> At a Glance
> – Rep. Monica De La Cruz plans to meet the U.S. Department of Labor about a construction-worker visa modeled on the H-2A farm program
> – 9,100+ arrests by ICE in South Texas have stalled building sites, local builders say
> – Lloyd Smucker’s Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act would create a non-agricultural visa
> – Why it matters: Immigration raids are stalling homes and projects; a new visa could keep crews-and the economy-moving
A Republican congresswoman from South Texas is pressing Washington for a new visa channel so migrants can work legally in construction, as sweeping ICE arrests leave builders scrambling for crews.
A Call for New Tools
Monica De La Cruz, who represents the Rio Grande Valley, said she will ask the U.S. Department of Labor to craft a program akin to the H-2A visa that brings foreign laborers to U.S. farms.
> “We’d like to see where the construction industry would fit,” De La Cruz told News Of Fort Worth.
The pledge follows a closed-door meeting Monday with the South Texas Builders Association, whose members say worksites have slowed since immigration officers stepped up arrests.
Fallout from the Raids
Mario Guerrero, executive director of the association, said builders want clarity on their rights when ICE agents appear.
> “We’re trying to figure out what rules apply with all these raids that are happening,” Guerrero said. “We’re not really being informed if people need to show warrants or not.”
The concerns intensified after a November forum that drew 300+ industry leaders from lumber, real-estate, banking and construction sectors. Companies reported projects idling after workers were detained.
Broader Republican Shift
The move signals a softening inside parts of the GOP, which has championed stricter enforcement. President Trump won a second term promising expanded deportations; Congress now debates adding legal-worker categories.
- Smucker’s bill would create a renewable visa for non-farm jobs
- Henry Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat, co-sponsors the measure
- De La Cruz previously floated Bracero 2.0 to streamline H-2A farm visas
Timeline of Key Moves
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| ICE arrests top 9,100 in South Texas | Last 12 months |
| Industry forum highlights slowdown | November 2024 |
| De La Cruz meets builders, vows Labor talks | Monday |
| DHS streamlines farm-visa process | October 2024 |
Key Takeaways
- Construction firms say ICE raids are draining their workforce and delaying projects
- A construction-specific visa could mirror the farm-based H-2A program
- Bipartisan interest is growing, but no bill has reached a vote
- De La Cruz insists her push for legal-worker channels does not conflict with her support for border security
Whether Washington carves out a new visa path could determine if South Texas builders rebound-or keep watching crews vanish from job sites.
