Leon: South Carolinians must support executive action on immigration now

For years, South Carolina has benefited from the enormous economic impact of Latinos. We’ve started businesses, become job creators and rejuvenated the state’s labor force, but many still lack basic legal recognition that’s necessary to thrive and raise a family here.

The Latino community has been hoping and praying for the approval of immigration reform, a way out of the shadows, a way to have legal presence. Many have dedicated endless hours advocating with legislators, pastors and persons with political influence, to no avail.

On Nov. 20, President Barack Obama announced two executive orders establishing a low deportation priority for specific individuals. The first said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would not deport certain undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and parents of lawful permanent residents. The second expanded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for youth who came to the United States as children.

Unfortunately, the president’s actions have not taken effect. On Feb. 16, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen of the Southern District of Texas temporary blocked President Obama’s executive action.

We cannot afford to wait any longer for executive action to be implemented. These programs would benefit not only the 4.4 million parents and youth who would receive a work permit and temporary permission to stay in the United States but also the entire country. Everywhere you look you find the positive economic impact of Latinos.

The director of the Small Business Administration recently cited a report that immigrants or their children founded more than 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies. The Partnership for a New American Economy’s report titled “The ‘New American’ Fortune 500” concluced that immigrants drive the economy. The report noted the immigrant-founded Fortune 500 companies employ 3.6 million workers worldwide; the rate increases to more than 10 million when including businesses founded by children of immigrants.

Immigrants are twice as likely to start a business; they’re twice as likely to file a patent. According to the Small Business Administration, immigrants employ one out of every 10 employees. It is important to recognize the contributions that immigrant populations are making and the positive impact that would be unleashed by the president’s executive orders.

Latinos are the fastest growing population in the country, and this is the moment to be inclusive. We need to realize that the millions of hardworking parents and families cannot continue to wait. Our community cannot continue to wait; we must support executive action on immigration now.

Mauldin

This story was originally published May 25, 2015 at 7:34 PM.