Topics of Importance

New Jersey Business Immigration Coalition

Pursuing Bipartisan and Evidence-Based Immigration Policy

SPRING, 2026

News and Views

Efforts to Strengthen the
H-1B program for Skilled Newcomers

The H-1B Visa Program serves as the main source for highly skilled immigrants to the United States.

These visa recipients fill essential positions, bring special talent and innovation, create opportunities for domestic workers, and enable American industries to flourish and grow.

H-1B visas are only available to foreigners with college degrees in STEM, medical, and other select fields. Many of these visa holders will eventually receive employer-sponsored green cards.

As there have been suggestions for major revisions of the program, the Coalition organized a webinar on March 24 with national and state experts who shared their thinking on the future of the program.

As we have done with previous webinars, we have uploaded the video of the program to our website. Click on this link to watch the video. The Coalition plans to publish a position statement on the H-1B program in a few weeks.

Webinar sponsors include the law firms of Archer & Greiner, and Genova Burns.

Undocumented Immigrants: Why Did They Come?

And Where Will They Go?

Large numbers of undocumented immigrants, estimated at around 14 million, exist largely because legal pathways for working-class, low-skilled workers have been severely limited. Employment-based visas -- low in numbers to begin with -- generally allow only high-skilled workers to legally stay in America. During the Biden Administration, some of these low-skilled workers were granted temporary work authorization, either as TPS holders or asylum applicants.

Over 8 million undocumented immigrants work in essential industries like construction, agriculture, and hospitality. Without their labor, these industries would falter.

Congress has failed to undertake major reforms of the legal immigration system in more than 50 years. This neglect has stimulated the flow of undocumented immigrants to fill jobs in America.

In a certain sense, we should be grateful that the country was able to attract so many essential workers. While most were not properly screened, thereby allowing a number of criminals to enter the country, the vast majority (larger than the domestic population) were law-abiding and hard-working.

For this reason, the Coalition does not believe -- except for lawbreakers -- that deportation is a proper solution to this problem. Rather, we believe in the establishment of an earned legalization program. For more information about our position on this issue, check out this link to our website.

Legislation Introduced to Allow Foreign-Trained Physicians to Practice Medicine in New Jersey

New Jersey is experiencing a significant and growing shortage of doctors, particularly in primary care, which has reached a crisis point. The state faces a projected shortfall of up to 3,000 doctors by 2036, driven by an aging population, retiring physicians, and low retention rates for new doctors.

In order to address this problem, the State is considering legislation to allow qualified foreign-trained physicians to obtain provisional licenses to practice medicine in the U.S. without having to repeat residency in the U.S.

Candidates must have a recognized medical degree, equivalent residence training outside the U.S., five years of professional experience in their home countries, fluency in English, and work authorization in the US. The State Board of Medical Examiners will determine which countries have "substantially similar" training and licensing requirements.

During the three-year provisional licensure period, the immigrant physician will practice medicine under the direct supervision of a fully licensed physician. Without any errant behavior, the physician will qualify for a regular license after three years.

There are currently eight states that have passed similar legislation.

Coming Up Soon:
The New Jersey Statewide Multicultural Business Expo

The Coalition is pleased to support the New Jersey Statewide Multicultural Business Expo, scheduled to take place in Edison on June 23 from 4:00 to 7:30 pm.

The Expo showcases the cultural diversity and immigrant entrepreneurship that stimulates innovation and business development in our State. Enjoy food, live performances and entertainment from around the world while learning about an assortment of new companies expanding our economy.

Admission is free and exhibitor tables are available for businesses, organizations and nonprofits of all sizes. The Coalition holds its annual ceremony honoring immigrant entrepreneurs at the annual Expo.

For more information about the Expo, click on this link.

Recognize the Outstanding Contributions
of Immigrant Entrepreneurs:
Place a Name in Nomination for an Award

Immigrant entrepreneurs are a powerful economic engine in the U.S., comprising about 24% of all business owners despite representing only 14% of the population.

In New Jersey, immigrants represent 35% of business owners and 21.7% of the population. These businesses range from small-scale, “main street” stores to some of the largest new companies in the United States – companies that strengthen our position in the global economy and create jobs for domestic workers. Recent data shows that immigrants founded 51% of U.S. billion-dollar start-up companies.

As a way of recognizing the impressive contributions of immigrant entrepreneurs, the New Jersey Business Immigration Coalition sponsors the annual New Jersey Immigrant Entrepreneur of the year Awards Competition.

Now in its 13th year, the awards honor immigrant contributions in the following six areas: Innovation, Growth, Advocacy, Nonprofit Achievement, Rising Star, and Entrepreneur of the Year.

This year’s awards will be presented at a special ceremony held in conjunction with the Statewide Multicultural Business Expo on June 23.

We encourage you to place a name in nomination.
It will take just a few minutes.

Here's the link to the nomination form.

The due date for nominations is

May 31, 2025

SELECTED NEWS AND COMMENTARY
YOU CAN USE

A slowdown in US visa processing is wreaking havoc on foreign doctors' lives

Nobody wants to come: What if the U.S. can no longer attract immigrant physicians?

As H-1B Visa Program Changes, Skilled Foreign Workers Consider Leaving U.S.
Read More

Trump administration halts immigrant visa processing from 75 countries.
Read More

Trump warned that Immigration Crackdown is Harming Homebuilding in the U.S.
Read More

ICE arrest shines light on undocumented Irish population in Trump's America
Read More

What is immigration policy for? (Response from the Director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford)
Read More

Republicans concede they need to pivot on immigration ahead of midterms
Read More

A legalization program even Republicans can support
Read More

Selected Immigration Research Findings

The NJ Business Immigration Coalition pays close attention to research on immigration policy questions. Here are three recent studies that may be of interest to you.

Report details how immigration detention grew to record levels during the first year of the second Trump administration (2025) and how a large majority of detainees had no criminal conviction

Read Research Summary

Report argues that reduction in the number of international students at American universities will also reduce the STEM workforce and lead to major GDP losses

Read Research Summary

Report finds little evidence to support the argument that immigrants have raised housing costs in the U.S.

Read Research Summary

The Coalition Values the Work of our Volunteers!

Since the Coalition was founded, we have relied on the time, talent, and energy of many volunteers. Most of our accomplishments as an organization were dependent on their outstanding work. The Coalition continues to welcome the work of volunteers. On our website, we have listed current available volunteer positions. Take a look and if you are interested in any of these positions, please let us know by contacting us at "info@njbusinessimmigration.org".

Click here to learn about our current volunteer positions

Help us Expand our Work

and Bring Real Benefits

to All Americans

We are committed to educating the public on vital immigration policy questions

and to advancing non-partisan immigration reform that will strengthen our economy and

benefit all Americans.

Our effectiveness as an organization depends on the amount of support we receive from our members and the general public.

Can you help the Coalition grow as an organization and spread the real truth about immigration?

Thanks for making a donation.

Donate Today

BECOME A MEMBER ORGANIZATION OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS IMMIGRATION COALITION!

Organizations, corporations, and individuals supportive of the mission and goals of the NJ Business Immigration Coalition are welcome to become members of the Coalition.

There is no fee to join the Coalition.

Apply for membership at: https://njbusinessimmigration.org/join-us /

Share your thoughts on the immigration reform challenges facing the United States. How is your industry affected? What specific reform proposals are you championing? Do you have time and skills to devote to the Coalition as a volunteer?

Write us at: info@njbusinessimmigration.org

The New Jersey Business Immigration Coalition,

16 South Avenue, Suite 252, Cranford, NJ 07016

info@njbusinessimmigration.org

THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS IMMIGRATION COALITION