Fox 17 Nashville: “Nashville business leaders warn of deportation consequences”

Nashville business leaders said Tuesday mass deportations could cost jobs and tax dollars in the Volunteer State,

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce joined the Tennessee Farm Bureau and local business leaders at to show lawmakers new data from New American Economy, which said contrary to some claims, immigrants do pay taxes. It also said they don’t steal jobs, they create them.

“The immigrant population is 10 percent more likely to be entrepreneurs than our native born citizens of this area,” said Ralph Schulz, Nashville Chamber of Commerce president.

The data said Tennessee immigrants contributed $5.9 billion in spending and paid $2 billion in taxes in 2014.

The group plans to push for new laws that encourage immigration rather than restrict it.

On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security unveiled sweeping plans to deport undocumented immigrants. The Tennessee Farm Bureau says the deportations could make the cost of your food grow up.

The number of U.S.-born farm workers dropped by 20 percent between 2002 and 2014 said Stefan Maupin, bureau policy director.

At the same time, Maupin said Tennessee is importing 80 percent more food from other countries, which is more expensive and could put smaller Tennessee farms out of business.

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