U.S. Chamber Dialogue with Mexican Officials on Immigration

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce today welcomed the Mexican Foreign Secretary, Jorge G. Castaneda, Mexican Secretary of the Interior, Santiago Creel and representatives of the business community - comprising the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition - to discuss possible reform of immigration laws to address worker shortages.

"Today's meeting continues the dialogue begun by President Bush and Fox," said Randel Johnson, Chamber vice president for labor policy. "Our discussions with the Foreign Secretary and the Interior Secretary were extremely productive and we look forward to working with all parties on these issues, including organized labor, as the Bush/Fox talks proceed."

By 2008, the U.S. economy will produce an estimated 161 million jobs - to be filled by just 154 million American workers. The labor-shortage problem will only escalate as the Baby Boomers start to retire.

"Current immigration laws are not responsive to the legitimate needs of employers and the Nation's future economic interests," added Johnson. "These talks are critical to solving our workforce shortage problems and the time for immigration reform is now."

The Chamber supports the expansion and reform of temporary worker programs and targeted earned adjustment for undocumented workers.

The Chamber is a leader of the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition, a group of businesses, trade associations and other organizations working with Congress and the Bush administration to address the unskilled and semi-skilled labor shortage.

The Mexican officials are in Washington, D.C. to lay the groundwork for a meeting between President George W. Bush and President Vincente Fox on September 5, which is expected to lead to several major announcements concerning migration between the United States and Mexico.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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