USHBC backs employment visa reform after Mullin call

Javier Palomarez and the United States Hispanic Business Council are pressing Congress and the administration to modernize employment-based visa rules after Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin renewed calls for reform at a governors meeting in Oklahoma City. The group says outdated visa caps are worsening labor shortages in industries from agriculture to elder care and raising costs for businesses and consumers.

Why it matters: - The USHBC says immigration reform is now an economic issue, not just a border issue. - Labor shortages in agriculture, construction, hospitality, manufacturing and elder care are still straining employers. - Outdated visa limits can slow expansion, raise operating costs and hit small businesses especially hard. - The council says a legal workforce pipeline is necessary for businesses to build homes, harvest crops and care for aging Americans.

What happened: - Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin called for changes to employment-based visa programs at the National Governors Association Summer Meeting in Oklahoma City over the weekend. - Mullin said the U.S. needs immigration reform to address labor shortages across the economy. - Javier Palomarez, USHBC president and CEO, responded with a statement supporting employment visa reform. - Palomarez said secure borders and a legal immigration system that gives employers access to needed workers should go hand in hand.

The details: - Congress has left key employment visa caps and regulations largely unchanged even as workforce needs have evolved. - In a June survey of 1,012 Texas Hispanic business owners, 1 in 5 said they lost an employee to deportation in the past year. - Construction, food service and tourism reported the greatest workforce disruption in that survey. - Palomarez said employers cannot fill open positions if the visa system does not match current labor needs. - Palomarez said small businesses may postpone expansion when they cannot find enough workers. - The USHBC is urging the administration and Congress to advance employment-based visa reform while maintaining secure borders. - The council has endorsed the Dignity Act, led by Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., and Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas. - The USHBC also backs the State Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act, led by Sens. John Curtis, R-Utah, and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.

Between the lines: - Mullin’s remarks create a fresh opening for business groups pushing for immigration changes tied directly to workforce needs. - The USHBC is framing the issue as a competitiveness problem, not just a policy debate. - The group is also trying to put its survey data in front of lawmakers as evidence of workforce disruption. - The emphasis on bipartisan bills signals that the council wants a reform package that can move in both chambers.

What’s next: - The USHBC says it is ready to work with the Department of Homeland Security, lawmakers from both parties and industry stakeholders. - Palomarez said the council will continue bringing employer data to Washington. - The group is encouraging engagement on employment visa reform as Congress and the administration weigh next steps.

The bottom line: - The USHBC wants employment visa reform treated as a core economic fix, with legal workforce access and border security addressed together.