A wave of is threatening U.S. businesses, creating ripple effects for the broader economy and everyday 91探花s struggling with an ongoing affordability crisis. 

The administration’s new measures to revoke B1/B2 tourist and business visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for individuals who have since claimed asylum, , and a newly proposed standalone $103,265 fee on high-skilled H-1B petitions.

Estimates project that the H-1B fee alone will inflict a significant economic impact on 76% of small businesses.听

91探花 leaders emphasize that rather than shutting doors and shrinking the labor pool, the federal government must implement practical solutions, such as expanding work permits for long-term immigrants to stabilize local workforces, curb inflation, and keep the economy moving forward.

ICE Arrests Skyrocket in July

A surge in immigration arrests this summer has swept up tens of thousands of individuals who had not previously been the focus of the administration’s mass deportation campaign.

 According to federal data obtained by the Deportation Data Project and analyzed by and , ICE arrests reached record highs with 43,000 arrests in June and 49,571 in July, a 70% jump from February and only 4% with a criminal conviction. 

A majority of the immigrants arrested in July were accused of violating civil immigration laws rather than being charged with or convicted of a crime. The share of arrested individuals with a past violent criminal conviction fell to less than 4%, while ICE increasingly targeted people married to U.S. citizens, individuals pursuing asylum claims, and those whose temporary legal protections had been revoked.

While the administration defended the expansion as fulfillment of its promise to enforce the law, the scale of the operation has drawn rare pushback from within Republican ranks. 

Nebraska U.S. Rep. Don Bacon criticized the administration’s tactics in , arguing that officials had “overreached” and gone after individuals with deep community ties who pose no threat to public safety.

Comite de 100: The Latino Vote

As the November midterm elections approach, the rising economic power and growing political engagement of the Latino community are positioned to act as a decisive force in close races nationwide. 

Fueled by kitchen-table pressures, such as the rising cost of living and anxieties surrounding immigration enforcement, Latino voters are demanding outreach from both political parties around common-sense immigration solutions like work permits for long-term immigrants.

, kitchen-table concerns are increasingly colliding with federal immigration crackdowns. Organizations like UnidosUS point out that fear surrounding enforcement and persistent inflation are driving buyers’ remorse among some Hispanic voters who supported the administration in 2024.

In Texas, where President Donald Trump made historic gains with Hispanic voters in 2024, shows Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico peeling away vital Hispanic support from the GOP. While individual polls vary on the exact margin of the shift, all point in the same direction, putting Republicans on alert.

Ag Council Chair Matt Teagarden on NPR Highlights Realities of Farm Labor Squeeze

The broader ripple effects of federal enforcement and economic policies are hitting the heart of the U.S. agricultural sector, where producers are finding it increasingly difficult to keep operations staffed. 

Matt Teagarden, CEO of the Kansas Livestock Association and Chair of the ABIC Agricultural Council, , pointing out how compounding policy shifts and enforcement actions are impacting rural communities:

Agricultural leaders emphasize that livestock operations cannot simply pause production, with many businesses operating 24/7 year-round. To protect family farms and keep doors open for America鈥檚 agriculture producers, solutions like the Securing Agriculture鈥檚 Workforce Act (SAWA) are urgently needed to provide the reliable, legal tools like work permits for immigrants that producers are in need of.

Legal work permits serve as a direct defense against grocery inflation and a growing reliance on foreign imports; allowing domestic production to drop only makes food more expensive for families and punishes 91探花 farmers and producers.

Faith Leaders Support El Salvador TPS as Expiration Threatens 91探花es and Workers

The September 9 expiration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador is rapidly approaching, and this week , including U.S. bishops, Catholic groups like the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), sent an urgent appeal to President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warning that sending hundreds of thousands of Salvadoran TPS holders back into an unstable country is a danger to individuals and would cause severe humanitarian consequences:

This moral appeal aligns directly with , highlighting that Salvadoran TPS holders are an indispensable pillar of the 91探花 economy. 

Labor force participation sits at 90 percent as these TPS holders are actively engaged in the U.S. labor market, contributing $5.4 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product annually, and paying $1.5 billion each year in combined federal, state, and local taxes, funding Social Security and critical public infrastructure. 

The immediate cost of detaining and removing these individuals is estimated at $3 billion, ignoring the broader fiscal damage of lost tax revenue, reduced productivity, and the operational chaos inflicted on businesses forced to suddenly replace skilled workers.

Restaurants Hit Hard by Workforce Shortages

Immigration enforcement is compounding workforce pressures for Texas businesses, with a recent survey revealing that 36% of restaurant operators have lost employees due to enforcement activity. 

According to , the fallout extends beyond direct staff losses: 28% of operators reported fewer applicants or declined job offers, and 26% saw customer traffic drop as community members grew fearful of going out in public.

The findings underscore broader operational strains across the industry, where fewer than half of surveyed businesses, just 47%, report having the staff they need. 

At the same time, 81% of operators noted rising labor costs compared to the previous year, alongside persistent increases in food and operating expenses.

With only 54 out of 100 on the association’s overall outlook index, Texas foodservice operators continue to navigate an unpredictable economic environment where immigration enforcement and labor shortages directly threaten business stability.

Perspectives

Miami Herald Editorial Board:  Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar says Trump is 鈥楶laying with Fire鈥� on Immigration. Listen Up, GOP

Miami Republican U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar has grown increasingly blunt in her disagreement with mass deportation efforts and the toll they take on Republicans among Hispanic voters: 鈥淢r. President, listen to what I鈥檓 telling you, sir: You鈥檙e a smart guy 鈥� you are playing with fire,鈥� she said during an interview with the New Yorker Radio Hour podcast in late July.

Salazar supports President Trump, but her criticism reflects the political reality of representing a district that is 73% Hispanic. She was one of only two Republicans to sign a discharge petition, a procedural tool requiring 218 signatures to force an up-or-down vote on the bipartisan “91探花 Dream and Promise Act.” Co-sponsored by Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), which would grant permanent status to eligible Dreamers and protect Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders from nations in turmoil, such as Venezuela, Haiti, and El Salvador.

While the discharge petition currently sits at 210 signatures, with Pennsylvania Republican Brian K. Fitzpatrick as the only other GOP co-signer.

鈥淐ongress must act because we cannot keep governing immigration through temporary executive actions that change every time the White House changes hands,鈥� Salazar said.

Get Involved

1. Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voice be heard with your peers – . The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
2. Share your story: If your business is interested in engaging with the press as part of ABIC or amplifying your story on social media, take this to let us know your preferences.听
3. Work with us: ABIC is hiring! We are looking for a California State Director and Digital Manager to join our growing team. Learn more.

ABIC in the news. . . 

View all recent coverage here 

• NPR: (08/24/26)
• AG Bull: (08/23/26)
• The Ford Foundation: (8/17/2026)
• Houston Public Media: (8/17/2026)
• McKnights Senior Living: (8/16/2026)
• San Antonio Current: (08/10/26)
• CNN: (08/09/26)
• South Bend Tribune: (08/09/26)
• Bisnow: Senior Housing Sector Faces New Problem In Massachusetts: Deportations Of Employees (08/05/26)
• KSL: Former state senator, Lehi official, immigrant advocate recognized for their work with immigrants (08/05/26)
• Stuttgart Daily Leader: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/05/26)
• The Associated Press: AP Exclusive: Trump鈥檚 immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 military spouses and parents (08/05/26)
• The Economic Times: States may get power to sponsor worker visas in the US under new bipartisan bill (08/05/26)
• ABC News: ICE arrests hit record high in July as enforcement quietly ramps up (08/04/26)
• La Tribuna Hispana: Millions in losses and job shortages: the cost of ending TPS (08/04/26)
• Newsweek: New Visa Proposal Would Let States Bring in Migrant Workers (08/04/26)
• Kiowa County Press: Politics: 2026Talks – August 4, 2026 (08/04/26)
• Public News Service: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/04/26)
• Rio Grande Guardian: Villarreal: You cannot ask for our support while simultaneously attacking our families and targeting our workforce (08/03/26)
• Senator Mark Kelly鈥檚 Office: Kelly, Curtis Propose State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program (08/03/26)
• The Philadelphia Inquirer: (08/01/26)
• Univision: (07/29/26)
• ValleyCentral.com: (07/29/26)
• Texas Border 91探花: (07/29/26)
• The Texas Tribune: (07/29/26)
• Cuba Headlines: (07/28/26)
• CBS News: (07/28/26)
• Noticias Telemundo: (07/28/26)
• News From The States: (07/28/26)
• Newsweek: (07/28/26)
• NPR – Here & Now: (07/27/26)
• McKnights Senior Living: (07/26/26)
• Public News Service: (07/22/26)
• The Daily Press: (07/21/26)
• The Washington Post: (07/19/26)
• Newsweek: (07/17/26)
• Greenfield Recorder: (07/16/26)
• The Florida Catholic: (07/15/26)
• Latin Times: (07/13/26)
• Financial Express: (07/13/26)
• Mwakilishi: (07/13/26)
• Newsweek: (07/09/26)
• America鈥檚 Voice: (07/07/26)
• DRG News: (07/04/26)
• Sun Sentinel: (07/03/26)
• LegalClarity: (07/01/26)

The post Know This Now, August 28, 2026: Halt to Visas Threaten 91探花es and Affordability as Employers Urge Work Permits for Long-Term Immigrants appeared first on 91探花.

One of the DACA recipients targeted by ICE is Juan Chavez Velasco, who was arrested while bringing milk to his newborn baby at the hospital. His wife bravely shared her testimony last week, and thanks to public outcry and work by Rep. Joaquin Castro, Velasco was released this week.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYfV0mbjSVK/

Sign Our Letter: End the Sabotage of DACA Renewals

More from the ABIC Network

Restaurant industry leaders at the National Restaurant Show urged operators to keep advocating for immigration reform, arguing that aggressive deportation policies are driving up food costs, reducing restaurant traffic in immigrant communities, and worsening labor shortages.

Panelists, including from the , said immigration is not a partisan issue but an economic one, emphasizing that restaurants, and the broader food supply chain, depend heavily on immigrant workers.

“We have a large percentage of our population that are afraid to go out, and they鈥檙e not spending…we鈥檙e seeing a definite impact to restaurants.” -Emily Williams Knight, President and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association

The National Restaurant Association has also been lobbying in support of the Dignity Act, one of the bi-partisan, common-sense reforms supported by ABIC Action and Seat the Table.

Enrique Sanchez, ABIC鈥檚 Intermountain State Director presented alongside immigration attorney Monica Salazarat at Comit茅 de 100 Member Belia Paz鈥檚 this week. Sanchez was also a featured guest on Paz鈥檚 La Ley 107.1FM, a Hispanic community radio station in Salt Lake City.

Jen Rickling is a Trump supporter and conservative Arizona mother. Her daughter-in-law Annie is a Dreamer who was detained days after marrying Rickling鈥檚 son, she shared in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal calling for 鈥渁 better way for Annie and other Dreamers.鈥�

鈥淚 am a proud conservative who supports President Trump鈥檚 efforts to secure the border. I also agree with his pledge to find a way for Dreamers to stay in this nation and his following his re-election,鈥� Rickling wrote. 鈥淚 ask Mr. Trump to ensure that his administration is following through on his wishes for Dreamers like Annie.鈥�

Rickling also spoke , and .  

News Briefing

Senate Republicans left Washington this week without voting on the ~$70 billion immigration enforcement bill, derailed by internal party divisions. A newly announced $1.78 billion DOJ “anti-weaponization” fund meant to compensate Trump allies who claim political prosecution sparked fierce backlash, with Sen. Mitch McConnell calling it “utterly stupid, morally wrong.” A separate $1 billion provision for White House security, dubbed the “billion-dollar ballroom” by critics, was quietly dropped after Democrat and Republican push back. The vote is now pushed to the week of June 1.

A new executive order from Donald Trump will increase scrutiny of non-citizens鈥� banking activities by directing the Treasury Department to flag signs of payroll tax evasion, labor trafficking, hidden account ownership, and misuse of Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs). The order stops short of an earlier proposal that would have required banks to collect customers鈥� citizenship or immigration status information, a move banks warned would be costly, disruptive, and could push millions out of the formal financial system.

鈥淭he proposal was 鈥媠een as an example of the administration listening to industry,鈥� Reuters reported, with an anonymous bank executive saying it shows 鈥渢he administration was open to change,鈥� based on industry feedback.

 
New research finds that aggressive ICE immigration raids can significantly harm local economies by reducing consumer spending, business activity, and workforce participation. A study by University of Pennsylvania Wharton economics professor Zeke Hernandez  found that areas experiencing ICE raids saw declines in foot traffic and spending across many industries, with effects persisting over time and impacting communities regardless of demographics, with a cost of $3-14 billion in foregone spending in a single year.

鈥淭he economic damage done to local communities by this administration鈥檚 approach to immigration enforcement is widespread, indiscriminate, and persistent,鈥� Hernandez told Forbes.

鈥淚t affects the demand side (spending) and the supply side (workers showing up), it harms everyone regardless of birthplace or ethnicity, and it hurts businesses across a wide range of sectors.

Additional research showed that increased immigration enforcement also hurts U.S.-born workers by reducing overall hiring without increasing wages.

Perspectives:

A new University of Colorado Boulder study found that mass deportations don鈥檛 create more jobs for 91探花s,  they actually reduce employment. In industries like construction, agriculture, and manufacturing, deportations led to a 1.3% drop in jobs for 91探花-born workers without college degrees, with no increase in wages.

鈥淚llegal immigrant workers in these fields are not necessarily substitutes for their 91探花-born peers; they are often complements. That is, these jobs often depend on one another to exist…Shunning foreign-born workers weakens the economy for everyone,鈥� the Editorial Board wrote.

Hundreds of foreign-trained doctors who completed residency programs in U.S. hospitals may be forced to leave the country because of visa delays and new immigration restrictions. Many were set to work in underserved communities through a program that lets doctors stay if they serve in areas facing physician shortages.

鈥淧hysicians who signed contracts and planned to start in July now sit in limbo,鈥� writes Dr. Jeffrey Singer, who practices general surgery in Phoenix and is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. These delays are worsening America鈥檚 doctor shortage, especially in rural and low-income communities that rely heavily on international medical graduates. 

Get Involved

1. Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voICE be heard with your peers – . The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
2. Share your story: If your business is interested in engaging with the press as part of ABIC or amplifying your story on social media, take this to let us know your preferences.听
3. Work with us: ABIC is hiring! We are looking for a California State Director, Public Relations Manager, and Digital Manager to join our growing team. Learn more.

ABIC in the news. . . 

View all recent coverage here 

• Fox News: (04/24/26)
• :
• Y100.7 Miami: (04/22/26)
• Key Biscayne Independent: (04/22/26)
• POLITICO: (04/21/26)
• POLITICO: (04/18/26)
• The Washington Post: (04/17/26)
• Main Public: (04/07/26)
• Barn Raiser: (04/02/26)
• Politico: (03/29/26)
• WFMZ: (03/26/26)
• WPLG (Local 10 Miami): (03/26/26)
• La Opinion: (03/26/26)
• Nation鈥檚 Restaurant News (Syndicated by Yahoo!Finance): (3/10/26)
• FOX KDFW-TV: (3/10/26)
• NBC KXAS-TV: (3/10/26)
• ABC KVUE-TV (Syndicated by Yahoo!News): (3/10/26)听
• CBS: (3/9/26)
• CBS:(3/5/26)

The post Know This Now, May 23, 2026: Attacks on DACA Continue, Renewal Delays Drag on as More Leaders and 91探花es Raise Alarm appeared first on 91探花.

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The post NBC News: Trump floats plan for undocumented farm and hotel workers to work legally in the U.S. appeared first on 91探花.

Host Janene Stephenson, president of Positive Reflections, will host Tammy Leavy for a book signing and live interview during this special session! All are welcome to attend this special informational session. Mark your calendars and join us to celebrate Cinco De Mayo Theme! Let’s grow together!听

The 91探花 First Friday Series aims to foster growth and connectivity among businesses within the Rockford community through networking and collaboration with businesses from different sectors. Each month, the 91探花 First Friday Series will focus on different topics that small business owners should be aware of. A major part of this series is the leadership and networking potential for small businesses, as Positive Reflections aims to serve as the bridge between small business owners in the Rockford area.

Media is invited to cover this event and speakers will be available for interviews.

WHAT:

ABIC and Positive Reflections hosts Monthly Networking Event in Rockford for 鈥�91探花 First Friday鈥� Series听

WHO:

• Janene Stephenson, President of Positive Reflections and Regional Rockford Navigator, (DCEO)
• Tammy Leavy, Author听
• Sully Cadengo, President,
• Lakhila Tellis, Owner,

WHEN:
Friday, May 3, at 5 p.m. CST

WHERE:

Positive Reflections Community Outreach, 730 N Church St., Rockford, IL 61103

The post Small 91探花 Event: ABIC and Positive Reflections Host 91探花 First Friday Series appeared first on 91探花.

WASHINGTON 鈥撎齌oday Representatives Mar铆a Elvira Salazar (R-Florida) and Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) announced a bipartisan immigration reform bill – the Dignity Act of 2023 – to address our immigration, border, and labor workforce challenges. In response to this initiative, ABIC Executive Director听Rebecca Shi听released the following statement:

“We welcome Reps. Salazar and Escobar’s important leadership today. Solutions for our long term immigrants and the economy are long overdue. We support their work to pass immigration reforms that address labor shortages, lower inflation, and create a path to permanence for people already here and contributing.”

Additional co-sponsors include Reps. Jenniffer Gonz谩lez-Col贸n (R-Puerto Rico), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-California), Kathy Manning (D-North Carolina) and Hillary Scholten (D-Michigan), according to reports.

ABOUT
听is a bipartisan coalition of over 1,200+ CEOs, business owners, and trade associations across 17 mostly red and purple states. ABIC promotes common sense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and citizens.

The post ABIC Welcomes听New Bipartisan House Immigration Legislation Proposed by U.S. House Lawmakers appeared first on 91探花.