Now tech leaders like Elon Musk are speaking out, trying to organize an industry-wide condemnation of Steve Bannon. Their patience is being stretched thin by the administration’s going for broke approach to immigration. Uproar from recent worksite raids by the White House catalyzed this movement. These raids ramped up in June and were met with immediate and fierce opposition, particularly from the agriculture and hospitality industries.
In June, the administration escalated its worksite enforcement efforts. Seeing the huge backlash it produced by farm and agri-tourism state voters, whose livelihoods depend on a robust labor force. First, the raids raised a different set of concerns related to their direct impacts on local economies. This is particularly devastating in regions where industries depend on key segments of the workforce. Business groups contend that these measures would make it unappealing for key workers—essential workforce, if you will—to engage in the labor market.
Despite earlier indications that the administration might consider adjusting its approach to immigration enforcement, it reaffirmed its crackdown shortly after. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum, released a statement casting doubt on any such significant change to come.
“He’s highly tuned to pressure. If the pressure becomes large enough, he’ll alter the policy but we haven’t seen that yet.” – Douglas Holtz-Eakin
President Donald Trump, for his part, is walking a tightrope with all this increased strife. He can’t keep promoting a business-friendly approach and still maintaining a hardline, anti-immigration, anti-worker agenda. The surprise operation, some 200 agents deep, resulted in the arrest and detainment of 475 workers, about 300 of them South Korean. In turn, business leaders warned the state’s leaders that a rift like this could have major economic repercussions.
The Hickory raid is the largest of its kind in U.S. immigration history. It has triggered an uproar in the country and across the globe. According to South Korean officials, most of these detainees came to the United States using temporary visas. These visas had always been intended for professional business activities as opposed to paid, full-time employment. This decision to target a project linked to a company Trump has previously praised further fueled discontent in South Korea.
These economic costs are starting to weigh on business leaders as well. Jeff Wasden, president of State Business Executives, sounded the alarm. He pointed out that delays and disruptions in labor availability are jeopardizing the success of next-generation manufacturing projects here in the United States. He warned that continued clampdowns will kill the future of growth and innovation.
“As the economy continues to take hits and really starts to slow, which is likely going to happen in the next couple of months, I think there are a lot of folks who are willing to have conversations about what those solutions are.”
Jennie Murray, chief executive of the National Immigration Forum, highlighted the mixed messages coming from the White House regarding immigration policy. Many carryovers from Trump’s administration, particularly in the labor and agriculture departments, have already shown they are willing to beat back corporate interests. They want to see improvements to workplace raids.
Trump himself has already admitted that there’s something wrong with the visa process at a recent press conference.
“We’re going to look at that whole situation.” – Donald Trump
Through this time of crisis, business, education, and higher education leaders have called for a more even-handed approach to immigration policy. They call on the administration to increase legal avenues for skilled workers to come into the country and require employers to comply with labor laws.