August 21, 2026

Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Jessica Anderson participated in a panel discussion titled “The Business of Immigration: Ethics, Economics, and the Future of our Region,” hosted by the San Diego World Affairs Council and OneSD. As part of the Engage San Diego: Tough Topics, Real Discussion series, the panel explored how immigration influences San Diego’s economy, policies, and long-term success of the CaliBaja region.

Jessica shared highlights on the Chamber’s advocacy efforts to advance comprehensive immigration reform and oppose aggressive enforcement practices that create fear and disrupt our communities. Efforts include support for H.R. 7961 by Representative Lawler, which exempts physicians and essential health workers from $100K H1-B visas, and support for H.R. 5973 by Representative Peters, which aims to reduce reliance on unpredictable enforcement approaches which undermine stability for employers and workers.

Additional advocacy efforts include coalition letters on requirements for temporary protected status, asylum seekers, and DACA recipients, as well as advancing visas for international students. For decades, the Chamber has advocated for comprehensive immigration reform. Providing a standardized, legal, and safe pathway to citizenship is crucial to workforce availability and providing businesses with the talent they need to grow and compete. Recognizing that 1 out of 3 members of our workforce in San Diego and across California is an immigrant, and the immigrant community contributes to nearly one-third of our region’s GDP, the Chamber will remain a steady voice for immigration reforms that strengthen our binational region.