December 7, 2017

On November 17^th, the International Business Affairs Committee held a conference call meeting with staff from the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services in Washington D.C. The committee shared the Chamber’s position on immigration issues and discussed the region’s interests and concerns. The Chamber followed up requesting clarification and information on the following topics:

• Information on a merit-based system’s priorities
• Appeal processing time
• Clarification on visa options and procedures for small businesses with no access to legal advice
• Information on the public comment period for the entrepreneur role
• Clarification on the immigration process for unwed mothers’ babies born outside of the U.S.

The Chamber will continue to follow up with USCIS and share any updated information as it becomes available.

December 7, 2017

Celebrando Latinas is the largest Latina conference in Spanish nationwide. It is an empowering experience of motivation and education for Latina women, with networking sessions and highlighted speakers. Their goal is to empower Latinas through educational seminars and conferences provided in a friendly environment where they feel camaraderie and a sense of belonging to a balanced and successful life.

Please save the date for their Celebrando Latinas annual event organized by El Latino, which will be held on July 14, 2018, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.

For further information, visit the event website.

December 7, 2017

The Chamber is committed to making San Diego the most business-friendly region in California and a place where businesses can grow and thrive while creating jobs. We support a comprehensive immigration reform that promotes efficient borders and provides the business community access to workforce critical to its success.

Immigrants comprise nearly one-third of the labor force in San Diego County. The Chamber joined the Regional Economic Association Leaders Coalition urging Congress to pass the Dream Act before the end of the year. Chamber President and CEO, Jerry Sanders participated on a press call on November 21^st  in which he stated that Congressional delegates have the moral obligation to pass the act for the good of business and the California economy.

Additionally, as part of the New American Economy’s initiative, iMarch for Immigration, the Chamber published an article in The San Diego Union-Tribune supporting legislation that protects Dreamers and shared information on the economic repercussions of revoking DACA. Also part of iMarch, the Chamber attended a conference focusing on the challenges for Dreamers in Trump’s America, organized by the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies in UCSD. The conference provided results from the 2017 National DACA Survey and shared insight on the critical challenges that the dreamers face as a result of President Trump’s decision to rescind the program.

To push for a solution for Dreamers, the Chamber has launched a grassroots campaign to urge members of Congress to support comprehensive immigration reform and pass legislation that protects Dreamers and helps our economy. You can show your support for Dreamers by joining our call to action.

Please visit https://t.co/6Z87S90iJe for more information and to take part.

December 7, 2017

The Chamber welcomed a delegation of government trade officials from Africa, who met with Director of International Business Affairs, Kenia Zamarripa. Delegation members expressed their interest in understanding the role of the Chamber in promoting cross-border trade in the Cali-Baja region and learned about the importance of developing and strengthening cross-border relations in the public and private sector.

Zamarripa provided an overview of the Chamber’s structure, membership, committees, and objectives for 2018. Other topics included the Chamber’s advocacy efforts on a modernized NAFTA, a comprehensive immigration reform, and a secure but efficient border infrastructure which facilitates cross border commerce. The delegation inquired about the region’s economy and workforce, and how the Chamber managed to develop and strengthen relationships with Mexican officials, chambers, and similar organizations in order to work together towards a common objectives. Additionally, Zamarripa provided insight on what NAFTA has meant for the binational region’s economy, an overview of the status of negotiations, and shared a recap on what the Chamber learned after a presentation from Guillermo Malpica Soto, Head of the Trade and NAFTA office at the Ministry of Economy in Washington, D.C. the previous day.

The African delegation members included trade officers from Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Republic of Mauritius, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

December 7, 2017

On November 30^th , Director of International Business Affairs, Kenia Zamarripa met with the Mexican Senate’s Commission of Border Affairs in preparation of the Chamber’s Annual Delegation Trip to Mexico City in 2018. Delegation trips are key to strengthening business and political relationships and important to advancing the policies and projects important to business in our region. During the 2017 trip, the Chamber signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Senate establishing a mechanism for collaboration and support between them to strengthen and protect the U.S.-Mexico commercial relationship.

Please save the date for next year’s Chamber Delegation Trip to Mexico City, taking place April 15^th  to 18^th , 2018. We are happy to announce our continued partnership with the Four Seasons Hotel who will provide a discounted rate for our delegation. The focus of this visit is to reaffirm our region’s commitment to binational collaboration, strengthen diplomatic and economic ties, and advance the policies that benefit both economies.

For further information about our 2017 Mexico City Delegation Trip, visit https://sdchamber.org/2017/03/annual-binational-delegation-mexico-city-champions-u-s-mexico-relationship/

December 7, 2017

On November 14^th, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the expansion of “Entry on Arrival” for the Global Entry Program to 11 additional international airports, enabling conditionally-approved Global Entry applicants to complete their interview (the final step of the GE process) while clearing CBP processing. The program is currently available at 54 U.S. airports and 15 preclearance locations, now including the San Diego International Airport.

Global Entry helps streamline international arrival process at airports for trusted travelers. As an added benefit, Global Entry members are also eligible to participate in the TSA Pre ✓™ expedited screening program. The goal of the Global Entry program is to speed travelers through the process, and to have a more efficient crossing. Currently, there are more than 4.7 million Global Entry members that can use the automated kiosk to complete their process.

For more information on the Trusted Traveler Programs and/or to enroll, please visit: https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov/

December 7, 2017

On November 20, 2017, Vice President Paola Avila testified in favor of NAFTA, in San Antonio, Texas, before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness. Led by Texas Senator John Cornyn, the hearing included testimony from trade officials and industry stakeholders about the impact of NAFTA.

Avila testified on behalf of the Chamber and as Chair of the Border Trade Alliance, an organization that favors modernizing the agreement to make its participants globally competitive. Avila highlighted that the U.S., Mexico, and Canada collaborate in production and provided an example of the automotive industry explaining that components can cross the border several times before the finished product is ready. She also expressed the need for an urgent modernization of the treaty and its potential impact on different sectors including environmental infrastructure.

The testimony also included specific information on recommendations for a modernized trade agreement and for the U.S. negotiating position. A copy of the full testimony can be reviewed here:

https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/20NOV2017AvilaSTMNT.PDF

For more on the hearing, read the following articles:

The San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego Chamber vice president testifies on NAFTA

San Antonio Business Journal: NAFTA debate brings Senate committee hearing to San Antonio

KSAT 12: Uncertainty over NAFTA concerns business, industry