LINCOLN- As Nebraska faces ever-increasing labor shortages, and as the unemployment rate continues to rise, certain groups are seeking to fill vacant roles using immigrant labor. At the forefront of this endeavor is Omaha Together One Community (OTOC), an organization that seeks to connect Nebraska across lines that tend to divide them, like race, religion, economics, and geography.

OTOC, in response to these labor shortages, is attempting to reach out to lawmakers with proposals to encourage legislation that would allow for more lenient immigration policy, especially in regard to immigrant labor. Their intention, according to OTOC member Denise Bowyer, is to "change the narrative so people see that immigrants are a value, not a problem, and are central to addressing the labor shortage."

Last week, OTOC held a conference at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, in which immigrants could speak freely about their experiences with unclear, stringent labor laws. OTOC and several other groups in attendance highlighted the importance of protecting the rights of "Dreamers," farm workers, and immigrants with Temporary Protected Status.

OTOC also believes that Nebraska should provide more relief for immigrant laborers at the local level. As of right now, Nebraska is the only state to deny unemployment insurance to authorized DACA and Temporary Protected Status laborers. Bills have been introduced to eliminate these restrictions, but have been shot down by Governor Ricketts, who claimed that because DACA immigrants were brought to the country illegally, they should not be allowed to enjoy the same benefits as those who came legally.

Despite this, OTOC claims that more lenient immigration policy is the key to solving Nebraska's labor shortage.

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