President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants in his second term has raised concerns in Texas’ business and economic sectors. Critics argue that mass deportations could destabilize key industries, particularly construction, which heavily relies on undocumented labor.
Stan Marek, CEO of Marek, a Houston-based construction company, warned that deportations could devastate the industry. “We wouldn’t finish our highways or schools, and housing would disappear,” he said. “They’d lose half their labor force.”
Texas is experiencing rapid growth, with its cities frequently ranking among the fastest-growing in the U.S. Construction cranes and workers are common sights in major cities. Despite tough immigration policies from Texas Republicans, the state’s reliance on undocumented labor is well-known.
In 2022, more than half a million immigrants worked in construction in Texas, with nearly 60% of them undocumented, according to a report by the American Immigration Council and Texans for Economic Growth. The report highlights the need for both U.S.-born and immigrant workers to sustain the state’s construction industry.
Economist Ray Perryman, president of the Perryman Group, emphasized that Texas’ workforce is too small to keep up with the state’s rapid growth. “We simply don’t have the economic structure to support mass deportations,” Perryman said. “There are more undocumented workers in Texas than there are unemployed people.”
Perryman also noted that low birth rates and population growth pose challenges for sustaining a future workforce. “We are not making enough people to sustain the economy,” he said.
Despite these concerns, Trump’s immigration plan has strong support from Texas Republicans, including those backing the state’s Operation Lone Star, which has already cost taxpayers more than $11 billion. The operation includes deploying thousands of state and National Guard troops to the border, building barriers, and installing a floating buoy barrier in the Rio Grande.
Trump’s administration has also signaled its commitment to mass deportations. He has appointed Tom Homan, former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Stephen Miller, former advisor on homeland security, to key roles. Miller was behind the controversial zero-tolerance policy under Trump’s previous term, which led to family separations at the border.
Undocumented workers in Texas are bracing for another round of immigration crackdowns. Veronica Carrasco, a house painter from Honduras, expressed concern that Trump’s policies will be harsher this time around. “I think his administration is going to be more forceful,” Carrasco said. “I’m a single mom with three children, and it makes me frustrated and worried.”
Carrasco, whose husband died in 2022, has had difficult conversations with her children about the possibility of her deportation. Her family has consulted legal experts about preparing for the worst. “Imagine it. No one would want to be separated from their mother,” she said.
Carrasco rejected the narrative that immigrants take jobs from U.S. citizens. “No one wants to do the hard work. I didn’t come to take anyone’s opportunity,” she said.
Economist Perryman suggested that while Trump’s policies may be challenging to implement, the incoming administration might scale back its deportation plans. “Translating campaign promises into policy is difficult,” he explained. “Presidents often move toward compromise after they take office.”
Marek believes Trump’s threats could push Congress to pass significant immigration reforms. He’s challenging Congress to fix this issue,” he said, advocating for a guest-worker program similar to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. “It’s a simple solution. It benefits both sides — ensuring national security while providing legal status and protections for workers.”
Trump has recently reaffirmed his commitment to mass deportations, even suggesting military involvement. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has also offered state support for deportation efforts, signaling readiness to assist with enforcement and facilities for deportation. “We are here to help,” Abbott said in a FOX News interview.
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