“Let’s Get a Fix in ‘26”: Newly Elected Hispanic Congressmembers Join Lawmakers and Business Leaders to Demand Legal Pathway for Long-Term, Law-Abiding Immigrants

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Congressman-Elect Bobby Pulido (D-TX-15), Congresswoman-Elect Joanna Mendoza (D-AZ-06), Congresswoman-Elect Leticia Gutierrez (D-TX-09) and Texas U.S. Representatives Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) joined dozens of business leaders, veterans and immigration advocates on Capitol Hill Wednesday to call on President Donald Trump and Congress to use the lame-duck session as a starting point to advance pending bipartisan immigration reforms and create legal pathways for long-term, law-abiding immigrants.

Hosted by the American Business Immigration Coalition Action (ABIC Action) and the South Texas Builders Association (STBA), the press conference followed President Trump’s recent comments that he is open to partnering with Democrats on solutions for long-term, law-abiding immigrants, and his recognition that mass-deportation policies were a major factor in the Republican party’s historic midterm defeat. The event came as ABIC and its members held meetings in Washington with key House and Senate leaders to jump-start bipartisan immigration talks.

Speakers said Washington must listen to the clear message from voters coming out of the midterms. Hispanic voters and the broader electorate are appalled by the administration’s failed mass deportation agenda. They urged leaders in both parties to respond with popular proposals like a path to legal status for long-term, law-abiding immigrants to protect families, workers and local economies.

“Last week Americans rejected mass deportations because it wrecked business, wrecked families and surged prices. Now, President Trump has said seven times since the elections that immigration hurt Republicans and he will work with Democrats on a legal status for long term immigrants. Today, as we honor our nation’s veterans, we ask both parties to come together to serve our nation with immigration reform. In this lame-duck Congress we must pass the bipartisan Dream and Promise Act–legal status for dreamers and essential workers. Let’s not wait for next year. Let’s start the fix in ’26.”

Rebecca ShiCEO, American Business Immigration Coalition Action

“We used to see immigration as ‘us’ and then ‘them.’ It’s not, we’re all the same. In the Rio Grande Valley, there’s tons of mixed-status families, good people. They’re people that we love, that we know and we’ve known forever. And right now they’re afraid to go out to the grocery store. Whoever wants to get our support in 2028 has to prioritize immigration reform. Period. These immigration policies are not anti-immigrant, they’re anti-American.”

Congressman-elect Bobby PulidoD-TX-15

Senator Gallego and Representative Cuellar said the midterm results sent a clear message about the need for a different approach on immigration, and urged leaders in both parties to act. Both argued that Congress can pair strong border security with reforms that keep families together and treat immigrants with dignity.

“Latinos are giving Democrats a chance to earn the Latino vote again. And some of it has to start with us pushing hard on immigration reform. That includes potentially cutting a deal with Donald Trump. It is our responsibility, as leaders, to try and protect as many families as possible. There is still time this session for a deal. We can have safe, secure borders. Now, let’s figure out how to keep families together.”

U.S. Senator Ruben GallegoD-AZ

“The president wanted a wall, and we did get a wall. A blue wall, from Brownsville all the way up to California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. It was a message: we can have strong border security, but at the same time we must be respectful to immigrants and the rights and dignity they deserve. We’re extending our hands. If they want to work with us, we’ll work with them. We’ve got to make sure we find a balanced way to address this issue.”

U.S. Representative Henry CuellarD-TX-28

Longtime members of the GOP and Trump voters warned that the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement alienated lifelong Republicans all across the country, and urged both parties to heed the lessons of the midterms and deliver the immigration reforms voters demanded at the ballot box.

“I am a three-time Trump voter, but in this election, I voted for James Talarico, Gina Hinojosa, and my good friend Bobby Pulido. ICE has impacted our communities greatly, they have destroyed families, they have taken people with no criminal history – especially people serving our country as good citizens – and we can not have that anymore. To the Republicans, understand that you lost the valley, you lost Texas, you lost the Latino vote, you lost the House and the Senate. It’s time that President Trump compromises and it’s time we get actual results.”

Mario GuerreroCEO, South Texas Builders Association

“Stephen Miller, if you want to work with us in favor of our communities, we are more than ready. Let’s work together. But if you want to continue harassing our communities, prepare yourself not only to lose your job, but get ready, because in the 2028 elections, these same communities you are now harassing will make sure you lose the White House.”

Benny MelendezVice Chair, South Texas Builders Association

New Congress members: Hispanic voter shifts show demands of a new approach

Representatives-elect Joanna Mendoza and Leticia Gutierrez cited their victories and shifts among Hispanic voters as evidence that voters are demanding a different approach to immigration. In both Texas and Arizona, Hispanic voters shifted sharply toward Democrats as immigration enforcement became a defining issue for families and communities across their states.

“There are currently service members and their families who are serving this country, who have taken an oath. They’ve raised their right hand and have taken an oath to protect this country, the constitution, the homeland, our way of life, and they are not U.S. citizens. So I urge my future colleagues across the aisle, if you love this country, if you are a Patriot, join us in this effort to ensure that those who have built this country and who protect this country become American citizens.”

Congresswoman-elect Joanna MendozaD-AZ-06

“These are our federal tax dollars. We have a say as to how this money should be spent and it should not be spent on these racist policies that are continuing to target our hard-working communities. This is a diverse group of people that have sent a message to Washington that we have had enough. We have to put priorities first, and human rights violations are not going to be tolerated.”

Congresswoman-elect Leticia GutierrezD-TX-09

Speakers emphasized that Congress does not need to start from scratch. Representative Sylvia Garcia pointed to the American Dream and Promise Act, which would provide eligible Dreamers and certain TPS holders a pathway to permanent legal status, while Representative Veronica Escobar highlighted the bipartisan Dignity Act, which pairs strong border security with a pathway to citizenship for certain long-term immigrants. Both measures are among the immigration solutions Congress could act on during the November lame-duck session.

“We all can agree that the immigration system is broken. We can start today on a path to build a foundation with the Dream and Promise Act, and move forward next year when we take over to make even more reforms. The bill is there. The discharge petition is there. We have two hundred and seventeen signatures. We just need one more Republican. So I urge all my friends that are here behind me and those of us are listening, call a Republican, tell them the time is now.”

U.S. Representative Sylvia GarciaD-TX-29

“We’ve turned the border blue, and we have a mandate from the American people. We need to address the broken system that has removed American heroes from American soil. I am the co author of the Dignity Act… if we can get this passed this upcoming Congress, we can do even more in 2028 to grow and expand what we can do for immigrants, immigrant families, our economy and our communities. I know all of us never want to see another family separated ever again. We need to bring that to an end. We need to bring sanity back to the immigration system. We can do this. We will do this.”

U.S. Representative Veronica EscobarD-TX-16

Lawmakers from South Texas said their communities see the consequences of a broken immigration system firsthand and that voters, in particular Hispanics, rejected the mass deportation agenda and are demanding solutions. They called for an approach, now that the border is secure, that ensures legal pathways for longtime immigrants who are working, raising families and contributing to local economies.

“Right now, our country is united. Texas is living a new day. We are united against the policies that have come out of this administration, that have hurt our communities, that have divided families, that have stripped labor from businesses across the country. Mr. President, today is your opportunity. We send you a very clear message. We sent you a very clear message on November 3. We are now in the majority. It’s an opportunity for Democrats to also do the right thing. We know the mandate from the American people and from the people of South Texas. We have a job to do. We have a country to unite.”

U.S. Representative Vicente GonzalezD-TX-34

“Last week, the United States of America rebuked Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign. The mass deportation campaign has been killing people, killing communities and killing business in our country, especially in South Texas. When your policy is a policy of racial profiling, all of South Texas becomes a target. And that’s what we saw. Folks have lost their lives. Kids have been traumatized in detention centers. And communities have been wrecked because people can’t find work, afraid to go to work, afraid to go and leave their homes at all.”

U.S. Representative Joaquin CastroD-TX-20

Immigration advocates warned that the midterm results do not mean the work on immigration is done, and argued that voters expect leaders to pursue an approach that protects families, supports the economy and strengthens border security without resorting to cruelty.

“Immigration is an affordability issue. Immigration is an economic issue. When the head of household gets detained by ICE, that creates economic problems. When you own a business and your workers get detained, that creates economic problems. So we need to make immigration a priority. Any person who wants to be president in 2028 will have to win the Latino vote — so you have to earn it. You have to work for it.”

Carlos Eduardo EspinaImmigration advocate and social media creator

“In 2024, the American people asked for a more secure border. And the pendulum swung hard from an administration that fumbled the issue to the one that completely went the opposite direction. But Americans asked for security, not cruelty. That trust was broken many times and never more painfully than when ICE shot Lorenzo Salgado. Lorenzo was a framer who had lived and worked in this country for 30 years, much like my father, and had nothing to do with the chaos at the border. He’s a father of three boys, all U.S. Citizens. He was a hard-working man who earned an honest living for honest pay. He lived the American dream while building the American dream for others. And when ICE shot him, they took a shot at the American dream.”

Ronnie CavazosPresident, South Texas Builders Association

Advocates: Veterans and spouses of U.S. citizens face deportation

Speaking on Veterans Day, participants also described the personal toll of immigration uncertainty and detention. They highlighted the impact on immigrant veterans and military families, who have served this country yet can face years of instability, separation and the threat of deportation, as well as on mixed-status families.

“There are 1.4 million US citizens married to an undocumented spouse. We are teachers, veterans, nurses, small business owners. We pay taxes, raise our kids, and we all love this country. And under current law, our spouses have no path to legal status and no path to a green card. Think about that. An American citizen cannot keep our own family together in our own country. This is not a Republican or a Democratic problem. It’s an American problem. And it needs an American solution. Every day we wait, another American family is torn apart. So our message is simple. Don’t wait until ’28. Begin the fix in ’26.”

Ashley DeAzevedoExecutive Director, American Families United

“This Veterans Day, let us remember the hundreds of veterans who have served and later have been deported. The hundreds of thousands of undocumented parents and spouses of US service members and the more than 50 spouses and parents who have been detained and some of them later deported.”

Danitza JamesPresident & CEO, Repatriate Our Patriots

Photos and additional materials are available upon request.