Tech companies launch national campaign for immigration reform

Several American corporate leaders are pushing national campaigns aimed at passing immigration reform in Congress.

FWD.us, a group co-founded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, just wrapped up a two-week national tour to spread the word about why immigration reform is essential for tech and start-up companies.

FWD.us and Partnership for a New American Economy held events in nine cities featuring entrepreneurs, tech innovators, policy experts and business investors to talk about problems with the current immigration system and the consequences if Congress does nothing.

“Two weeks ago, we saw the annual H-1B visa cap reached in less than a week and watched America’s outdated immigration laws put our fastest-growing start-ups on hold,” said John Feinblatt, chairman of the Partnership for a New American Economy. “The message from our nation’s leading entrepreneurs is clear: Pass immigration reform now or lose the world’s best talent and technologies to other countries.”

Co-chairs of the Partnership for a New American Economy include Rupert Murdoch of Newscorp, Steve Ballmer of Microsoft, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. This week, the group launched a series of advertisements showcasing the contributions of immigrants. The ads depict various iconic American inventions and companies founded by immigrants, and urge Congress to pass immigration reform now. The commercials target policy-makers and will run in Washington, D.C. cabs and on TV.

The Senate passed a comprehensive immigration bill last year, but it has stalled in the House.

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