Working towards sensible immigration reforM For Our State and Country
Who Is AZEIR?
Sensible Solutions
AZEIR believes sensible solutions that solve the immigration problem must come from the federal level and must address the demand for labor as much as border security. These ideas are not mutually exclusive and must be done in tandem if we are to practically address this important issue.
Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform is a grass roots organization comprised of over 400 small, medium and large businesses who believe the goal of sensible federal immigration reform is possible if the public and elected officials are informed of the facts and understand the history and successes (or lack thereof) of local and state immigration enforcement efforts.
Membership in AZEIR is open to any Arizona-based business regardless of size or number of employees. If you would like to join AZEIR, click on the Join AZEIR link at the bottom of this page.
To sign up for our mailing list, please click on the link below. It is the best way to stay current on AZEIR events, research notifications and alerts.
AZEIR, Texans for Sensible Immigration Policy, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, and the National Immigration Forum sponsored the Congressional Immigration Solutions Forum on Tuesday, May 1 at the Rayburn House Office Building "Gold Room," 2168. The event was covered live on C-SPAN 3, who has made available videos of Lessons Learned panel and and the Immigration Solutions panel online.
Speakers included:
Bill Montgomery, Maricopa County Attorney
Dr. Douglas Massey, Princeton University's Mexican Migration Project
Eddie Aldrete, Senior VP, IBC Bank
Alex Nowrasteh, Cato Institute
Daryl Williams, Attorney, Baird, Williams and Greer
AZEIR Executive Director Testifies Before Congress
24 April 2012 - AZEIR Executive Director Todd Landfried testified before Congress on the economic impacts on business of Arizona-style immigration laws. Copies of his spoken and written testimony are available here: [spoken] [written]
AZEIR Files Amicus Curiae Brief in SCOTUS Opposing SB1070
26 March 2010 - A group of five Arizona business organizations, filed an amicus curiae "Friend of the Court" brief today with the U.S. Supreme Court in opposition to the state's SB1070. The brief states the law violates the Dormant Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, interferes with interstate and foreign commerce and the justifications and purported benefits to the State are "illusory." Citing Supreme Court rulings from previous cases and statistics from economic studies and state agencies, the brief makes a compelling argument why SB1070 is bad for Arizona's businesses and the economy.
Organizations signing on to the brief include Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform, American Subcontractors Association of Arizona, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Farmers Investment Company, and Hill & Usher, LLC.
Our hope is the court will consider our arguments and find that permitting state-level immigration laws do little to solve the problem, that can be solved only through sensible federal immigration reform. [PDF] [Press Release]
CRITICAL - Support AZEIR's Supreme Court Amicus Curiae Brief
As you may know, the State of Arizona has mounted a US Supreme Court challenge to federal court decisions enjoining SB1070. The challenge is based upon our Governor’s belief that both the Federal District Court of Arizona and the Ninth Circuit Court have erred in suspending four sections of the bill.
AZEIRworked with immigration and corporate attorneys who are passionate and well qualified to write a business-based amicus brief and delivered a strong business-centric argument opposing SB1070. We still have outstanding costs related to the prepartion of the brief and our previous fundraising efforts got us to within $10,000 of our $50,000 goal. We again ask each of you to think carefully about whether Arizona business can prosper or even survive the unleashing of SB1070, and ask you to help us retire this obligation.
Please make an appropriate contribution at once. You may also send a check made out to AZEIR at P.O. Box 80302, Phoenix, AZ 85060. We cannot stand idly by while all chance for meaningful reform is extinguished by an adverse Supreme Court decision. We have little time to act.
9 Out Of 10 Immigration Statements Are Wrong
Using a simple analysis of two media "fact check" web sites that examined the truthfulness of public statements regarding immigration (Politifact and AZ Fact Check), AZEIR found that for each source, statements by politicians of both parties were wrong 9 out of 10 times. This stunning finding raises serious questions about the factual basis of the immigration debate and the motivations of those who make or repeat false statements. Unquestionably, the truth must be the sole basis for discussing the issue and finding immigration solutions. We must hold politicians accountable for misstatements of fact. Anything less adds to the problem and makes sensible solutions less likely.
Arizona Accord - Five Principles For Sensible Reform
Endorsed by a broad range of business, faith-based and civic groups, the Arizona Accord, with its five principles on immigration reform, was unveiled today (24 January 2012) in a signing ceremony held in the historic Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.
The Arizona Accord provides a broad set of guiding principles on issues related to immigration which can act as a foundation in all efforts – government and private – to find solutions to the complicated questions surrounding the federal immigration system.
The five principles found in the Arizona Accord deal with finding federal solutions; respecting and supporting an appropriate role for law enforcement; recognizing the importance of protecting families in order to sustain our communities; supporting a free-market economy that acknowledges the contribution immigrants bring to our nation’s workforce and embracing the culture of inclusion by welcoming people of goodwill to our state and country.
"Everyone needs to understand the Accord isn't a law and it isn't intended to become one," said Richard Usher, Board member and co-founder of Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform. "These are simple and straightforward principles those involved in solving the immigration problem can follow as they create and implement sensible solutions. We’ve seen the problems doing it the wrong way creates and our hope is that following these five principles allows us to quickly and effectively address the immigration problem in ways that secures the border while facilitating and promoting legal economic growth."
Show Your Support for the Arizona Accord
The citizens of Arizona are welcome to express their support for these principles by going online and signing the Arizona Accord for themselves. The Arizona Accord web site can be found at: www.azaccord.com
The Immigration Policy Council has released their updated report "The Political and Economic Power of Immigrants, Latinos, and Asians in the Grand Canyon State." Get the report.and obtain the fact sheets for Arizona and the other 50 states.
Follow AZEIR on Facebook
Of course we're social! Get the latest immigration reform news and information and connect with other professionals interested in sensible reforms on AZEIR's Facebook page.
AZEIR's Arizona Immigration Solutions Conferences
Arizona Immigration Solutions Conference At Rio Salado College (Top left) and Flagstaff High Country Center (Top Right) Mesa at Mesa Community College (Center Right), Tucson (Bottom Left) and Yuma at Arizona Western College (Bottom Right).
The purpose of the Arizona Immigration Solutions Conference (AISC) was to open a thoughtful and informed public dialogue about our state's immigration policies. It asked two simple yet responsible questions: "are Arizona's strategies working?" and "if not, then what should we be doing to address the problem?" To answer these questions, the AISC brings in nationally known researchers, state and local elected officials, business owners and community and faith leaders to look closely at how we're doing and ask tough questions about whether we're spending our resources wisely, where we're headed and examine new and different solutions. It is non-partisan, non-judgmental and fact-based.
The first three conferences were held at Rio Salado College in Tempe in May, Flagstaff in August, Mesa in September, Tucson in October, and the final in Yuma in mid-November. These conferences were sponsored by AZEIR along with sponsors, The Real Arizona Coalition, One Arizona/Interfaith Leaders and local business groups.
Information from previous conferences can be found at these links:
Over past few years, AZEIR has had the opportunity to address community and business groups throughout Arizona and help shed some light as to the facts of immigration and immigrants and their impact on all aspects of the economy. The following online presentations were developed to be used to educate the public business owners and elected officials. Feel free to share these with your friends and business associates.
If you would like an AZIER representative to speak to your business or community group, please
send us an email. Please be aware we are not able to accommodate all requests.
AZEIR In The States
As other states have began introducing Arizona-style immigration bills, chambers of commerce, business trade organizations and community groups began to look to AZEIR for suggestion in how to best educate elected officials and the public about the practical impacts these laws have on the business community and the economy. By contacting AZEIR and working with other organizations who share similar objectives of sensible immigration legislation, AZEIR was able to help these states warn legislators and business owners about the impacts and steer them towards more practical approaches, particularly at the federal level. Below is a list of the state where AZEIR has testified before their state legislatures.
We were fortunate to have been able to influence sensible changes or defeat of Arizona-style bills in each of these states.
If you would like to see if AZEIR can help you put together fact-based informational programs for your state, please contact us by
sending us an email. We will be happy to see how we may be able to assist you in promoting sensible immigration efforts in your state.
The Arizona Accord provides a broad set of guiding principles on issues related to immigration which can act as a foundation in all efforts – government and private – to find solutions to the complicated questions surrounding the federal immigration system.
The five principles found in the Arizona Accord deal with finding federal solutions; respecting and supporting an appropriate role for law enforcement; recognizing the importance of protecting families in order to sustain our communities; supporting a free-market economy that acknowledges the contribution immigrants bring to our nation’s workforce and embracing the culture of inclusion by welcoming people of goodwill to our state and country.
