Just when a path forward on immigration began to appear on the horizon, that light at the end of the tunnel is turning out to be a post-pandemic train headed this way. Our need for workers is changing because the way we work is changing. In this presentation, Eddie Aldrete will discuss the history of immigration reform, the status of the business and political climate for immigration reform, and how the behavior of today’s workers is likely to move the debate in a new direction.

Eddie Aldrete is a senior vice president for the Laredo, Texas-based IBC Bank. Campaigns & Elections Magazine named Aldrete one of the Top 100 most influential figures in Texas politics and government. On the issue of immigration, he’s been called a “Voice of Reason,” not because he’s a middle of the road kind of guy, but because he sees the issue from a non-political perspective. The San Antonio Express-News said, “The San Antonio banker who has spoken on the topic extensively comes to it not as an activist or an advocate, not as a liberal or a conservative but as a businessman who wants a healthy economy.”

Through his efforts, Aldrete is heavily involved in issues related to immigration reform, border security, as well as the demographic shifts and trends that may have possible negative effects on the economy. He works with advocacy groups that share similar beliefs like the US Chamber of Commerce, Texas Employers for Immigration Reform and the Texas Border Coalition.  From 2017 through 2019, he chaired the board of the Washington, DC-based, National Immigration Forum.