As it stated it would do, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a proposed regulation eliminating the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER) created during the Obama Administration to help noncitizens seeking to launch businesses in the U.S.
You can read more background on this issue here.
A recent Harvard Business School paper confirms that immigrants start businesses at higher rates than do U.S. natives. MeBIC partner New American Economy outlines the positive effects on the U.S. economy of immigrant entrepreneurs. Eliminating the IER flies in the face of the Administration’s stated goal of growing the U.S. economy.
Public comment on the proposed rule will be accepted through June 28, 2018. Maine businesses that would like to comment opposing elimination of the IER are encouraged to contact MeBIC.