A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House is advancing a proposal to create a new visa program tailored specifically for construction workers, as home builders across Texas report mounting labor shortages.
.jpg)
Speaking to Nexstar, Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R–Texas, said the time is right for the federal government to shift from strict immigration enforcement to broader immigration reform.
“Now, it is important that we look at a conversation now that the border is secure under President Trump on ways of reforming the immigration system,” De La Cruz told Nexstar.
The proposal comes as many South Texas builders say immigration enforcement actions have significantly reduced the number of available workers on job sites, delaying projects and driving up costs.
According to Mario Guerrero, executive director of the South Texas Builders Association, immigration enforcement has created uncertainty and fear among immigrant construction workers.
Guerrero said agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have targeted job sites in the region, sometimes following cement trucks and detaining workers mid-project.
“So you’re looking at a $30,000 negative loss, off the bat, on a construction site,” Guerrero explained.
He said many workers are either arrested and deported or too afraid to report to work, leaving crews short-staffed. The result has been extended construction timelines and higher costs for builders and buyers alike.
“We don’t have a sideline for workers and it’s not like you could just get somebody off of a couch to start framing a house,” Guerrero explained.
Builders say a typical 2,000-square-foot home that once took about four months to complete now takes up to nine months due to workforce shortages.
“What’s gonna happen to the economy if we have builders that start defaulting on their loans,” Guerrero questioned.
Local industry leaders have taken their concerns to lawmakers in Austin and Washington, D.C., pushing for reforms that would provide a more stable and legal workforce pipeline.
De La Cruz is co-sponsoring the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act, introduced by Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R–Pennsylvania. The bill would create a new visa category known as the H-2C.
“That would help us protect and get immigrants legally for those in the construction industry,” De La Cruz told Nexstar.
Under the proposal, 65,000 visas would initially be made available to foreign nationals seeking employment in construction. Applicants would need a valid job offer and must pass a criminal background check.
The visa would allow workers to remain in the United States for three years, with the option to renew twice, for a maximum stay of nine years. Employers would be prohibited from laying off American workers or underpaying temporary visa holders.
Supporters argue the program could create a legal pathway for workers while stabilizing an industry that relies heavily on immigrant labor. Critics, however, question whether the legislation will move quickly enough to address current financial pressures.
“If it ever gets to the Senate, the Senate’s gonna make their changes, send it back, and it’s gonna be a long shot before anything happens,” Guerrero said.
The bill was filed in September but has yet to receive a committee hearing.
De La Cruz said she met earlier this week with House Speaker Mike Johnson and White House officials to discuss immigration reform options.
While she described the conversations as productive, some South Texas builders were less optimistic about the outcome.
“He said that nothing got done and it was just all photo-op,” Guerrero said, referencing a board member of the South Texas Builders Association who attended the meeting. He added that the board member felt he was “censored” and unable to fully voice concerns about enforcement policies.
In response, De La Cruz issued a statement defending the dialogue.
“Speaker Johnson and White House officials are engaged and have heard our concerns for common-sense policies to bridge gaps in our immigration system and protect the American dream. On behalf of South Texas, I am fighting to deliver solutions to ensure our South Texas communities remain prosperous.”
As debate continues in Washington, builders say their immediate concern is maintaining a reliable workforce to meet housing demand. With Texas experiencing steady population growth and continued need for new housing stock, industry leaders warn that unresolved labor shortages could ripple through the broader economy.
For now, the future of the H-2C visa program remains uncertain, but the push highlights growing bipartisan recognition that immigration policy and workforce needs are deeply intertwined in the construction sector.
Originally reported by Dylan McKim in KXAN.
.png)
