Investors Representing More Than $145 Billion Call for Immigration Reform

BOSTON, March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 60 institutional investors are calling on CEOs of the leading companies in the United States to speak out for immigration policy reform. They say that fixing our broken immigration system is an economic and human rights imperative.

In a political climate marked by growing anti-immigrant rhetoric, these investment leaders are pushing for a national immigration policy that provides the basis for long-term economic growth while addressing a crucial human rights issue. Leaders of the initiative include John Liu, Comptroller for the City of New York, as well as senior management from Mercy Investment Services, Inc., Boston Common Asset Management, Walden Asset Management, and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

The group aims to interject a reasonable voice into the immigration debate, citing the need for greater corporate involvement in the reform process. Immigration reform is imperative, they say, to ensure a competitive U.S. labor force and a cessation of exploitation and abuse in industries that rely heavily on immigrant workers.

To achieve its goal, the group is asking CEOs of major American corporations to advocate for a balanced approach to immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship and increased opportunities for immigrants to enter the United States workforce. Further, CEOs are urged to participate in meaningful immigration discussion that transcends partisan politics and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

They cite the recently created Partnership for a New American Economy (www.renewoureconomy.org) as an example of how companies can contribute to the policy debate in a positive way. This is a bipartisan coalition led by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, with CEOs of Boeing, Marriot, Microsoft, News Corporation, and Walt Disney as co-chairs of the Partnership.

As of March 2009, there were an estimated 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants (down 8% from the 2007 peak), of whom 1.1 million are children. Four million more children were born in the U.S. and are living with at least one unauthorized immigrant parent. These children are vulnerable to policies that could undermine their ability to become contributing members of our society. Moreover, the fear of exposure keeps undocumented workers vulnerable to unscrupulous employers who violate wage, safety, and discrimination laws.

More Details: http://www.waldenassetmgmt.com/social/action/immigration_PR2011.pdf

SOURCE Walden Asset Management; Unitarian Universalist Association