Indiana's Senate immigration study committee shifted its focus in its third meeting Wednesday to the impact of both legal and illegal immigration on the workforce.
The first meeting included testimony from expert witnesses who advocated for stricter immigration measures. The second meeting looked at immigration's cost to the state.
The committee heard testimony from a variety of sources: business organizations, immigration attorneys, and people who've gone through the immigration process, and a common theme surfaced.
"It's largely up to the federal government to solve this quagmire of immigration policy," says Angela Adams, immigration attorney in Indianapolis.
"It really has to be fixed…we've got to fix it at the federal level," says Mike Ripley from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
"We believe immigration reform and immigration issues should be handled at the federal level," says Katrina Hill of the Indiana Farm Bureau.
"I think the most important thing you could do is let the folks know – your House delegation in Washington and your Senate delegation in Washington – look, this problem needs to be solved," says Jon Baselice from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The study committee, which has three meetings remaining, is expected to submit a report to the full Senate before next session.