WASHINGTON — Leaders from the South Texas Builders Association (STBA) are in the nation’s capital this week meeting with lawmakers and federal officials to address growing concerns over Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations at private construction sites.
The delegation, made up of contractors, investors and industry advocates, says intensified immigration enforcement has triggered labor shortages and stalled projects across the region. STBA President Ronnie Cavazos described the situation as dire for local businesses.
“We’re hurting and we’re asking for help,” said STBA President Ronnie Cavazos.
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Industry representatives estimate the construction sector in South Texas has suffered a 30–35% economic downturn as a result of recent ICE raids. Developers and lenders warn that uncertainty over the workforce is delaying investments and driving up costs for housing and commercial projects.
Cavazos said aggressive immigration enforcement under the Trump administration is a business disaster in the making.
“That does nothing but hurt the local economy,” said Cavazos, who is a South Texas contractor.
The purpose of the Washington trip, according to STBA officials, is to press for immigration reform that would allow undocumented laborers already working in the industry to obtain legal status and remain employed.
“Something has to change,” said STBA CEO Mario M. Guerrero.
Beyond economic losses, contractors say the raids are creating widespread fear among workers — including U.S. citizens and legal residents who worry they could be mistakenly detained.
“The workers are very concerned,” said investor and realtor Jaime Gonzalez. “They are afraid even if they are not illegal.”
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Those fears have been amplified by reports of Americans being swept up in immigration enforcement actions. The nonprofit Institute for Justice recently filed a class-action lawsuit against border czar Tom Homan and the Department of Homeland Security, alleging unlawful searches and seizures in violation of Fourth Amendment rights.
One of the plaintiffs, U.S. citizen Leo Garcia, was detained while building his own home. Institute for Justice senior attorney Joshua Windham said, “He is just an American citizen building a house which is as American as apple pie, right?”
Investigative reporting by ProPublica found that in 2025 at least 40 American citizens were detained or arrested by federal officials, with 20 held longer than 24 hours without access to a lawyer.
The Trump administration has maintained that enforcement efforts are aimed at the “worst of the worst” and individuals who entered the country illegally. However, South Texas business leaders argue that the collateral damage is hitting their region harder than anywhere else.
“It’s affecting South Texas more than anywhere in our country,” said Gonzalez.
Developers say projects are being postponed, subcontractors are struggling to meet deadlines and the housing supply — already tight — is becoming even more constrained. Bankers accompanying the STBA delegation warned that continued uncertainty could push investment to other states.
The association plans to meet with members of Congress, stop at the White House and hold discussions with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson. Their goal is to craft a bipartisan solution that balances border security with the labor needs of critical industries.
For now, builders say they simply want clarity and stability so they can keep working.
Originally reported by John Salazar in Spectrum Local News.
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