Texas Congresswoman Advocates for Legal Status of Migrant Workers in Construction Industry

U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz has pledged to explore new avenues for migrants to work legally in the construction sector. The Edinburg Republican made this announcement on Monday, following concerns raised by South Texas builders about the adverse effects of immigration arrests at construction sites on their industry.

De La Cruz proposed the establishment of a special visa program for construction workers, akin to the H-2A visa program that currently allows foreign nationals to work in agriculture. “We’d like to see where the construction industry would fit,” she stated, emphasizing the need for a tailored solution.

In the backdrop of heightened immigration enforcement, President Donald Trump’s administration had promised to intensify deportations. Over the past year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested more than 9,100 individuals in South Texas alone.

“They elected me to represent them in Washington, D.C., and to be their voice, even when it pushes against the Trump administration,” De La Cruz remarked. “At the end of the day, I want to represent South Texas, and I want to ensure our community continues to thrive.”

There is a growing interest among Republicans to create a new category of legal workers, indicating a shift from the hardline stance that has characterized the party for years. Many Republicans, particularly in Texas and Washington, have argued that stricter immigration enforcement would free up more jobs for American workers.

In September, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, a Pennsylvania Republican, reintroduced the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act, which aims to create a new visa category for non-agricultural workers. De La Cruz’s support for a new status for construction workers follows a meeting with the South Texas Builders Association, where builders discussed the challenges facing their industry.

During this closed-door meeting, builders expressed concerns about their rights when ICE officers target their construction sites. Mario Guerrero, executive director of the association, noted, “We’re trying to figure out what rules apply with all these raids that are happening, if there’s any that do apply, because we’re not really being informed if people need to show warrants or not.” De La Cruz has committed to finding answers to these pressing questions.

The fear of ICE raids has deterred workers across various sectors, including construction and restaurants. The challenges faced by the construction industry in the Rio Grande Valley gained renewed attention after Guerrero organized a large gathering of industry leaders in November, which attracted over 300 attendees from various sectors.

Since that meeting, Guerrero and the Builders Association have been in discussions with congressional leaders, including De La Cruz and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat who co-sponsored Smucker’s bill. “We’re trying to do the right thing,” Guerrero stated. “If we need to keep having these meetings to move in the right direction, that’s what we’re committed to.”

This isn’t the first time De La Cruz has advocated for changes to the nation’s immigration laws. Last year, she introduced the Bracero 2.0 bill, aimed at addressing labor concerns in agriculture by reforming the H-2A visa program. The bill sought to streamline the application process for agricultural employers and establish a regional pilot program allowing workers to change jobs within a state without reapplying for a visa.

While the Bracero 2.0 bill has yet to be voted on, the Department of Homeland Security implemented a new rule in October to streamline the application process for H-2A workers.

Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune.

Photo: U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz said she wants to find new legal protections for migrant workers in the construction industry. Benjamin Lowy for The Texas Tribune

Topics
Texas
Construction

U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz has pledged to explore new avenues for migrants to work legally in the construction sector. The Edinburg Republican made this announcement on Monday, following concerns raised by South Texas builders about the adverse effects of immigration arrests at construction sites on their industry.

De La Cruz proposed the establishment of a special visa program for construction workers, akin to the H-2A visa program that currently allows foreign nationals to work in agriculture. “We’d like to see where the construction industry would fit,” she stated, emphasizing the need for a tailored solution.

In the backdrop of heightened immigration enforcement, President Donald Trump’s administration had promised to intensify deportations. Over the past year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested more than 9,100 individuals in South Texas alone.

“They elected me to represent them in Washington, D.C., and to be their voice, even when it pushes against the Trump administration,” De La Cruz remarked. “At the end of the day, I want to represent South Texas, and I want to ensure our community continues to thrive.”

There is a growing interest among Republicans to create a new category of legal workers, indicating a shift from the hardline stance that has characterized the party for years. Many Republicans, particularly in Texas and Washington, have argued that stricter immigration enforcement would free up more jobs for American workers.

In September, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, a Pennsylvania Republican, reintroduced the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act, which aims to create a new visa category for non-agricultural workers. De La Cruz’s support for a new status for construction workers follows a meeting with the South Texas Builders Association, where builders discussed the challenges facing their industry.

During this closed-door meeting, builders expressed concerns about their rights when ICE officers target their construction sites. Mario Guerrero, executive director of the association, noted, “We’re trying to figure out what rules apply with all these raids that are happening, if there’s any that do apply, because we’re not really being informed if people need to show warrants or not.” De La Cruz has committed to finding answers to these pressing questions.

The fear of ICE raids has deterred workers across various sectors, including construction and restaurants. The challenges faced by the construction industry in the Rio Grande Valley gained renewed attention after Guerrero organized a large gathering of industry leaders in November, which attracted over 300 attendees from various sectors.

Since that meeting, Guerrero and the Builders Association have been in discussions with congressional leaders, including De La Cruz and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat who co-sponsored Smucker’s bill. “We’re trying to do the right thing,” Guerrero stated. “If we need to keep having these meetings to move in the right direction, that’s what we’re committed to.”

This isn’t the first time De La Cruz has advocated for changes to the nation’s immigration laws. Last year, she introduced the Bracero 2.0 bill, aimed at addressing labor concerns in agriculture by reforming the H-2A visa program. The bill sought to streamline the application process for agricultural employers and establish a regional pilot program allowing workers to change jobs within a state without reapplying for a visa.

While the Bracero 2.0 bill has yet to be voted on, the Department of Homeland Security implemented a new rule in October to streamline the application process for H-2A workers.

Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune.

Photo: U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz said she wants to find new legal protections for migrant workers in the construction industry. Benjamin Lowy for The Texas Tribune

Topics
Texas
Construction