Industry leaders and Democratic lawmakers, including Durbin and Pritzker, are asking Biden to fast-track migrant work permits to fill vacancies.Lawmakers on Wednesday were calling on President Joe Biden to fast-track migrant work permits in an effort to fill major job vacancies across Illinois industries.
They want to allow new migrants and undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. for years to legally contribute to the workforce and support their families.Jose Rivas said he arrived in Chicago from Venezuela six months ago.He said the journey through Mexico was dangerous. It took place on foot and involved sleeping in cars when they could."Without the papers, I can't get a job to support my family. I want to work; I want to find a job," Rivas said.
"Together we call upon the Department of Homeland Security to create a process for streamlined work authorization in which states can sponsor non-citizens to work in industries that are facing labor shortages," Mayor Brandon Johnson said. Johnson and Democratic lawmakers held a roundtable discussion Wednesday, with the American Business Immigration Coalition, calling on the president to designate new migrants like Rivas a "significant public benefit" to fast-track work permits.
"We have the jobs. We have the people; we just need authorization from Washington," Gov. JB Pritzker said.The city has spent $100 million, but only $38 million has been reimbursed from the federal government."Manufacturers, like retailers and hospitality and hotels and hospitals, are all struggling to find qualified workers," said Mark Denzler, Illinois Manufacturer's Association president and CEO.