With housing affordability and the Rio Grande Valley’s economy on the line, builders and community leaders pressed candidates and elected officials for action in a region where Hispanic voters could help determine control of Congress.
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS — South Texas builders, business owners, elected officials, faith leaders and community members gathered Wednesday for the “Rally in the Valley,” and sounded the alarm on how worksite raids that are shrinking construction crews, delaying housing and infrastructure projects and driving up costs across the region. They also called on Congress to create work permit programs for vetted, long-term immigrant workers. Hosted by the South Texas Builders Association and American Business Immigration Coalition Action (ABIC Action), the rally urged federal leaders to “let builders build” by pairing border security with a practical workforce solution that allows longtime immigrants who have spent years working, paying taxes and helping build Texas to continue contributing to the economy.
“When we don’t have enough workers, guess what happens? Prices go up and housing goes up,” said U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28). “That’s why ICE needs to focus on criminals, and not builders or people that have no criminal record. Focus on criminals and not on families. Let builders build.”
“In this country, 30% of construction workers are immigrant labor. In Texas, that number goes to 40%, and in some urban areas, that number is around 50%. These are folks who are building Texas and are building America. They’re taking care of our communities.” said U.S. Representative Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34). “You’ve got to remember to hold [elected officials] responsible for implementing policies that are hurting our economy and hurting our communities, and the way we fix that is to remember in November.”
“I am a DACA recipient. My journey is a testament to the power of hard work and opportunity. I want to continue stabilizing the government to give opportunity to others. Over the years, I’ve come to love this country. It became my home. I like to say, I was born in Mexico, but I was made in the USA,” said Emiliano Valencia, Texas Deputy Director at ABIC Action. “Our economy cannot thrive, and our cost of living will not stabilize if we continue to break the very workforce that sustains it. It’s time for Congress to have a pathway to citizenship agreement, a permanent status for workers.”
“Let’s not forget that immigrants contribute 19 billion of our state and local taxes every year,” said Texas State Representative Christina Morales (D-TX-HD145). “Let’s pass some real legislation that helps the people. We are the people of Texas. You are what Texas looks like.”
Although he was unable to attend in person, Bobby Pulido, candidate for Texas’ 15th Congressional District, shared a video message of support with rally attendees.
The rally also reflected the political stakes surrounding immigration enforcement in South Texas. Speakers warned that Hispanic voters could help determine control of Congress this fall and cannot be taken for granted by either political party. Speakers said many Hispanic voters support stronger border security but did not vote for raids targeting longtime workers, destabilizing families and weakening local businesses.
“We are builders. We are contractors. We are developers, and we are small business owners. We invest into our communities. We create jobs. We build homes for young families. We build schools for children. We build hospitals that save lives. We build the roads, the bridges, and the infrastructure that keep America moving,” said Mario Eden Guerrero, Chief Executive Officer of the South Texas Builders Association. “History will not remember whether we gathered here today as Republicans, Democrats, or Independents. History will remember whether we had the courage to solve the problem that affects every family and every business and every community in the Rio Grande Valley.”
Across the Rio Grande Valley, builders and contractors are reporting shrinking crews, workers afraid to report to job sites, rising subcontractor costs and projects falling behind schedule. The Associated General Contractors of America found that 92% of construction firms struggle to fill open positions. With the country already facing a shortage of approximately 1.5 million homes, speakers warned that removing skilled workers from active job sites will further delay construction and raise costs for contractors, homebuyers and families.
“All the eyes are on the state of Texas today, and more importantly, the eyes of the country are on the Latino community and the Latino voters, and they should be,” said Massey Villarreal, President and CEO of Precision Task Group, Inc. “I want to send a clear warning to every political leader: If you don’t stop the worksite raids, the mass deportations, if you don’t pass work permits for long-term, law‑abiding immigrants and citizens that are taxpayers, you will lose. We’re not going to be with you. The message from Latino voters today is simple: our vote is earned every day through respect and compassion. Treat our community with the dignity they have earned for decades.”
The economic fallout extends beyond the workers directly targeted. Recent research from the National Bureau of Economic Research estimated that one U.S.-born job is lost for every six immigrants removed from the workforce. Business leaders warned that raids reduce economic activity, disrupt businesses and threaten jobs throughout local communities.
“We want common sense immigration reform that doesn’t hurt businesses and doesn’t separate families and have people living in fear, afraid to go to the grocery store or go to work,” said Ronnie Cavazos, President of the South Texas Builders Association. “We’re very proud people down there. We don’t want any handouts, we just want an opportunity.”
“This administration is punishing its friends. Texas voted for President Trump, and he’s devastating the construction industry,” said Jacob M. Monty, immigration attorney and legal counsel with ABIC Action. “[Detentions] are not based on the bad hombres, they’re based on finding an undocumented worker, and the main targets right now are construction workers.”
The rally concluded with participants signing a community petition calling on Congress and the administration to stop disruptive worksite raids, provide work permits for vetted, longtime immigrant workers and protect Dreamers. Organizers will deliver the petition to lawmakers in Washington, D.C., as they continue pressing federal leaders to let builders build and let immigrant workers work.
Photos and additional materials are available upon request.