (NJ) and Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA).  The bill would provide an 8-year pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, increase the number of available diversity visas, and direct more funding to immigration courts and technology.

Specifically, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 would:

• Provide pathways to citizenship and strengthen labor protections: Dreamers, TPS holders, and qualifying agricultural workers would be able to apply for a green card immediately and can apply for citizenship after 3 years. All other undocumented immigrants who pass background checks and pay taxes would have an 8-year path to citizenship and receive authorization to work in the meantime.
• Clear employment-based visa backlogs, recapture unused visas, reduce lengthy wait times, and eliminate per-country visa caps. These actions help retain STEM advanced degree holders from U.S. universities, facilitate access to green cards for workers in lower-wage industries, and provide H-1B visa dependents with work authorization while also preventing children of H-1B holders from aging out of the system.

• Reform border security by providing additional resources, state-of-the-art technology, infrastructure improvements. It also creates a Border Community Stakeholder Advisory Committee.
• Address the root causes of migration, while improving immigration courts and increasing protections for asylum seekers.
• Provid funding for immigrant integration services.

These actions help retain STEM advanced degree holders from U.S. universities, facilitate access to green cards for workers in lower-wage industries, and provide H-1B visa dependents with work authorization while preventing children from aging out of the system. In addition, prioritizing smart border controls ensures national security while facilitating cross-border commerce and promoting economic development. Advancing border infrastructure projects such as the Otay Mesa East Land Port of Entry in our region will help reduce air pollution and alleviate congestion at the border which already causes over $7.2 billion in lost economic output for the U.S. and Mexico.

The bill has received wide support from technology companies including Google, Apple, and other business groups which have underlined that the bill would boost U.S. economy, create jobs, and attract talent from across the world.

February 23, 2021

The Chamber is proud to partner with the UK Government Office in San Diego to host our upcoming International Business Affairs Forum featuring a virtual presentation and roundtable discussion with Greg Hands MP, UK Minister of State for Trade Policy. The forum will take place on March 18 at 9:00am and highlight the UK-San Diego trade and investment relationship and explore the new opportunities that may arise from a new trade agreement between both countries. Minister Hands made an official visit to San Diego in 2017 and is familiar with our unique region and business environment.

The U.S. and the United Kingdom have a strong economic relationship with over $200 billion in trade taking place per year and a total of $1 trillion invested in each other’s economies. In addition, 93% of the businesses trading with the UK are small and medium sized enterprises across a variety of sectors. This relationship plays a pivotal role in California’s economy and supports 112,900 jobs for Californians.

From communications equipment and aerospace products to pharmaceuticals, San Diego companies export over $500 million worth of goods to the UK every year. The UK is also accountable for nearly 9,000 local jobs and almost 20% of all foreign investment into San Diego.

With a new, mutually agreed upon relationship with the EU in place and the potential to reinforce the existing relationship with the U.S. through a bilateral trade agreement, there is much to learn about the future of trade with our British partners.