Bipartisan Governors Launch Task Force to Tackle Immigration Reform

Summary

A bipartisan group of four U.S. governors announced a task force within the National Governors Association to develop immigration reform proposals. The governors emphasized the need for a secure border, removal of criminals, and a legal workforce pipeline to support state economies. They plan to present joint recommendations to Congress, citing broad agreement on these principles despite partisan divisions.

• Governors from Oklahoma, Maryland, Utah, and Delaware launch a bipartisan immigration task force.
• The group aims to address border security, criminal removal, and legal workforce permits.
• Governors argue immigration policy is broken and hurting state economies like agriculture, construction, and hospitality.
• They cite consensus on securing the border and fixing legal immigration, while leaving contentious issues like citizenship for later.
• The task force will develop state-level and federal recommendations for Congress.
• Governors criticize current immigration enforcement as lacking common sense, sharing examples of long-term legal residents facing deportation.
• They stress the economic imperative, with employers reporting worker shortages and fear among immigrant labor.