The Need for Bipartisan Immigration Reform
- 01/15/2021

In June of 2020, when the Supreme Court overturned President Trump’s attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA), RILA President Brian Dodge released a statement emphasizing that Dreamers “are part of the social fabric of America and part of the retail family; they are our friends and neighbors.” Many have been on the frontlines during the COVID-19 Pandemic. It is important for the incoming Administration, and Congress, to provide certainty to Dreamers and other undocumented immigrants who live in constant fear that the lives they have built for themselves and their family could be hastily jeopardized by government officials.
In addition to finding certainty for the Dreamers, who work within the retail industry, lawmakers must address the challenges related to highly skilled and other work visa programs. As retailers continue to evolve, we need the talent to build platforms, usability, and improve the overall consumer experience for more technology-based services. Congress must address these needs by modernizing foreign worker visa programs to help retailers meet the demands of the 21st Century retail workforce.
Leading retailers are ready to help the incoming Biden Administration and Congress fix our broken immigration laws. The retail industry is encouraged to see statements from the Biden transition that the incoming Administration understands the seriousness and importance of getting a bill through Congress this year.
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Public Policy
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DACA
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Investing in People
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Retail Works for All of Us
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Diversity
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Workforce
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Immigration