Business owners crave immigration reform

A solid majority of small business owners, at least the ones who run companies with 10 or fewer employees, are all for immigration reform, according to a new poll.

Still, most of the respondents, in a National Association for the Self-Employed survey, say their reform desires have limits. Indeed, 79% of respondents say they wouldn't pay to outsource employment verification on the immigration status of all new hires, should it become mandatory, the association says in a release.

“We want to comply with any new immigration requirements as long as they are not burdensome and impact our businesses and bottom-lines,” NASE Member Council member Stephen McNeilly says in the statement. “The E-Verify system we currently already use takes too long to verify employment. We need a system that is efficient, easy to use and isn't complex.”

The association polled more than 400 self-employed entrepreneurs and micro-business owners, those with 10 or fewer employees, from Feb. 25 to March 18. More than three-fourths, 77%, say immigration reform is important to themselves and their business. Specifically, according to the NASE, a nonprofit organization, 26.6% say it's extremely important; 26.4% say reform is very important; and 24.3% say it's slightly important.