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IRVING, Texas — Today, U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX/33), the North Texas Commission, Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, American Families United and the bipartisan American Business Immigration Coalition Action held an interactive discussion at Dallas College about expanding work authorization opportunities for North Texas immigrants. This roundtable focused on what employers can do to support federal solutions that address our region’s workforce challenges, keep families together, and increase economic prosperity and opportunities for all North Texans.
The event took place the day before the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears arguments in a lawsuit against SB 4, a Texas law that would allow law enforcement to arrest and deport people suspected to be undocumented immigrants, including long-term contributors, Dreamers without DACA and the undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens. After the discussion, leaders held a press conference to urge President Biden to expand work authorization opportunities for North Texas immigrants.
The following are statements from event participants:
U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX/33): “Our country and our state needs immigrants now more than ever. Their contributions help fuel our economy and make North Texas a better place to live and work. We are at an important crossroads in Congress where Republicans and Democrats need to work together with President Biden to enact comprehensive immigration reform legislation that will increase economic prosperity and opportunities for all North Texans.”
Texas State Rep. Ramon Romero (D-HD/90): “I not only come as a state representative for Fort Worth, Texas in District 90, but also as a 30-year business person. A lot of us recognize we have a problem at the border, but I think every single one of us is unhappy when we get a higher tax bill. None of us say, ‘I think I want to pay a little more in taxes.’ We know that the programs and initiatives that we’re talking about — work authorization — will help lower your property taxes. Have you tried hiring a contractor lately? Are you happy with the bid and the quality of work? Probably not. There is a direct correlation between cost and your appraisals and how it’s affecting your home. So, if you’re not sympathetic to what’s happening at the border, be sympathetic for your own family’s check book.”
Texas State Rep. Salman Bhojani (D-HD 92): “I’m grateful for the work President Biden and Congress have done on this issue, and we know that their decisive leadership can lead to an expansion of work authorization opportunities that would benefit the entire nation. By providing legal pathways for skilled workers and entrepreneurs, we can stimulate innovation, create jobs and drive economic growth in our communities.”
Juan Carlos Cerda, Texas State Director of the bipartisan American Business Immigration Coalition Action: “As a DACA recipient, I am an example of what immigrants can do when we have access to work authorization. North Texas has over 34,000 undocumented Dreamers who lack access to DACA and 45,000 undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens who cannot be legally employed. To address our region’s labor shortages and grow our economy, President Biden must expand work authorization opportunities for these immigrants.
Rick Ortiz, President and CEO, Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: “Undocumented workers in North Texas have a significant economic impact. They contribute approximately $1.3 billion in taxes and have a spending power of $10.2 billion. Despite their lack of legal work authorization, they make significant economic contributions, which highlights the importance of addressing their work authorization status to further promote economic prosperity in the region.”
Anette Landeros, President and CEO, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: “The rising costs of doing business are really debilitating right now. The labor workforce shortages are still impacting small businesses every day. It’s really important that we put politics aside and hopefully find some solutions for our business owners. Ultimately, that is better for our economy and the cost of goods and resources for all our citizens. If we put our business minds together and really think strategically, it’s a no-brainer that long-term work authorizations will benefit everyone. Hopefully, we can put politics aside and really move our country forward.”
Mary Ann Kellam, President and CEO, Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: “The Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce cares about expanding work authorization for Texas immigrants, because we support Hispanic small businesses, and a large percentage of them are facing workforce challenges. They are crying out for assistance from us. This is why we call on the president to expand work authorization opportunities for long-term undocumented immigrants.”
Jorge Avila, Member, American Families United: “In the State of the Union address last month, President Biden said he would not separate families. Today, he continues to separate immigrant families from our loved ones. He has separated U.S. citizen kids from their parents. Today, I call on him to expand work authorization for immigrants, like my wife, and allow her to return to the U.S. President Biden, please allow our families to live together in the only country we call home: the United States of America.”
Brandon Baeza, Dreamer who does not qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): “Expanding work authorization opportunities would allow my parents and me to find better paid opportunities, and it would also allow us to apply for a driver’s license. If SB4 takes effect, a driver’s license could protect us from arrest and deportation because we would have legal identification. Today, I call on President Biden to expand work authorization opportunities for long-term undocumented immigrants. President Biden, immigrants are here to work. Let us.”
Chris Wallace, CEO, North Texas Commission: “The North Texas economy significantly benefits from the contributions of immigrants, with 48% of the construction sector, 29% of the hospitality industry, and 29% of manufacturing workers being foreign-born. We need immigrants to build our Infrastructure, Feed Our Families, and Take Care of Our Sick and Elderly. These individuals are essential for addressing labor shortages across critical sectors. Recognizing the pivotal role of immigrants in the economy, the North Texas Commission joined more than 300 employers and business leaders in urging President Biden to expand parole and work authorization opportunities for long-term undocumented immigrants this year.”
BACKGROUND
Texas had over 781,000 unfilled jobs in January of this year. Meanwhile, 575,000 North Texans cannot legally work, despite paying $1.3 billion in taxes and wielding a spending power of $10.2 billion. Congressman Veasey is a champion for businesses, Dreamers and families of mixed immigration status, including undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens. Practical solutions for workforce shortages are critical to maintaining our region’s competitiveness.
Immigrants already make vital contributions to North Texas’ economy and communities. Key facts:
- Immigrants comprised 18.7 percent of North Texas’ population (nearly 1.4 million people) in 2019, making up 29.4 percent of all manufacturing workers and 48.7 percent of construction workers.
- They are also a key part of filling our critical teacher shortage
- Texas immigrants paid $38.4 billion in taxes and wield $122.6 billion in spending power, as of August 2023, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to Texas, the U.S. economy depends upon a foreign-born labor force to alleviate national labor shortages, reduce inflation, and grow by $7 trillion more over the next decade. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, we currently have 9.5 million job openings in the U.S., but only 6.6 million unemployed workers. Even if every unemployed person in the country found a job, we would still have nearly 3 million open jobs across the United States.
Co-sponsored by: North Texas Commission, Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, American Families United and American Business Immigration Coalition Action.