PHARR, Texas - The South Texas Builders Association recently held an event at Brookhaven Event Center in Pharr titled, “Let Our Builders Build.”
The purpose was to unite community leaders, business owners, contractors, and residents in opposition to ICE raids at South Texas worksites.
STBA says ICE raids have resulted in a shortage of labor, with many workers staying home for fear of being rounded up. Some workers, documented or not, are being rounded up at the worksite, leaving building projects abandoned, the group says. As a result, contractors say, house prices are rising.
The group says if elected officials do not listen to the building community on the issue of ICE raids, they will pay a price at the ballot box.
State Rep. Christina Morales of Houston attended the event and asked if she could speak. Organizers allowed her to do so. Here is a video recording of her remarks:
