Texas Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) announced plans to explore new ways for migrant workers to gain legal status in the construction industry. The Edinburg Republican revealed on Monday that she will meet with the U.S. Department of Labor to discuss solutions after local builders raised concerns over immigration arrests disrupting their workforce.
De La Cruz suggested creating a visa program for construction workers similar to the H-2A agricultural visa program, which allows foreign nationals to work legally in the farming sector. “We’d like to see where the construction industry would fit,” she said, emphasizing the need to support local communities while ensuring prosperity.
South Texas has seen over 9,100 arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in the past year, contributing to labor shortages across construction and other industries. Builders have expressed frustration over the uncertainty surrounding ICE raids and their impact on ongoing projects.
The push to provide legal work status reflects a growing interest among some Republicans to create new visa categories for essential workers. Earlier, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) reintroduced the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act, which proposes a new visa category for nonagricultural workers.
De La Cruz’s initiative follows her meeting with the South Texas Builders Association, where industry leaders discussed the challenges posed by immigration enforcement. Mario Guerrero, the association’s executive director, noted that workers and employers are often unsure of their rights when sites are targeted by ICE.
“This meeting shows a willingness to find solutions for both workers and businesses,” Guerrero said. “We’re trying to do the right thing, and we will keep meeting to move in the right direction.”
De La Cruz has previously introduced the Bracero 2.0 bill, aimed at improving the H-2A visa program for agricultural workers. The legislation sought to simplify applications, allow workers to change jobs within a state, and adjust wages based on state minimums. While the bill has not yet been voted on, the Department of Homeland Security has implemented a rule to streamline H-2A applications.
By advocating for a legal pathway for construction workers, De La Cruz aims to balance the needs of local industries with the realities of migrant labor, potentially providing a model for addressing labor shortages nationwide.