President Donald Trump has spent the first year of his second term sealing off the southern border and carrying out mass deportations, as he promised during the presidential campaign. But he may be doing the job too well for some Republicans, who are now seeking middle ground on allowing certain foreign workers to remain in the U.S. South Texas Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz is calling for legal protections for those who work in the construction industry. Specifically, she would like to see a special visa program for migrant construction workers similar to the H-2A program for agricultural workers.
De La Cruz's effort follows complaints from construction companies in her district, who say ICE arrests are making it difficult to hire workers or complete jobs. Similar complaints have come from those in agriculture and hospitality, echoing the longtime talking point that illegals "do the jobs Americans won't do." But critics have blown holes in that theory, arguing it is used by politicians and businesses to justify hiring foreigners for lower wages. "If so many construction companies in South Texas are so affected by ICE enforcement efforts, that means they have been breaking the law by hiring illegal workers and are dependent on them," says Jessica Vaughan, policy director at the Center for Immigration Studies. "So we should not be giving them a bailout, we should be holding them accountable."
De La Cruz is not the only Republican behind this effort. Pennsylvania Congressman Lloyd Smucker has introduced legislation called the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act to create work visas for non-agricultural workers. At the same time, other Republicans are going the opposite direction with legislation to crack down on hiring illegal aliens. "If Congress is going to do anything, they should help employers compete for American workers and connect companies with American workers, rather than allowing them to be dependent on illegal workers," says Vaughan.
Photo: Getty Images North America