McALLEN, TX – Friday, Mayor Javier Villalobos of the City of McAllen, Mayor Ramiro Garza of the City of Edinburg, Comité de 100, RGV Partnership, RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Camara de Comercio Internacional, and the American Business Immigration Coalition urged Members of Congress and the Trump Administration to pass sensible federal immigration solutions for the region’s workforce, such as President Trump’s legal work permit proposal and bipartisan legislation like the Dignity Act and Farm Workforce Modernization Act.
Friday’s press conference followed a private roundtable discussion with RGV business and elected leaders about how the community can support federal immigration solutions. With 65% of agriculture and 59% of construction workers in the RGV being foreign-born, and over 129,000 immigrants without legal status living and working in the region, contributing $144 million in taxes and wielding $1.6 billion in spending power, this discussion comes at a pivotal time for the region’s economy and workforce.
Mayor J.R. Garza, City of Alamo
“We care deeply about our people and remain committed to helping in any way we can; especially our hardworking farmworkers who are the backbone of our community. Finding solutions that strengthen the Rio Grande Valley and the City of Alamo is essential to ensuring a brighter future for all.”
Massey Villarreal, CEO, Precision Task Group and Comite de 100 Co-Chair
Latinos understand the role their voices play in this country’s elections. They want policies that expand economic opportunity, not fear or inflation. Eighty-four percent of Latino voters across battleground states agree with President Trump that long-term, trusted immigrants working in hotels, farms, restaurants, and construction should be allowed to obtain legal work permits and continue contributing to our economy. With our borders at historic levels of security, communities like the Rio Grande Valley are calling for workforce solutions that recognize the contributions immigrants are already making to America.
Dante Galeazzi, President, Texas International Produce Association “Today’s event with ABIC and the leaders of the RGV community was incredibly important because as a community, we needed to have the conversation about how each of the sectors of industry are being impacted by immigration and workforce challenges. As a leader in agriculture, we have long been at the forefront of the workforce conversation and so this was a great opportunity to ensure synergy among our regional partners, while still carrying forward the message of the importance and the urgency of reform, sensible immigration policies and the necessity of action.”
Juan Carlos Cerda, Texas State Director, American Business Immigration Coalition & Moderator
“Immigrants contribute billions of dollars to the Rio Grande Valley, including more than $2 billion in taxes, while the Hispanic population makes up 87.7 percent of eligible voters. Latinos drive industries from factories to farms to businesses that employ Americans, shaping both the economy and the political future of the RGV. This region has a dynamic and thriving workforce, and we need commonsense solutions to ensure that RGV can continue harvesting crops, build homes, and produce goods without costly interruptions due to immigration enforcement. ”