Markey Pushes Back Against Trump Attacks on Immigrant Entrepreneurs Driving Massachusetts Economy

Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) took a stand against the Trump administration’s relentless attacks on immigrant communities, spotlighting the crucial contributions of immigrant entrepreneurs to Massachusetts and the nation’s economy. Speaking at a Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee hearing titled “American Entrepreneurship for 250 Years: Driving Innovation, Growth, and Opportunity,” Markey underscored how immigrant-owned businesses have long been the backbone of vibrant communities and economic vitality.

Massachusetts alone is home to over 91,000 immigrant entrepreneurs who bring creativity, new ideas, and cultural richness to local economies. “The Trump administration prefers to demonize immigrants and continue its campaign of contempt against communities of color,” Markey said. “But immigrant entrepreneurship has created the fabric of our communities and powered our economic vitality for 250 years.” He emphasized that true patriotism requires acknowledging this history and fighting to restore justice for marginalized groups.

Liz Sweet, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee (MIRA) Coalition, testified about how immigrant businesses fuel economic growth and innovation. “Immigrant owned businesses add to our culture, bringing new flavors, new products and new perspectives that enrich us all,” Sweet said. She framed immigrant entrepreneurship as a foundational American story of newcomers identifying opportunities and building businesses that drive the country’s global economic power.

Markey’s advocacy comes amid the Trump administration’s harsh immigration enforcement and exclusionary lending policies that threaten immigrant entrepreneurs. Just yesterday, Markey joined House Small Business Committee Ranking Member Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-7) and others to condemn these harmful policies and introduce the Investing in the American Dream Act. This legislation would restore Small Business Administration (SBA) lending eligibility to legal permanent residents, including green card holders, asylees, and refugees—groups unfairly shut out under current Trump-era rules.

Last month, Markey also released a detailed report exposing the damage caused by ICE raids on immigrant communities, which disrupt small businesses, workers, and consumers alike. His ongoing fight aims to protect immigrant entrepreneurs who are essential to the economic fabric of Massachusetts and the country.

In an era when the Trump administration weaponizes immigration enforcement to sow fear and division, Markey’s leadership highlights the imperative to defend immigrant communities and preserve opportunity for all. If America wants to keep driving innovation and growth, it must reject discrimination and embrace the immigrant entrepreneurs who have powered its economy for centuries.