Texas Hispanic Business Leaders Unite to Demand Immigration Protections

More than 200 Hispanic leaders across the political spectrum released a letter calling on President Trump and congressional leaders to provide work permits and legal protections for long-term undocumented immigrants who have lived, worked, paid taxes and contributed to their communities for years.

The effort was led by Comite de 100 with American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) which brings together Hispanic business, faith, civil rights, community, nonprofit and elected leaders.

Gama Paz, Owner of Dynamic Builders, recently joined the coalition demanding federal action.

“This is not a red issue or a blue issue,” Paz said. “This is a human dignity issue.”

Labor shortages have impacted day-to-day job site operations across Texas, according to Paz. In fear of law enforcement pull-overs and potential deportations, many workers avoid driving to work sites, shrinking framing and foundation crews from ten workers down to four.

These staff shortages have stretched construction timelines for a typical 5,000-square-foot luxury home from nine to twelve months to a year and a half, passing increased costs onto clients.

Paz said his perspective shifted after a subcontractor’s undocumented wife was deported, leaving the worker alone with a newborn baby.

“I formed relationships with them,” Paz said. “I got to do anything that I can do to lend the voice because they don’t have a voice.”

Paz added he supports border security, legal immigration and strict enforcement against criminals, but stressed that lawmakers can balance secure borders with protections for hard workers.

“There’s a way to do both,” Paz said. “We can close the border. We can enforce legal immigration… and also, let’s make legal immigration shorter.”

Calling on other minority business owners to unite regardless of political party, Paz framed workforce protections as an economic and moral obligation to maintain the construction industry and protect immigrant families.

“If we all join forces, we will have a large voice,” Paz said. “If you care about your workers… we absolutely need a joint force.”

Local Pastor and Comite de 100 member Luis Cabrera also joined the coalition to help grant work permits and legal status to long-term undocumented immigrants.

“We have to realize that there’s people in this country that are good people, and they’re working hard,” Cabrera said. “They just need some kind of help to just have some kind of legal status in this country.”

Cabrera said he is an immigrant who arrived in the United States from Nicaragua at 2 years old

He added local pastors struggle to find solutions for longtime residents, including fellow faith leaders who face deportation after residing in the country for over two decades.

“There’s no amnesty. There’s no Dignity Act. There’s nothing,” Cabrera said. “So we’re trying to figure out a plan for these people to get some kind of status.”

Cabrera, who supported President Trump and noted the widespread political shift across South Texas border towns in the 2024 election, warned that ignoring long-term undocumented residents could trigger a political backlash.

“All these people that voted for him kind of feel betrayed because he’s not just deporting hardcore criminals,” Cabrera said. “He’s deporting people from all walks of life.”

Cabrera said congressional leadership should leverage their majority across all branches of government to pass comprehensive immigration reform, cautioning that dissatisfied voters and faith leaders might withhold support in future elections.