By Dale J. Venturini
President/CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association
Recently, the Federal government raided a factory in New Bedford, arrested the owner and managers and detained close to 500 immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally. While it is unclear what will happen to the individuals and their families, the raid brings to light the problem with the current immigration laws in this country.
Recently, the Federal government raided a factory in New Bedford, arrested the owner and managers and detained close to 500 immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally. While it is unclear what will happen to the individuals and their families, the raid brings to light the problem with the current immigration laws in this country.
The foodservice and lodging industry is the top private sector employer of immigrant workers. In fact, the National Restaurant Association estimates that more than one quarter of managers in the foodservice segment of the industry are foreign-born.
Unfortunately, our immigration system does not reflect America's need for workers. Our nation’s economy provided 134 million jobs last year, yet the federal government makes only 10,000 green cards available for service-industry workers each year. We are struggling to find people to fill the positions in our restaurants, hotels and attractions.
Without comprehensive change, the situation is only going to get worse. Over the next decade, the National Restaurant Association projects that the number of jobs in the foodservice segment will grow one and a half times as fast as the U.S. labor force. At the same time, the number of 16- to 24-year-olds in the labor force -- half our industry’s workforce – is expected to be stagnant.
The hospitality industry, like this country, was built on the dreams and hard work of immigrants. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants have come to the U.S. and started a career in restaurants or opened their own hospitality businesses – which are the cornerstones of our local economy. Unlike our forefathers, the new wave of immigrant worker faces an antiquated legal system, which has resulted in a growing number of illegal immigrants working and hiding in the shadows of our society.
Under no circumstance should a business knowingly employ illegal immigrants. But, until the politicians in Washington can put politics aside and take a comprehensive look and approach to immigration policies, the problem will only worsen, as business owners look to find ways to find employees.
The National Restaurant Association is taking the lead in the national debate on immigration, and has supported a comprehensive approach to strengthen our borders, provide a mechanism for employers to hire from abroad when U.S. workers are not available, and create a program for the undocumented to earn green cards.
The Association also supports Congress taking a realistic approach. According to the NRA, it is not realistic to require 11 million individuals to go home. This would disrupt our economy and risk stranding our workers abroad while simultaneously creating a disincentive for them to come forward. The Association also further does not support the permanent caste of second-class workers, legal or illegal. We must find a way for these workers to come forward, be screened by the Department of Homeland Security, pay a fine, and participate in a program that lets them earn permanent residency and eventual citizenship.
