US Chamber releases new website for immigration reform push

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce unveiled a new website on Wednesday as part of its broader push to rally the business community around immigration reform.

The website, called The American Opportunity, will include the Chamber's "position on the different components of reform and recent activities, including testimony, letters to Congress, and tools to take action."

The website is part of the Chamber's effort to move the business community and grassroots activists to support immigration reform. The Chamber advocates strong border security, reforming the high and lesser skilled visa system, and employer verification as well as a path to legalization for immigrants living in the country illegally.

The website is meant to allow employers across the country to share how their business or employment has been effected by the immigration system. 

"As the process moves forward and draft legislative proposals are introduced, we will continue to activate the Chamber’s federation and millions-strong grassroots network, as well as launch paid advertising in support of specific reforms that are critical for our economy and our society," Chamber spokesman Blair Latoff said in a statement.

A bipartisan group of senators is set to unveil its immigration reform compromise in April. The Chamber reportedly is planning a series of events and outreach efforts for businesses around the country on immigration reform ahead of the bill's release.

In February, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AFL-CIO released a set of joint principles for immigration reform — a breakthrough deal between the lobbying organization and labor group. The principles focused on improving temporary worker programs for immigrants, a subject that had divided unions during a major legislative immigration reform push in 2007.

In releasing the principles the two groups said they planned to work with Congress on passing immigration reform.

"We are now in the middle — not the end — of this process, and we pledge to continue to work together and with our allies and our representatives on Capitol Hill to finalize a solution that is in the interest of this country we all love," a joint statement from the organizations said.

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