This week, AEM joined a group of diverse organizations in releasing a border security and management legislative framework for consideration by members of Congress. AEM has been advocating for bipartisan solutions that bring order to the border so additional immigration policy challenges can then be addressed – solutions that will strengthen America’s workforce and chart a path forward for immigrants and refugees looking to work in the equipment manufacturing industry.
An attempt at moving a bipartisan border security package briefly gained momentum earlier this year, but eventually stalled and then fell apart. AEM and other supporters plan to leverage this new legislative framework to build momentum for pragmatic solutions to the immigration crisis. This week’s rollout reflects growing consensus among policy experts on what realistic border solutions need to address.
The legislative framework focuses on four core policy recommendations that would create a more secure, efficient, and humane process for migrants seeking entry into the U.S. These include modernizing the U.S. asylum process, providing immigration agencies with adequate personnel and resources, investing in programs and technology at the border to stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., and updating federal law and processes surrounding human smuggling and trafficking cases.
The rollout also includes pitches to national media, joint opinion pieces, social media amplification, and outreach to congressional offices to share the framework.
AEM has been leading the charge on behalf of the equipment manufacturing industry to encourage lawmakers to engage in constructive policy discussions about border security and immigration reform. AEM Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Relations, Kip Eideberg, penned an opinion piece for The Hill earlier this year urging federal policymakers to fix the broken immigration system in the U.S. and secure the border.
Immigration will be a driving policy issue in the upcoming general election as polling shows that more than 80% of registered voters would support candidates who work to bring order to the border, along with bipartisan immigration reforms that address labor needs and existing foreign-born workers. As the endorsement of this legislative framework suggests, AEM and the equipment manufacturing industry are ready to help solutions-focused Republicans and Democrats work together to make meaningful progress on a key policy priority.
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