A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act to address severe labor shortages in Texas construction caused by Trump administration deportation raids. Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) says the bill would provide temporary, renewable visas for up to nine years to non-citizens working in key industries.

Construction companies report project delays doubling from four to ten months as workers flee immigration raids. Alejandro Garcia, a home builder in Weslaco, Texas, said potential employees refuse jobs at sites previously targeted by ICE. Concrete use in the region fell 60 percent between May and November, according to local suppliers.

The National Association of Home Builders estimates immigrants comprise over half the construction workforce in Texas, California, Florida, and New York. The labor shortage threatens housing affordability and economic growth in rapidly expanding regions. Industry groups warn that without intervention, construction costs will rise and housing supply will tighten further.