Uncertainty for Dreamers, ongoing labor shortages are hurting workers, employers, housing affordability, Nevada’s economy
Economic, workforce concerns grow ahead of all-important midterm elections where Hispanic voters will play deciding role
LAS VEGAS — On the 14th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, U.S. Representatives Steven Horsford (NV-4) and Dina Titus (NV-1) joined American Business Immigration Coalition Action (ABIC Action), the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC), construction industry stakeholders, labor leaders, and workforce advocates Monday in Las Vegas to call for urgent action to protect Dreamers, stabilize the workforce, and strengthen Nevada’s economy.
“Fourteen years ago today, DACA was created because Congress failed to act. Dreamers have spent those 14 years building careers, serving their communities, starting families, and contributing to the only country many of them have ever called home. Pushing people out of the workforce because of bureaucratic delays is not just cruel. It hurts families, employers, and Nevada’s economy. Congress must act,” said Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-4).
“DACA recipients are part of Nevada’s workforce, tax base, and economic future. They contribute millions in state and local taxes, support key industries, and help keep our communities strong. Removing DACA-eligible workers from our workforce would cost Nevada hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity. Protecting Dreamers is both a moral responsibility and an economic necessity,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-1).
ABIC Action recently announced a letter signed by more than 140 employers urging Congress and the administration to expedite long-delayed DACA renewals, halt deportations of DACA holders, and pass long-term protections for Dreamers. The letter warns that DACA uncertainty has become an operational challenge for employers and notes that DACA recipients maintain a 90% labor participation rate.
“With each passing day, DACA holders who submitted their renewals well in advance are losing their legal status and work authorization because of unconscionable processing delays. Forcing highly vetted, skilled, long-term workers out of the workforce through no fault of their own is not only cruel, it hurts American businesses, drives up costs for consumers, and destabilizes industries that are already stretched thin. Congress and the administration must act now to protect Dreamers, expedite delayed renewals, and pass bipartisan solutions like the Dream Act and the Dignity Act that secure the border, expand the legal workforce, and strengthen the nation’s economy,” Rebecca Shi, ABIC Action Executive Director said upon publication of the letter.
Held during NAMC’s 57th Annual National Conference, the press conference highlighted the growing connection between DACA uncertainty, labor shortages, and affordability challenges in Nevada. Speakers emphasized that Dreamers are workers, entrepreneurs, students, taxpayers, caregivers, and neighbors who help power key industries.
“Dreamers and immigrant workers help build our communities and keep critical industries moving. The people who step up to do this work deserve protection, stability, and respect. For minority contractors, workforce stability is not an abstract policy debate. It affects whether projects get finished, businesses grow, and communities have the infrastructure and housing they need,” said Wendell R. Stemley, National President of the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC).
As Nevada employers continue to navigate labor shortages across construction, hospitality, care, food service, small business, and other essential sectors, speakers called for practical immigration solutions that pair border security with legal workforce stability.
“Immigrant workers are a critical part of what makes this the greatest economy in the world. In Nevada, they help power hospitality, food service, construction, health care work, and the industries our communities depend on every day. Protecting Dreamers and immigrant workers means protecting families, protecting jobs, and keeping our economy moving forward,” said Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer of the Culinary Union.
In Nevada, where housing affordability remains a major concern, speakers warned that workforce shortages can delay projects, raise costs, and make it harder for working families to access affordable housing.
“Construction depends on skilled, reliable workers, and continued uncertainty around DACA and work authorization only makes it harder to plan, hire, and deliver projects on time. This has been a long and difficult issue, but the solution requires all of us. Government, business, and community leaders need to work together to protect workers, strengthen the workforce, and keep Nevada building,” said Fan Chou, Director of Strategic Planning at SR Construction Inc.
Speakers called on policymakers to advance bipartisan reforms, including the Dream Act and the Dignity Act, that would protect Dreamers, expand economic opportunity, and give employers the certainty they need to plan, hire, and grow.
“We see the impact of DACA in our classrooms, our families, and our communities. When students have access to opportunity, they thrive. They become teachers, engineers, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, and community leaders. Protecting Dreamers means investing in the talent and leadership that will drive Nevada’s future,” said Michael Flores, Vice President of Government and Community Engagement at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Speakers, including a DACA recipient currently living and working in Nevada, called for immediate action to expedite delayed DACA renewals, end the deportation of DACA holders and Dreamers contributing to their communities, and pass permanent protections through bipartisan legislation, including the Dream Act and the Dignity Act.
“As a union member of nine years, a mother of four daughters, and a DACA recipient, I know exactly what is at stake. For my family, work authorization is not just paperwork. It is how I keep a roof over my children’s heads, pay for care, show up to work, and plan for tomorrow. Dreamers have followed the rules, worked hard, paid taxes, and built our lives here. We are asking for the chance to keep contributing to the country we call home, with the dignity and stability our families deserve,” said Norma, a DACA recipient and Nevada resident.