CHARLOTTE NC (WITN) – North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Attorney General Josh Stein and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) attended a virtual immigration summit with business leaders and university presidents at Thursday.
The event was called Carolinas Flourishing: Revealing the Region’s Economic Potential through Sensitive Immigration Solutions.
He highlighted the contributions of 1.1 million immigrants from North and South Carolina to the states, including more than 41,000 Dreamers and 120,000 rural workers.
According to the event’s organizer, the Carolinas Chapter of the American Business Immigration Coalition, the immigrant workforce drives key sectors such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, technology, hospitality, tourism and health.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said: “What we have seen repeatedly is a Congress frozen in a party standoff. It is hurting states, it is hurting local governments, it is hurting businesses and our economy, and, most importantly, it is hurting people and families. We must understand how the immigrant community is vital to our economy across the country and right here in North Carolina. I look forward to the day when our nation’s leaders can agree on a common-sense immigration policy. This is what we need to keep our economy running. Count on me to be a firm voice for this solution
According to ABIC leaders, immigrants have a combined purchasing power of $ 28.8 billion and contribute more than $ 10.3 billion in federal and state taxes.
“Today, our immigration system is broken. Our leaders in Washington must finally seize this moment and act on comprehensive immigration reform that recognizes the valuable contributions that immigrants make to their communities. The US Senate needs to pass the Agricultural Workforce Modernization Act and the DREAM and Promise Act that the House passed with strong bipartisanship last week, ”said NC Attorney General Josh Stein.
During Thursday’s virtual summit, leaders discussed bipartisan immigration solutions.
“I will be at that table working with our friends across the corridor to bring real and sustainable reform to the agricultural sector,” said Republican Senator Tim Scott (R-SC).
ABIC is calling on the Senate to approve the bipartisan Dream and Promise Act, the 2021 bipartisan Dream Act (Durbin / Graham) and the bipartisan agricultural workforce modernization act that was approved by the House with 30 members of the Republican Congress.
Other leaders who participated in the virtual summit include Vincent Price, president of Duke University; Martin Eakes, President and CEO of Self Help Federal Credit Union; Krista L. Newkirk, president of Converse College; Chalmers Carr, president and CEO of Titan Farms; Hugh McColl, retired President and CEO of Bank of America; Jose Oliva, Replacements Ltd; Marty Kotis, president and CEO of Kotis Holdings; Gris Bailey, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Latin America – Charlotte; and Jose Hernandez Paris, Executive Director of the Latin American Coalition.
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