Last month, UNITE-LA, the Bay Area Council and Jobs for the Future (JFF) convened business leaders at the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Annual Convention to discuss how shifting immigration policies and increased federal enforcement are affecting California’s workers, employers and small businesses.

The conversation highlighted the economic and workforce impacts of uncertainty on immigrant workers and families, as well as the important role employers can play in strengthening workforce stability and local economies. UNITE-LA brought a Southern California perspective to the discussion, sharing insights from our ongoing engagement with employers and business organizations.

UNITE-LA also shared its new Business Leader’s Guide, a resource to help employers navigate the changing immigration landscape and support their businesses and immigrant workers. The discussion reinforced the importance of ensuring business leaders have a voice in the policy conversation and can share firsthand perspectives on how immigration policy affects California’s workforce and economy.