What’s bringing together over 60 Nebraska groups from sectors like agriculture, healthcare, childcare, hospitality, labor, education, construction, and more? A unified call for positive reform of federal immigration law.
A large, diverse coalition gathered by the Nebraska State Capitol Wednesday morning, dubbing themselves the “Nebraska Alliance for Thriving Communities,” sharing a unified vision for federal and state policies changes they believe are needed to create a welcoming community for immigrants and spur positive outcomes among the state’s highly-employed workforce.
Over the last year, members of the alliance narrowed down their key perspectives for what immigrant populations and Nebraska needs to foster success in this field:
- Permanency for local community members (long-term need, not short-term)
- Families (not just individuals) to sustain whole communities
- Stability (for longtime community members, employers, families, & whole communities)
- Many more people across the skills spectrum for the next chapter of Nebraska’s future
- Simpler, workable immigration processes in a reasonable amount of time
- Related investments in state infrastructure that will welcome and retain new and longtime people
Immigration has long been a hot button topic in American political discourse. The alliance takes the stance that immigrants are a fundamental and necessary piece of the American-puzzle, with many speakers sharing their own stories of family lineage — under the downward gaze of Abraham Lincoln’s statue on the westside of the Capitol building.
Several of the organizations who gathered Wednesday to support positive immigration reform. (Chase Porter, KLIN News)
“Many of us here today are grandsons, granddaughters, great-grandsons, great-granddaughters of immigrants to Nebraska. It was how this state was built. In my own case, I’m the great-grandson of Irish and Scottish descendants,” shared said Bryan Slone, President of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce. “My ancestors, just like everyone else’s, we’re hardworking and very courageous people who made (Nebraska) what it is today. Now it’s our turn,”
“It’s time to once again secure Nebraska’s future, and thriving communities for our children and our grandchildren by simply doing the right thing: Coming together to agree on, and provide for, an appropriate path for the new generation of courageous and hardworking immigrant families,” Sloan continued.
Zoe Olson, Executive Director of the Nebraska Hospitality Association, lobbied for Nebraska to embrace a “big tent” approach, saying Nebraska would benefit from welcoming immigrants into the state due to it’s relatively low population and low unemployment rates.
“Our businesses need employees. Communities need new businesses. Our schools in most of the state are closing because our population is so sparse. We need to be the state that welcomes all,” said Olson “Our association tirelessly meets with congressional, state and elected officials and asks for ways to fix our long outdated immigration laws. Not by sending those who may be undocumented away to get in a non-existent line, to wait 20+ years to re-enter the United States, but rather to establish a way to permanent residency for those who are here already.”
Laura Field, Executive Vice President for the Nebraska Cattlmen Foundation echoed worries of dwindling workforce numbers as the baby-boomer generation begins to phase towards retirement.
“The simple truth is we must protect the industry in order to keep the state’s economy thriving, and that requires an adequate workforce. Unfortunately, we’ve heard from countless members over the years that this has become a significant challenge,” said Field. “Gaping holes in the production agriculture workforce only continue to worsen as time goes on. The aging demographic is clear in our industry, the average age for cattlemen is 57, from driving trucks to feeding cattle, there are needs in every sector of our operations.”
Sue Martin, President/Secretary-Treasurer of the Nebraska AFL-CIO, centered the issue on dignified working conditions for the state’s workforce — regardless of their immigration status.
“We need to create stability for the friends and coworkers who contribute so much to Nebraska workplaces and yet continue to live with daily uncertainty. We need to create an economy that protects working people and promotes democracy in our workplaces and our communities,” said Martin. “Fixing our outdated immigration laws, as part of the solution, is good for all of us. Nebraska can’t afford to lose our immigrant neighbors who are already an important part of our communities, and it is in our best interest to continue to welcome additional people who can be part of our future.”
It was noted by many speakers that it’s been nearly 40 years since Congress has meaningfully updated the nations immigration laws, while other countries continually update their laws.
A full handout provided by Nebraska Appleseed on the detailed changes this alliance is seeking is available below.