For weeks now, the focus has rightly been on the crisis at the southern border, as illegal immigrants flood into the United States and the Biden administration flails. But on Thursday, the focus was more on legal immigration and the economy as the American Business Immigration Coalition held a virtual forum about immigration policy and its impact on the Carolinas.

Both Gov. Roy Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein offered recorded video comments.

The more substantive comments came from Attorney General Josh Stein, who discussed the so-called ‘dreamers,’ — roughly 800,000 people who, as kids, were brought to this country illegally by their parents and have lived here for years. LISTEN:

 

Gov. Roy Cooper’s comments were predictable and focused on the value of diversity. LISTEN:

 

The most substantive comments, however, came not from a politician but from a business person. Chalmers Carr is the president and CEO of Titan Farms in South Carolina. He’s a first generation farmer who uses the H2A visa program to legally bring workers into our country — about 800 or so per year. In his comments, Carr focused on how and why this program is broken, and how it impacts his business. I only wish President Biden and members of the U.S. Congress could hear this entrepreneur’s story. LISTEN: