Monday, June 15, 2009

2/12/2009: Interview with Chuck Berry – President, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry (CACI)


On Thursday, February 12, 2009, DU’s Strategic Issues Panel on Immigration heard from business and labor representatives.


Chuck Berry, President of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry (CACI) presented his ideas for immigration policy reform.

In 2007, he said, CACI adopted the U.S .Chamber of Commerce's policy on immigration, which includes the following points:


- Increase national security
- Support the employee verification program
- Support a temporary worker program
- Recruit foreign workers when domestic workers are unavailable
- Provide a legal pathway to citizenship
- Require English language proficiency

The vast majority of employers, Berry said, don’t knowingly employ illegal immigrants. And while some states require the use of E-Verify, employers may operate in several states. Employers don’t want to enforce immigration laws set at the national and state levels.


He also recommended the use of a tamper-proof identification card which would help employers ensure they are hiring legally eligible workers. Such an ID card would use the technology we have available but which we aren’t now using to enforce immigration laws.


You can watch Chuck berry’s full presentation here.


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