Immigration

Visa Program Expansion

IEC supports bipartisan immigration reform and believes that incorporating a sensible and needs-based approach to expanding foreign worker visa programs to addresses shortages in human capital for domestic businesses will bolster U.S. economic recovery. However, in the 113th Congress, the Senate “Gang of Eight” immigration proposal, the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act” (S. 744), fails to adequately meet the construction industry’s workforce needs. 

IEC is greatly concerned with an arbitrary cap on construction workers eligible for newly-created “W visas” for lesser-skilled, non-agricultural workers. Out of an annual maximum of 200,000 “W visas,” a stringent 15,000 per year limit for the broad range of trades encompassed by the construction industry – electricians, masons, roofers, painters, and the like – is simply unworkable and threatens to create labor shortages. 

While the unemployment rate for construction has remained high as the sector strives to recover, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that construction laborer and helper jobs will grow at a rate of 25% over the next 10 years. If the Senate’s proposed cap were to be enacted, construction employers could easily go from not having enough work to not having enough workers.

While an IEC member or a trade with which they are partnered on a construction project may not need to source foreign labor now, S. 744’s stringent cap will obstruct the industry’s ability to fill essential jobs in the future. Labor shortages created by the cap on construction visas will only translate into project delays and higher costs for production, which would inevitably be passed on to small business contractors and ultimately to consumers. The issue of immigration was not addressed during the 114th session of Congress. 

IEC opposes the maximum annual cap of 15,000 on visas available for construction sector jobs and believes that, rather than be subjected to an arbitrary and unsustainable limit, construction should receive the same treatment as other “W visa”-eligible industries that benefit from visa availability that fluctuates to meet the needs of the labor market.

Employee Verification

IEC members place significant emphasis on ensuring the employees they hire are properly vetted to legally work in the U.S. IEC further believes that any proposed mandatory employment verification system should include a “knowing” intent standard for employers’ liability as well as contractors that employ subcontractors on projects. 

In the 113th Congress, the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act” (S. 744) was introduced, which included such a standard and preempted state regulations on employment eligibility. Also introduced was the “Legal Workforce Act” (H.R. 1772), a stand-alone E-verify bill that included a strong safe harbor provision, federal preemption language, and, importantly, a two year phase-in for small businesses with less than 20 employees.

 IEC supports the standard for an employment verification system as outlined in S. 744.

Employee Verification Pull Quote

Questions?

Contact the national staff member below for any questions regarding advocacy.