Westfield Pizza Shop Owner Calls for Immigration Reform

Union County pizza shop owners would like Congressman Leonard Lance to put comprehensive immigration reform at the top of his legislative agenda and help provide an easier path to citizenship, according to an article on NJ.com. 

Owners of eateries in Westfield, Garwood and Cranford said during a press conference Tuesday that outdated immigration laws negatively impact local economies.

“I’ve helped get my employees through the process to become citizens,” said Frank Vasfailo, owner of The Brick Oven restaurant in Westfield.  “It’s tough and it’s expensive. It should be easier. People are already here working — let them do it legally.”

The restaurateurs said at the press conference, held at il Giardino Pizza in Cranford, that immigrant workers play a critical role in the state’s restaurant industry, accounting for high turnover as workers move from job to job.

A clearer path to citizenship would not only bring immigrants into the tax-paying pool but also help ensure fairer pay and working conditions. They argued that the proposed E-Verify bill and increased border security would only further complicate the process and make it more difficult for small businesses to hire qualified workers.