Today the AIA released a statement outlining its position on immigrants and migration.

“Beyond the essential considerations of fairness and equity, restrictions targeting specific areas of the world can have profoundly negative business impacts,” said AIA President Thomas Vonier, in a statement. “Professional service exports are a key contributor to AIA member firms and their earnings. In fact, the entire international building development, design, and construction sector relies heavily on reciprocal treatment and on the fair and ethical ability to travel, reside and work across national boundaries.”

The statement conveys the need for borders that permit easy travel to and from projects abroad and facilitate the recruitment and retention of top talent. The organization also decried the negative ripple effect of the president’s onerous travel ban, and “[expressed] deep concern about policies that restrict immigration from specific countries or regions based on overly broad factors, including religion.”

The stance is a sharp pivot from just three months ago when the organization pledged to work with the Trump administration on his infrastructure projects, a position the AIA walked back on after members protested.

Full text and supporting materials can be read here.