Know This Now Archives — 91̽��

Know This Now, October 9, 2026: 91̽�� Leaders Nationwide Join ABIC in Effort to Protect Salvadoran TPS Holders

abic — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 17:59:04 +0000

91̽�� Leaders Nationwide Join ABIC in Effort to Protect Salvadoran TPS Holders
This victory – though not yet permanent – was hard fought and the result of strategic coalition building led by TPS Alliance and ABIC

A month after the official decision deadline, the Trump administration has yet to decide whether to extend or revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 200,000 Salvadoran immigrants, the majority of whom have lived and worked in the U.S. for 25+ years, with a 90% labor participation.

ABIC brought together a broad coalition of business owners, faith leaders, labor and advocates together with our partners at the TPS Alliance to urge the Trump administration to end the uncertainty by extending the work permits for Salvadorans with TPS. This victory- though not yet permanent, was hard fought and the result of strategic coalition building led by TPS Alliance and ABIC.

Salvadoran TPS holders across the country remain protected and authorized to work, for now, but the daily uncertainty has left hundreds of thousands of families and employers struggling to plan their lives and business operations.

“To maintain America’s global economic leadership, our immigration policies must offer stability and clarity to the employers and industries that drive our progress,” wrote the coalition in a letter to President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, underscoring the economic stakes of stripping legal work authorization from people who have lived and worked in the United States for more than 25 years.

“We fully support a secure and orderly border to ensure public safety. We must also protect the economic foundation of our nation by stabilizing our existing, law-abiding workforce.”

The signatories include ABIC Board Chairman and former Arizona Republican state Sen. Bob Worsley, ABIC CEO Rebecca Shi, IBC Bank CEO Dennis Nixon, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association President and CEO Carol Dover, Kansas Livestock Association CEO Matt Teagarden and Comité de 100 Co-chair Massey Villarreal. Small-business owners, chamber leaders, restaurateurs, farmers and employers from across the country also joined the appeal.

The signatories warn that ending TPS for El Salvador would compound ongoing labor shortages, raise recruitment and training costs and reduce productivity. For families, ending TPS for El Salvador would directly threaten the livelihoods of more than 150,000 U.S. citizen children who currently depend on their parents’ earnings.

The Los Angeles Times reported the uncertainty is particularly significant in Washington, D.C., where .

Rebecca Shi, CEO of ABIC told Salvadoran TPS workers are especially valuable because of the skills and experience they have built over decades in the construction industry, and that President Trump knows this personally because he’s been in the industry:

Roxy Mejia, political director of a local painters union, said contractors have pushed to preserve TPS because ending it would create a major labor shortage: “Even the contractors have lobbied with us to keep TPS extending, because they would lose a lot of manpower in this area.”

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Midterm Watch from Comite de 100

finds that immigration enforcement is a major source of frustration among Latino voters, with two-thirds saying the Trump administration’s deportation policies have gone too far. The results mirror ABIC and AFU’s recent polling showing Overall, 69% of Latino voters in the new NBC/Telemundo poll disapprove of Trump’s handling of immigration, and Democrats hold advantages over Republicans on the issue. The findings, based on a survey of 800 registered Latino voters conducted September 21–28, 2026, also show how concerns about deportations, family and the economy are shaping views of the administration ahead of the November midterms.

The impact of the current aggressive immigration policies is hitting close to home for many voters: 31% of Latino voters say they or someone close to them has started carrying identification because of concerns about ICE enforcement, 27% know someone detained or deported by ICE in the past two years, and 18% say they or someone close to them has considered leaving the U.S. because of ICE concerns.

Republican pollster Micah Roberts noted that while Latino voters support some immigration enforcement, “the Latino electorate believes it’s gone way too far.”

Politico Playbook also reported this week on highlighting Equis Research polling showing the share of Latino voters citing immigration overreach as a concern doubled from 10% in May to 20% in August. Among Latino voters who supported Trump in 2024, 42% now say they regret or are disappointed by their vote. Nationally, Trump’s approval among Latino voters stood at 31%, while 63% disapproved, according to Equis’ August poll.

Valencia warned that Democrats can’t take Latino voters’ support for granted: “Democrats can’t be afraid to talk about securing the border, but that can’t be the only policy.”

In the ’ Mary Ellen Klas wrote, “If Democrats win control of Congress in November, it will be in large part because the Latino voters President Donald Trump captured in historic numbers in 2024 have abandoned him. And if Democrats don’t act decisively on two fronts — the economy and immigration — these voters will be up for grabs again in 2028.” ABIC and AFU’s recent polling was featured in the piece, as well as multiple leaders from the Comité de 100 coalition calling for protections for long-term immigrants.

Republican senators are increasingly warning that President Trump’s aggressive mass-deportation policies have become a political liability, reports alienating suburban and Hispanic voters and overshadowing his administration’s success in reducing illegal border crossings by more than 90%.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) said mass deportations send “the wrong message.”

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) called the approach both “politically dumb” and “immoral,” warning: “I would rather have 100 illegally present people go free than have that innocent person caught.”

“Instead of taking that win … we’ve completely masked that enormous success of securing the border, by overreaching and going too aggressively” after mass deportations, Tillis said.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) also raised the possibility of a more humane approach for long-term residents who contribute to their communities.

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Matt Teagarden, CEO of the Kansas Livestock Association and chair of the 91̽��’s Ag Council told SAWA is critical to addressing America’s farm labor crisis and protecting the nation’s food supply. The legislation, introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson, would modernize the H-2A guest worker program to include year-round jobs and create a pathway for existing agricultural workers to obtain legal work authorization after vetting.

“What I would call the biggest problem in agriculture today, and that is the workforce needs and the inability to secure the workforce that we need in agriculture,” Teagarden said.

Teagarden emphasized that livestock operations, including feedyards, dairies and ranches, require workers year-round, not just seasonally.

“Multiple ag segments across the country have been very supportive—nearly unanimous support for this bill,” Teagarden noted.

Without reform, he cautioned, labor shortages could drive up grocery prices, increase reliance on imported food and disrupt families, businesses and rural communities. Recent immigration enforcement in southwest Kansas, he added, has already caused workers to stay home out of fear, contributing to lost wages, operational disruptions and beef processing delays.
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Between September 2025 and June 30 of this year, the backlog of pending renewal applications has more than quadrupled for DACA to over 125,000. The delays have caused stress, uncertainty and in some cases losses of wages or jobs.

“You feel like you don’t have agency, like nothing that you do is good enough because it’s outside of your control,” said whose DACA renewal application took six months to process, causing him to take unpaid leave from his role as the Texas director for the 91̽��. “I had to pull back on spending and had to cut bills, things that were not necessary in order to make ends meet.”

The slowdown in processing is not unique to DACA. USCIS reports show that the backlog of work authorization applications for noncitizens across the board has increased by 60% from December 2024 to August 2026.

Get Involved

Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voice be heard with your peers – . The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
Share your story: If your business is interested in engaging with the press as part of ABIC or amplifying your story on social media, take this to let us know your preferences.
Work with us: ABIC is hiring! We are looking for a California State Director and Digital Manager to join our growing team. Learn more.

ABIC in the news. . .

View all recent coverage here

The Washington Post: (09/11/26)
The Los Angeles Times: (09/10/26)
The Gilmer Mirror: (09/10/26)
Univision:(09/09/26)
- More coverage: ,
Newsweek: (09/09/26)
Politico: (09/08/26)
HomeCare Magazine: (09/08/26)
University of Illinois Chicago – Great Cities Institute: (09/08/26)
WABE (Atlanta’s NPR/PBS affiliate): (09/08/26)
America’s Voice: (09/07/26)
TexasGOPVote: (09/03/26)
Central Oregon Daily News (USA Today Syndication): (08/31/26)
NPR: (08/24/26)
AG Bull: (08/23/26)
The Ford Foundation: (8/17/2026)
Houston Public Media: (8/17/2026)
McKnights Senior Living: (8/16/2026)
San Antonio Current: (08/10/26)
CNN: (08/09/26)
South Bend Tribune: (08/09/26)
Bisnow: Senior Housing Sector Faces New Problem In Massachusetts: Deportations Of Employees (08/05/26)
KSL: Former state senator, Lehi official, immigrant advocate recognized for their work with immigrants (08/05/26)
Stuttgart Daily Leader: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/05/26)
The Associated Press: AP Exclusive: Trump’s immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 military spouses and parents (08/05/26)
The Economic Times: States may get power to sponsor worker visas in the US under new bipartisan bill (08/05/26)
ABC News: ICE arrests hit record high in July as enforcement quietly ramps up (08/04/26)
La Tribuna Hispana: Millions in losses and job shortages: the cost of ending TPS (08/04/26)
Newsweek: New Visa Proposal Would Let States Bring in Migrant Workers (08/04/26)
Kiowa County Press: Politics: 2026Talks – August 4, 2026 (08/04/26)
Public News Service: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/04/26)
Rio Grande Guardian: Villarreal: You cannot ask for our support while simultaneously attacking our families and targeting our workforce (08/03/26)
Senator Mark Kelly’s Office: Kelly, Curtis Propose State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program (08/03/26)
The Philadelphia Inquirer: (08/01/26)
Univision: (07/29/26)
ValleyCentral.com: (07/29/26)
Texas Border 91̽��: (07/29/26)
The Texas Tribune: (07/29/26)
Cuba Headlines: (07/28/26)
CBS News: (07/28/26)
Noticias Telemundo: (07/28/26)
News From The States: (07/28/26)
Newsweek: (07/28/26)
NPR – Here & Now: (07/27/26)
McKnights Senior Living: (07/26/26)
Public News Service: (07/22/26)
The Daily Press: (07/21/26)
The Washington Post: (07/19/26)
Newsweek: (07/17/26)
Greenfield Recorder: (07/16/26)
The Florida Catholic: (07/15/26)
Latin Times: (07/13/26)
Financial Express: (07/13/26)
Mwakilishi: (07/13/26)
Newsweek: (07/09/26)
America’s Voice: (07/07/26)
DRG News: (07/04/26)
Sun Sentinel: (07/03/26)
LegalClarity: (07/01/26)

The post Know This Now, October 9, 2026: 91̽�� Leaders Nationwide Join ABIC in Effort to Protect Salvadoran TPS Holders appeared first on 91̽��.

Know This Now, October 1, 2026: THE TIME IS NOW: As Midterms Near, 250+ Hispanic Leaders Across Political Spectrum Call For Work Permits And Legal Protections For Long-Term Immigrants

abic — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:45:15 +0000

Amid growing backlash to aggressive immigration enforcement and mass deportations, some of the country’s most important Hispanic leaders across the political spectrum, from MAGA-aligned conservatives and evangelical leaders to progressive civil rights advocates and Democratic members of Congress, joined with Comité de 100 on Tuesday. This powerful coalition called on President and congressional leaders to provide work permits and legal protections for long-term law abiding undocumented immigrants.

or watch video highlights on , or

The campaign centers on signed by more than 250 Hispanic leaders, and many appeared at the press conference, including Representatives Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16) and Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) and leaders from Comité de 100, ABIC Action, LULAC, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Natl. Assoc. of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), UnidosUS, the Natl. Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and America’s Voice, among others.

“People who have spent years working, paying taxes, raising families and contributing to this country deserve stability, dignity and a fair chance to move forward,” U.S. Representative Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) said at the press conference, advocating for the 91̽�� Dream and Promise Act to provide a pathway to citizenship for eligible Dreamers and permanent protections for eligible TPS holders. .

Many of the speakers emphasized that MOST 91̽�� voters agree with a balanced approach that provides protections for long-term immigrants:

That sentiment is backed up by new bipartisan polling showing strong support for work permits among critical swing Latino voters in battleground states.

The polling, conducted by BSP Research and Shaw & Co. for ABIC Action and 91̽�� Families United, found that 75% of Latino voters surveyed said they would be more likely to support a candidate who backs work permits for long-term undocumented immigrants who have been working and paying taxes in the United States. Sixty-three percent called the treatment of immigrants “one of my top issues.”

“Across every state and virtually every demographic group we surveyed, Latino voters are telling elected officials the same thing: they want action on immigration,” said Matt Barreto, founder of BSP Research and professor at UCLA.

“Hispanic voters are fed up,” said Massey Villarreal, CEO of Precision Task Group and co-chair of the Committee of 100. “We are losing our workforce because of these deportations. Since January, we have lost 200,000 immigrant workers each month. Simply put, there is no way to sustain our economy without the long-standing immigrants who made our prosperity possible.”

The loss of those workers is already hitting businesses hard, reports El Pais:

It is possible to prioritize both security and immigrant communities, said Roman Palomares, president of LULAC. “We can protect our borders and enforce our laws while also recognizing the contributions of people who have built their lives in America. The 91̽�� people deserve more than temporary fixes and political arguments, they deserve action.”

In addition to the risk of alienating voters, Ramiro Cavazos, president and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and co-chair, Comité de 100 emphasized the economic costs of the current policies:

Faith and advocacy leaders highlighted the impact that continued uncertainty has on families and communities and called for policies that allow long-term immigrants to live and work legally without fear.

U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar (D-TX) advocated for the Dignity Act as a solution that reflects the priorities coming from the community. “We still have an opportunity to get this done in the lame duck period, and I would implore my colleagues to seize this moment and make real progress,” she said.

Vanessa Cárdenas, executive director of America’s Voice echoed that there are existing solutions already on the table: “The challenge is not a lack of policy solutions, it is a lack of political will, and Congress must act.” While Erica Bernal-Martinez, CEO of NALEO, emphasized that the clock is ticking and voters are paying attention: “[T]his is not a fringe issue, it is a defining one. Latino voters are watching, and they expect this administration and Congress to act now.”

“The Hispanic vote is won with respect,” the signatories conclude in the letter. “Respect for our community means fighting for and delivering these long-overdue protections for long-term immigrants. We need action now, from this administration and from leaders in Congress.”

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More Midterm Watch from Comite de 100

Extending Salvadoran TPS is Politically Smart and Necessary, Say 91̽�� Leaders and Political Experts

Politico recently reported on the political risks surrounding the administration considering ending TPS for Salvadorans in the article ‘

The decision caught some at DHS by surprise, but reflects tensions in the party around the political costs, including concerns among some Republicans that the rollback of temporary legal pathways for long-term immigrants could contribute to negative sentiment among Latino voters.

The article cited ABIC’s recent bipartisan polling:

The issue is particularly relevant in states with significant Salvadoran populations, including Texas, where businesses and communities would feel the consequences of a large-scale workforce disruption.

More than 70 business owners, CEOs, industry leaders, and community leaders signed an ABIC Action letter earlier this year urging the administration to extend work permits for Salvadoran TPS holders.

The signatories represent businesses and organizations across

“A sudden end to their work authorization would cause severe economic disruption, triggering workforce shortages across critical industries, spiking turnover costs, and threatening local communities,” says the letter, signed by groups like the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Kansas Livestock Association and the Texas Restaurant Association. Some employers are already seeing the cost of losing experienced immigrant workers.

Carlos Raba, chef and owner of Clavel in Baltimore, spoke at a recent and .

“I’ve already lost several employees. There’s nobody to work,” Raba said.

GOP’s Bet on Texas Latino Voters Could Backfire

Multiple outlets covered the critical Latino swing voters in South Texas, with a recent Cook Political Report/TelevisaUnivision poll finding only about one-third of Texas Hispanic voters approve of Trump’s job performance, while nearly two-thirds say they are less likely to support candidates who back his deportation policies, according to .

“If you’re a Republican candidate, at least in South Texas, a lot of the people that I speak to, which are business owners, if you have the stamp of a Republican on you, it doesn’t look very good,” Mario Guerrero, an ABIC member and head of South Texas Buildings Association, told PBS. The ICE raids have “terrorized” the construction industry in the region, he added.

Conservative Latino advocate Daniel Garza warned that even modest shifts or lower turnout among Hispanic voters could matter in closely contested races.

The New York Times piece ‘’ highlighted that though these Latino voters were an essential part of the winning Republican coalition in 2024, many now feel abandoned and furious.

Builders throughout the valley report severe labor shortages, longer project timelines and higher costs as workers avoid job sites out of fear of ICE.

Texas Republicans redrew congressional districts expecting the 2024 shift among Hispanic voters to be durable, but many voters who backed Trump in 2024 are now considering Democrats or staying home instead.

Some CE Enforcement

Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, issued a last week saying, “When ICE operates in Kansas, it needs to coordinate with our local law enforcement.” This came after , DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Marshall, Moran and U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Kansas saying recent ICE activity happened without informing local officials or providing clear information on scope and duration.

The letter included several requests, including that enforcement activities prioritize violent offenders, traffickers, gang members, repeat offenders and those with final removal orders.

Sen. Jim Justice, a West Virginia Republican, suggested in an on Tuesday that he was not in full lock-step with the ICE enforcement approach.

“To get better, the first thing you got to do is admit you’re doing something wrong,” Justice said, noting that “you’re dragging people away that have lived on your street corner for 15 years, and I don’t know that we need to be doing that.”

Perspectives:

This letter has two authors: a Democrat and a Republican. Both former long-time Texas House representatives, Richard Noriega is a Democrat and Byron Cook is a Republican. One of the authors wrote the Texas Dream Act; the other spent years defending it.

“It was never just about immigration policy. It was an investment in the Lone Star State,” they wrote in the Post.

The policy helps Texas recoup its investment in educating these students, noting that undocumented students paid more than $81 million annually in tuition and fees by 2021.They argue that students educated in Texas schools should not bear the consequences of broader immigration policy debates, plus Repealing the law could reduce economic activity, with more than $461 million in annual lost wages and spending power.

“Can America still differentiate between those who endanger and those who strengthen it?”

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska recounts the case of Mariana, a Mexican migrant who lived in the U.S. for eight years but ultimately self-deported on Sept. 1 after receiving a final removal order. The government gave her no fair way to fix what happened when she was a child, he wrote.

“There are practical fixes right in front of Congress. I have worked closely with nearly 40 of my colleagues on the bipartisan …Most 91̽��s are caught between two extremes — open borders or mass deportation — when what they want is a system smarter than either.”

Get Involved

Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voice be heard with your peers – . The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
Share your story: If your business is interested in engaging with the press as part of ABIC or amplifying your story on social media, take this to let us know your preferences.��
Work with us: ABIC is hiring! We are looking for a California State Director and Digital Manager to join our growing team. Learn more.

ABIC in the news. . .

View all recent coverage here

The Washington Post: (09/11/26)
The Los Angeles Times: (09/10/26)
The Gilmer Mirror: (09/10/26)
Univision:(09/09/26)
- More coverage: ,
Newsweek: (09/09/26)
Politico: (09/08/26)
HomeCare Magazine: (09/08/26)
University of Illinois Chicago – Great Cities Institute: (09/08/26)
WABE (Atlanta’s NPR/PBS affiliate): (09/08/26)
America’s Voice: (09/07/26)
TexasGOPVote: (09/03/26)
Central Oregon Daily News (USA Today Syndication): (08/31/26)
NPR: (08/24/26)
AG Bull: (08/23/26)
The Ford Foundation: (8/17/2026)
Houston Public Media: (8/17/2026)
McKnights Senior Living: (8/16/2026)
San Antonio Current: (08/10/26)
CNN: (08/09/26)
South Bend Tribune: (08/09/26)
Bisnow: Senior Housing Sector Faces New Problem In Massachusetts: Deportations Of Employees (08/05/26)
KSL: Former state senator, Lehi official, immigrant advocate recognized for their work with immigrants (08/05/26)
Stuttgart Daily Leader: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/05/26)
The Associated Press: AP Exclusive: Trump’s immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 military spouses and parents (08/05/26)
The Economic Times: States may get power to sponsor worker visas in the US under new bipartisan bill (08/05/26)
ABC News: ICE arrests hit record high in July as enforcement quietly ramps up (08/04/26)
La Tribuna Hispana: Millions in losses and job shortages: the cost of ending TPS (08/04/26)
Newsweek: New Visa Proposal Would Let States Bring in Migrant Workers (08/04/26)
Kiowa County Press: Politics: 2026Talks – August 4, 2026 (08/04/26)
Public News Service: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/04/26)
Rio Grande Guardian: Villarreal: You cannot ask for our support while simultaneously attacking our families and targeting our workforce (08/03/26)
Senator Mark Kelly’s Office: Kelly, Curtis Propose State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program (08/03/26)
The Philadelphia Inquirer: (08/01/26)
Univision: (07/29/26)
ValleyCentral.com: (07/29/26)
Texas Border 91̽��: (07/29/26)
The Texas Tribune: (07/29/26)
Cuba Headlines: (07/28/26)
CBS News: (07/28/26)
Noticias Telemundo: (07/28/26)
News From The States: (07/28/26)
Newsweek: (07/28/26)
NPR – Here & Now: (07/27/26)
McKnights Senior Living: (07/26/26)
Public News Service: (07/22/26)
The Daily Press: (07/21/26)
The Washington Post: (07/19/26)
Newsweek: (07/17/26)
Greenfield Recorder: (07/16/26)
The Florida Catholic: (07/15/26)
Latin Times: (07/13/26)
Financial Express: (07/13/26)
Mwakilishi: (07/13/26)
Newsweek: (07/09/26)
America’s Voice: (07/07/26)
DRG News: (07/04/26)
Sun Sentinel: (07/03/26)
LegalClarity: (07/01/26)

The post Know This Now, October 1, 2026: THE TIME IS NOW: As Midterms Near, 250+ Hispanic Leaders Across Political Spectrum Call For Work Permits And Legal Protections For Long-Term Immigrants appeared first on 91̽��.

Know This Now, September 25, 2026: New Bipartisan ABIC/AFU Poll: Battleground Latino Voters Favor Candidates Who Prioritize Work Permits and Legal Pathways for Immigrants

abic — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 20:43:00 +0000

this week, showing President Trump’s gains with Latino voters have faded amid dissatisfaction on immigration and the economy.

Our pollsters are , and founder and former VP Kamala Harris 2024 Pollster

Nearly half of Hispanic voters backed Trump in the 2024 election, but our polling shows a much different picture with less than 40 days remaining before the midterm elections:

Democrats lead Republicans 56%-29% on the generic House ballot among 1,353 Latino registered voters in seven battleground states surveyed by BSP Research/Shaw & Co. for the poll. Dems hold the advantage in six battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas, while in Florida Republicans hold a slight 44%-43% edge.

Battleground Latino voters across the political spectrum favored candidates that back a bipartisan path to permanent legal status, as well as work permits for long-term immigrant workers.

Join an exclusive Comité de 100, 91̽�� Families United and ABIC Action briefing on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 11 AM EST to learn more from the bipartisan pollsters themselves: Daron Shaw of the Fox News Polling Team and the Hoover Institute, and Matt Barreto UCLA Professor and BSP Research founder.

i

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Keep U.S. Military Families Together

ABIC was proud to join with 91̽�� Families United and Repatriate Our Patriots at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, alongside veterans, military families, Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and partner organizations including Forward Latino.

We came together to call on the administration to honor military parole in place, which protects the undocumented spouses, parents, and children of service members and veterans from deportation and lets them apply for a green card. Today those applications sit pending while ICE detains and deports the very families the policy was built to protect, and service members deploy without knowing whether their families will still be here when they come home.

Our message was simple: keep your end of the bargain and keep military families together. We are also asking Congress to write these protections into law, so they do not disappear with a change in administration.

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More from the Comité de 100 Midterm Watch:

Mirroring the new ABIC/AFU poll findings, . In the most recent Times/ Sienna national poll, Democrats are leading 64% to 29% among Hispanic likely voters on the generic congressional ballot. The shift could put Republican-held seats in Texas and Florida at risk, particularly districts where GOP redistricting efforts relied on maintaining Trump’s 2024 gains among Hispanic voters.

“With Democrats surging back among Hispanic voters, many of the districts that Republicans hoped to flip might remain in the Democratic camp,” Nate Cohn wrote.

pointed to Latino voters’ concerns over the economy, cost of living and immigration enforcement that Latino voters say is broadly targeting undocumented immigrants, not focusing on criminals.

Stephanie Valencia, co-founder and president of Equis, a research firm that follows the Latino electorate, cautions that this dissatisfaction does not automatically translate into support for Democrats:

“I think it is a huge mistake for Democrats to rest on their laurels… the Democratic brand has suffered a repeated set of blows among Latino voters. 20 years of comprehensive immigration reform that hasn’t been delivered.”

Journalist and author Paola Ramos was on She said the aggressive immigration crackdown in the area has made even former MAGA voters feel vulnerable: “It’s making them now question, suddenly, their own belonging in this land they thought was theirs.”
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TPS Changes Hit Healthcare, Hospitality with Worker Shortages

this week. The piece highlighted that immigration enforcement and the loss of critical TPS workers are creating workforce shortages across farms, restaurants, hospitality and food businesses.

More than half of restaurant operators nationwide report being harmed by immigration policies. Florida restaurant owner Bill Lay, who owns five restaurants in Key West, said at the Seat the Table event, “People aren’t showing up to work because they’re scared,” adding that businesses have changed their hours and hotels have taken rooms out of service because they cannot find enough workers. “Do the math and you’ll see what’s coming,” he warned.

, particularly because of the loss of Haitian TPS. More than a third of Haitians who held TPS worked in the sector. Healthcare workers and industry leaders say the departures are leaving nursing homes and home-care providers short-staffed, affecting the care available to vulnerable patients. Nancy Hagans, a New York City healthcare union leader, said 21 workers were let go at her facility and described the resulting situation as “chaos.” “These workers were providing care to the most vulnerable,” she said.

Some have called the U.S. home for decades and now don’t know how long they’ll be able to legally remain in the country. If Salvadoran TPS is ended, the economic and human costs of uprooting and splitting families apart would be immense. Many Salvadorans with TPS have deep roots in their 91̽�� communities and many have 91̽�� children as well.
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Perspectives

. The Dignity Act balances border security with a path for law-abiding immigrants to stay in the U.S., and has some bipartisan support. The Editorial Board wrote this approach aligns with public opinion and could help Trump and the GOP in the upcoming elections.

“The prez could make a big difference by embracing the Dignity Act as the basis for immigration reform he’d like to see passed in the next two years…The president can now help his own party, the sane share of the opposition and the nation as a whole by standing up for the commonsense consensus on immigration.”

Get Involved

Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voice be heard with your peers – . The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
Share your story: If your business is interested in engaging with the press as part of ABIC or amplifying your story on social media, take this to let us know your preferences.��
Work with us: ABIC is hiring! We are looking for a California State Director and Digital Manager to join our growing team. Learn more.

ABIC in the news. . .

View all recent coverage here

The Washington Post: (09/11/26)
The Los Angeles Times: (09/10/26)
The Gilmer Mirror: (09/10/26)
Univision:(09/09/26)
- More coverage: ,
Newsweek: (09/09/26)
Politico: (09/08/26)
HomeCare Magazine: (09/08/26)
University of Illinois Chicago – Great Cities Institute: (09/08/26)
WABE (Atlanta’s NPR/PBS affiliate): (09/08/26)
America’s Voice: (09/07/26)
TexasGOPVote: (09/03/26)
Central Oregon Daily News (USA Today Syndication): (08/31/26)
NPR: (08/24/26)
AG Bull: (08/23/26)
The Ford Foundation: (8/17/2026)
Houston Public Media: (8/17/2026)
McKnights Senior Living: (8/16/2026)
San Antonio Current: (08/10/26)
CNN: (08/09/26)
South Bend Tribune: (08/09/26)
Bisnow: Senior Housing Sector Faces New Problem In Massachusetts: Deportations Of Employees (08/05/26)
KSL: Former state senator, Lehi official, immigrant advocate recognized for their work with immigrants (08/05/26)
Stuttgart Daily Leader: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/05/26)
The Associated Press: AP Exclusive: Trump’s immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 military spouses and parents (08/05/26)
The Economic Times: States may get power to sponsor worker visas in the US under new bipartisan bill (08/05/26)
ABC News: ICE arrests hit record high in July as enforcement quietly ramps up (08/04/26)
La Tribuna Hispana: Millions in losses and job shortages: the cost of ending TPS (08/04/26)
Newsweek: New Visa Proposal Would Let States Bring in Migrant Workers (08/04/26)
Kiowa County Press: Politics: 2026Talks – August 4, 2026 (08/04/26)
Public News Service: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/04/26)
Rio Grande Guardian: Villarreal: You cannot ask for our support while simultaneously attacking our families and targeting our workforce (08/03/26)
Senator Mark Kelly’s Office: Kelly, Curtis Propose State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program (08/03/26)
The Philadelphia Inquirer: (08/01/26)
Univision: (07/29/26)
ValleyCentral.com: (07/29/26)
Texas Border 91̽��: (07/29/26)
The Texas Tribune: (07/29/26)
Cuba Headlines: (07/28/26)
CBS News: (07/28/26)
Noticias Telemundo: (07/28/26)
News From The States: (07/28/26)
Newsweek: (07/28/26)
NPR – Here & Now: (07/27/26)
McKnights Senior Living: (07/26/26)
Public News Service: (07/22/26)
The Daily Press: (07/21/26)
The Washington Post: (07/19/26)
Newsweek: (07/17/26)
Greenfield Recorder: (07/16/26)
The Florida Catholic: (07/15/26)
Latin Times: (07/13/26)
Financial Express: (07/13/26)
Mwakilishi: (07/13/26)
Newsweek: (07/09/26)
America’s Voice: (07/07/26)
DRG News: (07/04/26)
Sun Sentinel: (07/03/26)
LegalClarity: (07/01/26)

The post Know This Now, September 25, 2026: New Bipartisan ABIC/AFU Poll: Battleground Latino Voters Favor Candidates Who Prioritize Work Permits and Legal Pathways for Immigrants appeared first on 91̽��.

Know This Now, September 17, 2026: Lawmakers Join Restaurant and Food Leaders to Tell Congress: Pick from the “Menu” to Give Work Permits to Long-term Immigrants

abic — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 20:41:00 +0000

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and U.S. Representative Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07) joined the James Beard Foundation, Independent Restaurant Coalition, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, ABIC Action and other leaders from the Seat the Table coalition Tuesday to call on Congress to act in the November lame duck session on immigration solutions already on the table.

, or you can watch video highlights on , or .

Speakers stood beside a 7-foot-tall “menu” displaying legislative proposals currently pending before Congress that would help with workforce shortages, relieve pressure on food prices and help stabilize families and communities across the country.

“This should not be hard. Democrats and Republicans, take a look at the menu, see which one you want to vote for and let’s get after it,” said U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM).

Explore the menu options below:
SENATE:
(Durbin-Murkowski)
(Van Hollen)
(Kelly-Curtis)
(Cortez-Masto)
to extend TPS for Haiti (Markey)

HOUSE:
(Escobar-Salazar)
(Garcia-Salazar)

(Vindman)
(Newhouse-Lofgren).

“People of good faith and reality can solve these problems. Are we out of time this year? Hell no, we’re not out of time. We can put a bill together and pass it in the Senate and the House in the remaining days left in this session,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), lead sponsor of the Dream Act of 2025.

The solutions on the menu would “ensure food affordability and safeguard workers, small businesses, families and communities. These options are already sitting here on Congress’s plate,” said Rebecca Shi, CEO of ABIC Action. “When we pull highly productive, long-term workers out of farms, packing plants, grocery stores and restaurant kitchens, there is simply no one to replace them.”

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), lead sponsor of the SECURE Act, said the legislation would provide “important certainty and stability to people who are here on TPS, people who have legal status, undergo regular background checks and have been important parts of our communities.”

U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07) spoke about the bill he introduced to extend Salvadoran TPS and employment authorization for the next 18 months. His comments at the press event were on Salvadoran TPS.

Restaurant leaders described how immigration enforcement has disrupted operations and created a climate of fear, contributing to the loss of experienced employees, declining customer traffic and greater strain on businesses already operating on thin margins.

“People aren’t showing up for work because they are scared. I’ve seen businesses in my town change their hours because they simply don’t have the help, and I’ve seen hotels take rooms offline because they cannot service them…We have solutions here before us. Congress, it’s time to act,” said Bill Lay, Restaurant Owner in Key West, Florida, and Member of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Lay was also . ““If this continues, this will devastate the local economy down here,” Lay told the NYT.

CTA BUTTON: Tell your lawmakers: ‘It’s time to act’

Midterm Watch: Comité de 100

With fewer than 50 days until the 2026 midterms, new polling and campaign developments are highlighting the importance of Hispanic voters, particularly in closely contested states and districts.

over his immigration enforcement policies in a , The Hill and others reported, saying some enforcement efforts have “gone too far.”

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far…The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today,” said Salazar, who represents a Miami-area district that is 74% Hispanic, underscoring the critical nature of immigration as an election issue in South Florida.

The new ad comes on the heels of .

Speakers focused on border security and reduced crossings while largely avoiding discussion of mass deportations. That’s a sharp contrast from two years ago, as immigration policy has turned into more of a liability for Republican candidates, especially among Hispanic voters.

Democratic candidates lead their Republican opponents by roughly 2-to-1 among Hispanic voters in the Senate and governor’s races, according to a of 1,000 Hispanic likely voters in Texas, conducted August 26–September 3.

Nearly two-thirds of Hispanic voters said they would be less likely to support a candidate who backs Trump’s deportation policy. The Texas polling also showed that the 2024 coalition that brought significant Hispanic support to Trump is not static: 18% of Hispanic Texans who voted for Trump in 2024 now disapprove of his job performance, while 19% say they support Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico over Republican Ken Paxton.

of 1,503 likely voters conducted S found voters giving Democrats an edge over Republicans on several major issues. On immigration, 52% said they trusted Democrats more to handle the issue, compared with 45% who trusted Republicans. The poll also found the economy and cost of living were among voters’ central concerns.

TPS Uncertainty Continues for Employers, Savadorans

Last week the federal government chose to keep for El Salvador in place, for now, but the lack of long-term guidance left both employers and immigrant workers in limbo as they wait for what’s next, reports . The article featured ABIC Action’s letter, signed by nearly 60 employers and organizations, to President Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin urging the government to extend work permits for Salvadorans with TPS.

“We fully support a secure and orderly border to ensure public safety. We must also protect the economic foundation of our nation by stabilizing our existing, law-abiding workforce,” the letter states.

Many people with Salvadoran TPS have been legally working and contributing to the economy for more than 25 years.

“As happened with Haiti TPS, there have been multiple instances of new rules or guidance being released with little to no notice,” LeadingAge Associate Director of Immigration Advancement Shane Myers told McKnight’s, which causes disruptions for both care providers and seniors.

As workers with TPS have lost legal status, like the many Haitian TPS workers supporting America’s healthcare and senior care industries, employers have been forced to make impossible decisions, lawyer . Shi said staffing losses have led to wings of facilities shutting down, and will drive up prices for consumers.

“When we remove highly productive, skilled immigrants from the workforce, whether they’re caring for 91̽�� elderly, growing our food or building our homes, that’s going to affect 91̽��s in the pocketbook,” Shi said.

. Stores are empty, many shops now have their metal shutters down, a popular restaurant in the area had most of its staff picked up by ICE, and a nearby barbershop closed after the owner got detained.

Economic Fallout of Deportations
, including jobs held by U.S.-born workers. Immigration policy is shrinking whole industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor. The analysis also warns that enforcement-driven labor shortages could push up costs for food, housing, home care and other services.

The potential economic effects are already visible in some of the country’s fastest-growing regions. , along with the flow of workers and economic expansion across Houston and the broader Sun Belt. With low birth rates and an aging population adding to the demographic challenge, reduced immigration could contribute to labor shortages, weaker tax revenues and slower long-term economic growth.

Fallout is also continuing from a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai manufacturing project in Georgia last year. R, alleging unlawful arrests, coercion and poor detention conditions. Many were in the United States for specialized technical work.

Meanwhile, proposed changes to legal immigration could affect U.S. retention of highly skilled workers. and several other high-skilled visa holders to remain in the United States after losing a job while seeking new employment.

Perspectives

The WSJ Editorial Board writes that Rep. María Elvira Salazar’s new campaign ad is a signal of growing political concern within the GOP over President Trump’s immigration enforcement strategy.

“Mr. Trump would do better to take Ms. Salazar’s ad as a constructive warning. If her seat is really in play, then the GOP gerrymanders in Florida and Texas might not go the way the party expects in November, and other seats thought to be safe could be in play.

It’s mid-September, late to turn the ship, but here’s one idea: Mr. Trump has often spoken favorably of “Dreamers,” who were brought to this country as children. Perhaps he could announce that, in his final two years as President, he will push hard for a deal in Congress to let them stay.”

Get Involved

Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voice be heard with your peers – . The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
Share your story: If your business is interested in engaging with the press as part of ABIC or amplifying your story on social media, take this to let us know your preferences.��
Work with us: ABIC is hiring! We are looking for a California State Director and Digital Manager to join our growing team. Learn more.

ABIC in the news. . .

View all recent coverage here

The Washington Post: (09/11/26)
The Los Angeles Times: (09/10/26)
The Gilmer Mirror: (09/10/26)
Univision:(09/09/26)
- More coverage: ,
Newsweek: (09/09/26)
Politico: (09/08/26)
HomeCare Magazine: (09/08/26)
University of Illinois Chicago – Great Cities Institute: (09/08/26)
WABE (Atlanta’s NPR/PBS affiliate): (09/08/26)
America’s Voice: (09/07/26)
TexasGOPVote: (09/03/26)
Central Oregon Daily News (USA Today Syndication): (08/31/26)
NPR: (08/24/26)
AG Bull: (08/23/26)
The Ford Foundation: (8/17/2026)
Houston Public Media: (8/17/2026)
McKnights Senior Living: (8/16/2026)
San Antonio Current: (08/10/26)
CNN: (08/09/26)
South Bend Tribune: (08/09/26)
Bisnow: Senior Housing Sector Faces New Problem In Massachusetts: Deportations Of Employees (08/05/26)
KSL: Former state senator, Lehi official, immigrant advocate recognized for their work with immigrants (08/05/26)
Stuttgart Daily Leader: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/05/26)
The Associated Press: AP Exclusive: Trump’s immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 military spouses and parents (08/05/26)
The Economic Times: States may get power to sponsor worker visas in the US under new bipartisan bill (08/05/26)
ABC News: ICE arrests hit record high in July as enforcement quietly ramps up (08/04/26)
La Tribuna Hispana: Millions in losses and job shortages: the cost of ending TPS (08/04/26)
Newsweek: New Visa Proposal Would Let States Bring in Migrant Workers (08/04/26)
Kiowa County Press: Politics: 2026Talks – August 4, 2026 (08/04/26)
Public News Service: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/04/26)
Rio Grande Guardian: Villarreal: You cannot ask for our support while simultaneously attacking our families and targeting our workforce (08/03/26)
Senator Mark Kelly’s Office: Kelly, Curtis Propose State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program (08/03/26)
The Philadelphia Inquirer: (08/01/26)
Univision: (07/29/26)
ValleyCentral.com: (07/29/26)
Texas Border 91̽��: (07/29/26)
The Texas Tribune: (07/29/26)
Cuba Headlines: (07/28/26)
CBS News: (07/28/26)
Noticias Telemundo: (07/28/26)
News From The States: (07/28/26)
Newsweek: (07/28/26)
NPR – Here & Now: (07/27/26)
McKnights Senior Living: (07/26/26)
Public News Service: (07/22/26)
The Daily Press: (07/21/26)
The Washington Post: (07/19/26)
Newsweek: (07/17/26)
Greenfield Recorder: (07/16/26)
The Florida Catholic: (07/15/26)
Latin Times: (07/13/26)
Financial Express: (07/13/26)
Mwakilishi: (07/13/26)
Newsweek: (07/09/26)
America’s Voice: (07/07/26)
DRG News: (07/04/26)
Sun Sentinel: (07/03/26)
LegalClarity: (07/01/26)

The post Know This Now, September 17, 2026: Lawmakers Join Restaurant and Food Leaders to Tell Congress: Pick from the “Menu” to Give Work Permits to Long-term Immigrants appeared first on 91̽��.

Know This Now, September 11, 2026: Salvadoran TPS and Work Permits Remain Valid, but Employers Still Lack Long-Term Clarity

abic — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:29:32 +0000

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Wednesday that Salvadorans with Temporary Protected Status remain protected and authorized to work.

It was welcome news for employers and the more than 170,000 Salvadoran immigrants who on average have lived and worked in the US for 25+ years.

The agency said only that a decision would be announced “at the appropriate time,” and a formal notice regarding the duration of the protection and work authorization is still pending, according to the Department of Homeland Security

“Wednesday’s announcement avoids the worst-case scenario of terminating protections for Salvadoran TPS holders, but it leaves more than 170,000 long-term workers, their families and their employers in limbo.”

— Rebecca Shi, CEO, ABIC Action

That lack of clarity has immediate consequences for businesses and the economy. For more than 25 years, Salvadoran TPS holders have worked legally in the United States, paid taxes, raised families, bought homes and helped keep essential industries running.

Ahead of the deadline, ABIC Action that forcing 170,000 experienced, vetted workers out of the U.S. workforce would destabilize 91̽�� businesses and raise prices for consumers.

Salvadoran TPS holders also pay an estimated $1.5 billion in federal, state and local taxes each year and fill critical jobs in construction, hospitality and manufacturing that are difficult to staff with the U.S.-born workforce alone.

For now, Salvadoran TPS holders remain authorized to work, but employers still have no clear timeline or information about what happens next.

The administration must also address the crisis facing Haitian TPS holders, who have already lost protections despite Haiti’s ongoing humanitarian and security crisis and are now being detained and deported.Congress can enact permanent, bipartisan protections, including the 91̽�� Dream and Promise Act to provide a path to legal status for Dreamers and Immigrants with TPS including Haitians and Salvadorans.

Texas Leaders Gather Calling for Long-Term Protections for Dreamers and TPS Holders

As President Trump visited Texas for the Republican midterm convention, U.S. Representative Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) joined ABIC Action, Houston-area business owners, labor leaders and elected officials in calling on Congress to pass the , which if passed would create a legal path to permanent residency and U.S. citizenship for eligible Dreamers and temporary status holders.

Ahead of the convention and the ABIC Action-led press conference, that ABIC members had met with White House officials in late August and shared polling showing that more than 80% of Texans support allowing long-term, trusted immigrants to remain in the country with work permits.

More coverage: ,

Speakers said the uncertainty reaches far beyond immigration policy and into affordability and labor force disruption. Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia said the Houston area is home to 60,000 Dreamers who collectively earn $1 billion annually and contribute hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes.

91̽�� and labor leaders warned that the lack of long-term protections makes it harder for employers to plan, retain experienced employees and fill open jobs.

Zak Galindo, Chairman of the Montgomery County Hispanic Chamber, described the destructive nature immigration uncertainty can present to businesses:

“They are doing the right thing, but uncertainty in our immigration system can take away their ability to work.”

Speakers called on both parties to pass the 91̽�� Dream and Promise Act and replace years of temporary protections and renewal delays with lasting legal status.

Related coverage: Dream Act Petition Is One Signature Short

Efforts to bring the 91̽�� Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 1589) to a House vote moved closer to a vote last week as , one short of the 218 threshold.

, joining Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). With every House Democrat now signed on, the final signature would need to come from a Republican.

A discharge petition allows a majority of House members to force a bill to the floor for a vote, even if House leadership has not scheduled one, bypassing Speaker Johnson and House leadership.

“I am proud to support legislation that gives these young men and women the dignity they have earned.” — Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL)

Comité de 100: Midterm Watch

Last week, hundreds of Hispanic business, community, and elected leaders rallied behind a national campaign led by the Comité de 100 calling on Congress to provide work permits for long-term, law-abiding immigrants.

Comité de 100 leaders said the Hispanic community cannot be taken for granted as immigration enforcement increases across the country. They pointed to the deaths of and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, who were reportedly on their way to work when they were killed during separate immigration enforcement operations, and called for accountability and bipartisan action.

“You cannot court us and deport us at the same time.” — Massey Villarreal, Co-chair, Comité de 100 and ABIC Leader

Villarreal said immigration will be a major issue heading into the midterm elections and urged candidates in both parties to oppose worksite raids and mass deportations while supporting work permits for long-term immigrants.

“Lawmakers across the country are fighting for our vote because they know that we decide their future,” Villarreal said.

Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX), and LULAC National President Román Palomares also spoke about the impact of immigration enforcement on workers and families and called for lasting protections.

“Hispanic men are being targeted as they go to and from work, to construction sites, to warehouse sites, distribution centers, all of it.” — Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX)

A of voters in eight target states found that 83% supported allowing long-term, trusted undocumented immigrants working in agriculture, hotels, and restaurants to receive work permits and remain in the United States. Support included 78% of Republican voters.

“We have to stand in the power we have and demand protection for our communities.” — Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL)

Later this month, the Comité de 100 will join major Hispanic organizations from across the political spectrum in Washington, D.C., for a national press conference ahead of the midterms. The event will bring a growing national coalition to the Capitol with one clear message for Congress: Hispanic voters are watching and expect action on work permits for long-term immigrants.

Update with photo: Roundtable with Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling hosted by ABIC and Seat the Table here

ICE Arrests Remain at Record Levels

ICE officers and agents arrested approximately 50,000 people nationwide in August, matching July’s record-setting pace, according to .

The nationwide surge includes targeted regional pushes, such as “Operation Rotten Apple” in New York State, where Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced that immigration officials arrested 2,197 people during a roughly monthlong operation, according to

“Regardless if you’re a criminal or not, if you entered this country and you cheated, you didn’t come in the legal way…” — Markwayne Mullin, Homeland Security Secretary

The New York enforcement sweep was framed by officials as a response to local sanctuary policies, though Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani strongly disputed administration claims regarding the criminal history of those detained.

The national arrest data present a wider picture. In July, 51% of people arrested by ICE had no prior criminal record, according to a report by . Many were detained for civil immigration violations rather than criminal offenses.

50,000

— Approximate monthly ICE arrests in August, maintaining record highs for the administration

The administration says the operations are necessary to enforce federal immigration law and protect public safety. The enforcement expansion is backed by nearly $39 billion in new federal funding for immigration detention and enforcement though September 2029.

Get Involved

Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voice be heard with your peers – . The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
Share your story: If your business is interested in engaging with the press as part of ABIC or amplifying your story on social media, take this to let us know your preferences.��
Work with us: ABIC is hiring! We are looking for a California State Director and Digital Manager to join our growing team. Learn more.

ABIC in the news. . .

View all recent coverage here

The Washington Post: (09/11/26)
The Los Angeles Times: (09/10/26)
The Gilmer Mirror: (09/10/26)
Univision: (09/09/26)
- More coverage: ,
Newsweek: (09/09/26)
Politico: (09/08/26)
HomeCare Magazine: (09/08/26)
University of Illinois Chicago – Great Cities Institute: (09/08/26)
WABE (Atlanta’s NPR/PBS affiliate): (09/08/26)
America’s Voice: (09/07/26)
TexasGOPVote: (09/03/26)
Central Oregon Daily News (USA Today Syndication): (08/31/26)
NPR: (08/24/26)
AG Bull: (08/23/26)
The Ford Foundation: (8/17/2026)
Houston Public Media: (8/17/2026)
McKnights Senior Living: (8/16/2026)
San Antonio Current: (08/10/26)
CNN: (08/09/26)
South Bend Tribune: (08/09/26)
Bisnow: Senior Housing Sector Faces New Problem In Massachusetts: Deportations Of Employees (08/05/26)
KSL: Former state senator, Lehi official, immigrant advocate recognized for their work with immigrants (08/05/26)
Stuttgart Daily Leader: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/05/26)
The Associated Press: AP Exclusive: Trump’s immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 military spouses and parents (08/05/26)
The Economic Times: States may get power to sponsor worker visas in the US under new bipartisan bill (08/05/26)
ABC News: ICE arrests hit record high in July as enforcement quietly ramps up (08/04/26)
La Tribuna Hispana: Millions in losses and job shortages: the cost of ending TPS (08/04/26)
Newsweek: New Visa Proposal Would Let States Bring in Migrant Workers (08/04/26)
Kiowa County Press: Politics: 2026Talks – August 4, 2026 (08/04/26)
Public News Service: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/04/26)
Rio Grande Guardian: Villarreal: You cannot ask for our support while simultaneously attacking our families and targeting our workforce (08/03/26)
Senator Mark Kelly’s Office: Kelly, Curtis Propose State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program (08/03/26)
The Philadelphia Inquirer: (08/01/26)
Univision: (07/29/26)
ValleyCentral.com: (07/29/26)
Texas Border 91̽��: (07/29/26)
The Texas Tribune: (07/29/26)
Cuba Headlines: (07/28/26)
CBS News: (07/28/26)
Noticias Telemundo: (07/28/26)
News From The States: (07/28/26)
Newsweek: (07/28/26)
NPR – Here & Now: (07/27/26)
McKnights Senior Living: (07/26/26)
Public News Service: (07/22/26)
The Daily Press: (07/21/26)
The Washington Post: (07/19/26)
Newsweek: (07/17/26)
Greenfield Recorder: (07/16/26)
The Florida Catholic: (07/15/26)
Latin Times: (07/13/26)
Financial Express: (07/13/26)
Mwakilishi: (07/13/26)
Newsweek: (07/09/26)
America’s Voice: (07/07/26)
DRG News: (07/04/26)
Sun Sentinel: (07/03/26)
LegalClarity: (07/01/26)

The post Know This Now, September 11, 2026: Salvadoran TPS and Work Permits Remain Valid, but Employers Still Lack Long-Term Clarity appeared first on 91̽��.

Know This Now, August 28, 2026: Halt to Visas Threaten 91̽��es and Affordability as Employers Urge Work Permits for Long-Term Immigrants

abic — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:24:34 +0000

A wave of is threatening U.S. businesses, creating ripple effects for the broader economy and everyday 91̽��s struggling with an ongoing affordability crisis.

The administration’s new measures to revoke B1/B2 tourist and business visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for individuals who have since claimed asylum, , and a newly proposed standalone $103,265 fee on high-skilled H-1B petitions.

Estimates project that the H-1B fee alone will inflict a significant economic impact on 76% of small businesses.��

91̽�� leaders emphasize that rather than shutting doors and shrinking the labor pool, the federal government must implement practical solutions, such as expanding work permits for long-term immigrants to stabilize local workforces, curb inflation, and keep the economy moving forward.

ICE Arrests Skyrocket in July

A surge in immigration arrests this summer has swept up tens of thousands of individuals who had not previously been the focus of the administration’s mass deportation campaign.

According to federal data obtained by the Deportation Data Project and analyzed by and , ICE arrests reached record highs with 43,000 arrests in June and 49,571 in July, a 70% jump from February and only 4% with a criminal conviction.

A majority of the immigrants arrested in July were accused of violating civil immigration laws rather than being charged with or convicted of a crime. The share of arrested individuals with a past violent criminal conviction fell to less than 4%, while ICE increasingly targeted people married to U.S. citizens, individuals pursuing asylum claims, and those whose temporary legal protections had been revoked.

While the administration defended the expansion as fulfillment of its promise to enforce the law, the scale of the operation has drawn rare pushback from within Republican ranks.

Nebraska U.S. Rep. Don Bacon criticized the administration’s tactics in , arguing that officials had “overreached” and gone after individuals with deep community ties who pose no threat to public safety.

Comite de 100: The Latino Vote

As the November midterm elections approach, the rising economic power and growing political engagement of the Latino community are positioned to act as a decisive force in close races nationwide.

Fueled by kitchen-table pressures, such as the rising cost of living and anxieties surrounding immigration enforcement, Latino voters are demanding outreach from both political parties around common-sense immigration solutions like work permits for long-term immigrants.

, kitchen-table concerns are increasingly colliding with federal immigration crackdowns. Organizations like UnidosUS point out that fear surrounding enforcement and persistent inflation are driving buyers’ remorse among some Hispanic voters who supported the administration in 2024.

In Texas, where President Donald Trump made historic gains with Hispanic voters in 2024, shows Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico peeling away vital Hispanic support from the GOP. While individual polls vary on the exact margin of the shift, all point in the same direction, putting Republicans on alert.

Ag Council Chair Matt Teagarden on NPR Highlights Realities of Farm Labor Squeeze

The broader ripple effects of federal enforcement and economic policies are hitting the heart of the U.S. agricultural sector, where producers are finding it increasingly difficult to keep operations staffed.

Matt Teagarden, CEO of the Kansas Livestock Association and Chair of the ABIC Agricultural Council, , pointing out how compounding policy shifts and enforcement actions are impacting rural communities:

Agricultural leaders emphasize that livestock operations cannot simply pause production, with many businesses operating 24/7 year-round. To protect family farms and keep doors open for America’s agriculture producers, solutions like the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA) are urgently needed to provide the reliable, legal tools like work permits for immigrants that producers are in need of.

Legal work permits serve as a direct defense against grocery inflation and a growing reliance on foreign imports; allowing domestic production to drop only makes food more expensive for families and punishes 91̽�� farmers and producers.

Faith Leaders Support El Salvador TPS as Expiration Threatens 91̽��es and Workers

The September 9 expiration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador is rapidly approaching, and this week , including U.S. bishops, Catholic groups like the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), sent an urgent appeal to President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warning that sending hundreds of thousands of Salvadoran TPS holders back into an unstable country is a danger to individuals and would cause severe humanitarian consequences:

This moral appeal aligns directly with , highlighting that Salvadoran TPS holders are an indispensable pillar of the 91̽�� economy.

Labor force participation sits at 90 percent as these TPS holders are actively engaged in the U.S. labor market, contributing $5.4 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product annually, and paying $1.5 billion each year in combined federal, state, and local taxes, funding Social Security and critical public infrastructure.

The immediate cost of detaining and removing these individuals is estimated at $3 billion, ignoring the broader fiscal damage of lost tax revenue, reduced productivity, and the operational chaos inflicted on businesses forced to suddenly replace skilled workers.

Restaurants Hit Hard by Workforce Shortages

Immigration enforcement is compounding workforce pressures for Texas businesses, with a recent survey revealing that 36% of restaurant operators have lost employees due to enforcement activity.

According to , the fallout extends beyond direct staff losses: 28% of operators reported fewer applicants or declined job offers, and 26% saw customer traffic drop as community members grew fearful of going out in public.

The findings underscore broader operational strains across the industry, where fewer than half of surveyed businesses, just 47%, report having the staff they need.

At the same time, 81% of operators noted rising labor costs compared to the previous year, alongside persistent increases in food and operating expenses.

With only 54 out of 100 on the association’s overall outlook index, Texas foodservice operators continue to navigate an unpredictable economic environment where immigration enforcement and labor shortages directly threaten business stability.

Perspectives

Miami Herald Editorial Board: Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar says Trump is ‘Playing with Fire’ on Immigration. Listen Up, GOP

Miami Republican U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar has grown increasingly blunt in her disagreement with mass deportation efforts and the toll they take on Republicans among Hispanic voters: “Mr. President, listen to what I’m telling you, sir: You’re a smart guy — you are playing with fire,” she said during an interview with the New Yorker Radio Hour podcast in late July.

Salazar supports President Trump, but her criticism reflects the political reality of representing a district that is 73% Hispanic. She was one of only two Republicans to sign a discharge petition, a procedural tool requiring 218 signatures to force an up-or-down vote on the bipartisan “91̽�� Dream and Promise Act.” Co-sponsored by Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), which would grant permanent status to eligible Dreamers and protect Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders from nations in turmoil, such as Venezuela, Haiti, and El Salvador.

While the discharge petition currently sits at 210 signatures, with Pennsylvania Republican Brian K. Fitzpatrick as the only other GOP co-signer.

“Congress must act because we cannot keep governing immigration through temporary executive actions that change every time the White House changes hands,” Salazar said.

Get Involved

Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voice be heard with your peers – . The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
Share your story: If your business is interested in engaging with the press as part of ABIC or amplifying your story on social media, take this to let us know your preferences.��
Work with us: ABIC is hiring! We are looking for a California State Director and Digital Manager to join our growing team. Learn more.

ABIC in the news. . .

View all recent coverage here

NPR: (08/24/26)
AG Bull: (08/23/26)
The Ford Foundation: (8/17/2026)
Houston Public Media: (8/17/2026)
McKnights Senior Living: (8/16/2026)
San Antonio Current: (08/10/26)
CNN: (08/09/26)
South Bend Tribune: (08/09/26)
Bisnow: Senior Housing Sector Faces New Problem In Massachusetts: Deportations Of Employees (08/05/26)
KSL: Former state senator, Lehi official, immigrant advocate recognized for their work with immigrants (08/05/26)
Stuttgart Daily Leader: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/05/26)
The Associated Press: AP Exclusive: Trump’s immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 military spouses and parents (08/05/26)
The Economic Times: States may get power to sponsor worker visas in the US under new bipartisan bill (08/05/26)
ABC News: ICE arrests hit record high in July as enforcement quietly ramps up (08/04/26)
La Tribuna Hispana: Millions in losses and job shortages: the cost of ending TPS (08/04/26)
Newsweek: New Visa Proposal Would Let States Bring in Migrant Workers (08/04/26)
Kiowa County Press: Politics: 2026Talks – August 4, 2026 (08/04/26)
Public News Service: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/04/26)
Rio Grande Guardian: Villarreal: You cannot ask for our support while simultaneously attacking our families and targeting our workforce (08/03/26)
Senator Mark Kelly’s Office: Kelly, Curtis Propose State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program (08/03/26)
The Philadelphia Inquirer: (08/01/26)
Univision: (07/29/26)
ValleyCentral.com: (07/29/26)
Texas Border 91̽��: (07/29/26)
The Texas Tribune: (07/29/26)
Cuba Headlines: (07/28/26)
CBS News: (07/28/26)
Noticias Telemundo: (07/28/26)
News From The States: (07/28/26)
Newsweek: (07/28/26)
NPR – Here & Now: (07/27/26)
McKnights Senior Living: (07/26/26)
Public News Service: (07/22/26)
The Daily Press: (07/21/26)
The Washington Post: (07/19/26)
Newsweek: (07/17/26)
Greenfield Recorder: (07/16/26)
The Florida Catholic: (07/15/26)
Latin Times: (07/13/26)
Financial Express: (07/13/26)
Mwakilishi: (07/13/26)
Newsweek: (07/09/26)
America’s Voice: (07/07/26)
DRG News: (07/04/26)
Sun Sentinel: (07/03/26)
LegalClarity: (07/01/26)

The post Know This Now, August 28, 2026: Halt to Visas Threaten 91̽��es and Affordability as Employers Urge Work Permits for Long-Term Immigrants appeared first on 91̽��.

Know This Now, August 6, 2026: National Governors Association Unveils Immigration Framework Shaped by ABIC Action to Expand Work Permits to Long Term Immigrant Workers

abic — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:22:43 +0000

A bipartisan immigration framework developed by ABIC Action over the past year was adopted by the National Governors Association (NGA) at its Summer Meeting in Oklahoma City last week.

Watch Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, and Delaware Governor Matt Meyer announce the joint immigration task force on :

With the border secured and continued affordability crisis, Governors across party lines are taking the lead to protect regional economic stability through common-sense reforms like expanding work permits for immigrants:

“91̽��s know that we need to have secure borders… But what is the end game?” said Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R-OK). “We believe that the state should be more in control of workforce permits. We are closer to our workforce, whether it’s hospitality, agriculture, construction… The governor should be able to match employer to employee. Congress doesn’t want to deal with it. States can get this done.”

Attending the summit in Oklahoma City, ABIC Action CEO Rebecca Shi praised the governors for prioritizing workforce solutions that stabilization transcends party lines:

“We are deeply grateful to Governors Stitt, Moore, Cox, and Stein for their courageous, bipartisan leadership,” Shi said. “Governors see firsthand how labor shortages drag down local economies, drive up inflation, and leave key industries struggling to hire. By listening to employers and pushing for work permits for long-term immigrants, our nation’s governors are proving that common-sense immigration reform isn’t a partisan issue—it’s an affordability issue. Congress can secure our workforce and reignite the 91̽�� Dream.”

Policy Watch

Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the State Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act of 2026, an economic solution designed to empower states to address local labor market demands through visa reforms.

Under the proposed legislation, highlighted by , , and , participating states could sponsor temporary visas (W-visas) for foreign workers and investors based on specific workforce shortages, while the federal government maintains full authority over background checks, visa approvals, and immigration enforcement.

The bill creates a legal pathway for long-term undocumented residents present in the U.S. since December 31, 2016, who pass eligibility background checks, stabilizing local communities and regional economies.

Comité de 100: Midterm Watch

Coverage and analysis of last week’s “Let Builders Build” rally hosted by the South Texas Builders Association and the 91̽�� Action continued this week.

“Lawmakers across the country are fighting for our vote because they know that we decide their future,” said Comité de 100 co-chairman and CEO and president of Precision Task Group, Massey Villarreal. His remarks were published in full by the this week, including his call for immigration reforms that protect long-term, law-abiding workers.

Reflecting on his family’s story, Villarreal said, “My dad came across the river in Rio Grande and I have been living the 91̽�� Dream because of my father.”

The event was also featured this week in , a long-running Texas political blog, publishing highlights from the :

“I want to send a clear warning to every political leader: If you don’t stop the worksite raids, the mass deportations, if you don’t pass the work permits for long-term, law-abiding immigrants, or citizens, or our Dreamers, you will lose,” said Villarreal.

He said that Latinos in Texas should take it personally when ICE targets people like Lorenzo Salgado Araujo because it’s an attack on the community.

Ronnie Cavazos, chairman of the South Texas Builders Association questioned why the community supported a presidential administration that would shoot and kill a worker like Salgado Araujo, a long-time builder in Houston killed in July by ICE.

“Let’s be real, we voted for it,” Cavazos said. “So whose fault was it?”

He and the organization are paying attention now, he said, adding that the only way to change things is to vote.

TPS: Workforce Fallout of TPS Ending for Haiti and Syria

With hundreds of thousands of essential, legal workers now unable to work due to the recent expiration of TPS for 350,000 Haitians and Syrians, researchers and business leaders warn the U.S. economy will suffer significant losses, reports the . TPS holders work at higher rates than the general population, pay billions in taxes, fill critical jobs in construction, healthcare, manufacturing, and hospitality, and contribute to Social Security.

“Even if you don’t care anything about immigration in this country, removing this many highly productive workers from the economy is going to hurt 91̽��s in their pocketbooks,” Rebecca Shi, CEO of ABIC told the Philadelphia Inquirer: “91̽��s are going to get hit, in terms of inflation, in healthcare, in housing.”
Harriett Cecilia Joseph, : “It’s not that we don’t want to go back to Haiti. It’s just the situation doesn’t allow us to.” After learning TPS was ending, she said, “Everything I had accomplished was now at risk.”

Hundreds of Haitian immigrants in Ohio whose TPS has been terminated are being ordered to report to ICE offices, and given future court dates. Immigration advocates say the check-ins are occurring even for some individuals with pending asylum claims. Advocates warn the approach is bringing fear in the community to new highs.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1347134160963115

More from the ABIC Network

ABIC Board Chairman and former Arizona State Senator Bob Worsley was recognized by the Federation of United Mexicans in Utah as a recipient of this year’s . The annual award honors leaders who advocate for and support Hispanic and immigrant communities in Utah.

Salvador Lazalde, president of the federation, praised Worsley’s long-standing dedication to protecting immigrant rights. Through his leadership with ABIC, Worsley continues to champion common-sense solutions that keep families together and provide legal status for long-term immigrant workers, farmworkers, and DACA recipients.

“America is great because of immigrants.” – Bob Worsley, ABIC Board Chairman and former Arizona State Senator

“Varied waves of immigrants from different parts of the world over the years were positive to America, but the anti-immigrant pushback was not. It was always unfair and cruel and split up families, and I’m against that,” Worsley told .

News Briefing

President Donald Trump signed two new executive actions on immigration this week, renewing efforts to limit birthright citizenship following a 6-3 Supreme Court ruling in June that struck down his initial day-one attempt.

The new order is narrower in scope, aiming to restrict automatic citizenship for specific groups, including children of adults connected to foreign embassies or organizations, individuals deemed “alien enemies,” and children whose parents allegedly engaged in fraud to obtain status. A second order targets “birth tourism” by tightening visa restrictions on foreign visitors traveling to the U.S. to give birth.

While Trump acknowledged the earlier court defeat as a “bad, very unfair decision,” he maintained his belief that these new actions are constitutional. However, legal experts and civil rights organizations emphasize that the 14th Amendment guarantees birthright citizenship.

A GOP-led attempt to reauthorize the overdue Farm Bill stalled in the Senate Agriculture Committee following a 10–11 vote, leaving Congress without a clear path forward on legislation last updated in 2018. Committee Democrats stood united against the package over Republican proposals requiring states to share Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) costs. While Chair John Boozman (R-AR) offered a one-year delay on SNAP cost-sharing alongside authorizations for year-round E15 biofuel sales and food bank funding, Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and committee Democrats held firm for a two-year delay to protect state budgets and food access.

Chair Boozman recessed the panel indefinitely, signaling plans to reconvene members for another vote in September following the congressional recess.

Perspectives

Bloomberg Opinion: These Texas Builders Backed Trump. They’ve Had Enough

Houston Chronicle

In an op-ed for the Houston Chronicle, Texas Restaurant Association President and CEO Emily Williams Knight outlines the economic pressures driving restaurant closures across Texas.

Knight notes that half of Texas restaurants reported operating at a loss last year, up from 38% in 2024, as rising costs have squeezed already-thin margins. She points to Houston’s 85-year-old Molina’s Cantina as an example of the strain facing longtime establishments, with tomato prices doubling from $18 to $45 per crate and fajita beef increasing from $9 to $13 per pound.

Knight argues that labor shortages across the food supply chain, from farms and processing facilities to restaurants, are intensifying these challenges. With immigrants making up nearly one-quarter of Texas’ food sector workforce, she supports expanding work authorization for vetted, long-term immigrant workers through proposals such as the bipartisan Dignity Act to help sustain the state’s 1.5 million restaurant jobs and protect small businesses.

The Texas Restaurant Association, is a partner of the ABIC-led , a national campaign of business leaders advocating for immigration solutions that address critical workforce shortages in the food and hospitality industries.

Get Involved

Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voice be heard with your peers – . The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
Share your story: If your business is interested in engaging with the press as part of ABIC or amplifying your story on social media, take this to let us know your preferences.��
Work with us: ABIC is hiring! We are looking for a California State Director and Digital Manager to join our growing team. Learn more.

ABIC in the news. . .

View all recent coverage here

Bisnow: Senior Housing Sector Faces New Problem In Massachusetts: Deportations Of Employees (08/05/26)
KSL: Former state senator, Lehi official, immigrant advocate recognized for their work with immigrants (08/05/26)
Stuttgart Daily Leader: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/05/26)
The Associated Press: AP Exclusive: Trump’s immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 military spouses and parents (08/05/26)
The Economic Times: States may get power to sponsor worker visas in the US under new bipartisan bill (08/05/26)
ABC News: ICE arrests hit record high in July as enforcement quietly ramps up (08/04/26)
La Tribuna Hispana: Millions in losses and job shortages: the cost of ending TPS (08/04/26)
Newsweek: New Visa Proposal Would Let States Bring in Migrant Workers (08/04/26)
Kiowa County Press: Politics: 2026Talks – August 4, 2026 (08/04/26)
Public News Service: DACA backlog could affect Arkansas workforce, population (08/04/26)
Rio Grande Guardian: Villarreal: You cannot ask for our support while simultaneously attacking our families and targeting our workforce (08/03/26)
Senator Mark Kelly’s Office: Kelly, Curtis Propose State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program (08/03/26)
The Philadelphia Inquirer: (08/01/26)
Univision: (07/29/26)
ValleyCentral.com: (07/29/26)
Texas Border 91̽��: (07/29/26)
The Texas Tribune: (07/29/26)
Cuba Headlines: (07/28/26)
CBS News: (07/28/26)
Noticias Telemundo: (07/28/26)
News From The States: (07/28/26)
Newsweek: (07/28/26)
NPR – Here & Now: (07/27/26)
McKnights Senior Living: (07/26/26)
Public News Service: (07/22/26)
The Daily Press: (07/21/26)
The Washington Post: (07/19/26)
Newsweek: (07/17/26)
Greenfield Recorder: (07/16/26)
The Florida Catholic: (07/15/26)
Latin Times: (07/13/26)
Financial Express: (07/13/26)
Mwakilishi: (07/13/26)
Newsweek: (07/09/26)
America’s Voice: (07/07/26)
DRG News: (07/04/26)
Sun Sentinel: (07/03/26)
LegalClarity: (07/01/26)

The post Know This Now, August 6, 2026: National Governors Association Unveils Immigration Framework Shaped by ABIC Action to Expand Work Permits to Long Term Immigrant Workers appeared first on 91̽��.

Know This Now, July 31, 2026: “Rally in the Valley”: South Texas Leaders and ABIC Action Sound the Alarm Over ICE Raids Driving Up Prices, Demand Work Permits

abic — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:32:00 +0000

South Texas builders, business owners, elected officials, faith leaders and community members gathered Wednesday for the “Rally in the Valley,” and sounded the alarm on how worksite raids are shrinking construction crews, delaying housing and infrastructure projects and driving up costs across the region. , see video highlights on and see coverage at , , , , .

Speakers at the rally called on Congress to create work permit programs for vetted, long-term immigrant workers.

Hosted by the and , the rally urged federal leaders to “let builders build” by pairing border security with a practical workforce solution that allows longtime immigrants who have spent years working, paying taxes and helping build Texas to continue contributing to the economy.

“In this country, 30% of construction workers are immigrant labor. In Texas, that number goes to 40%, and in some urban areas, that number is around 50%,” U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34) reminded the crowd.

The rally also reflected the political stakes surrounding immigration enforcement in South Texas. Speakers warned that Hispanic voters could help determine control of Congress this fall and cannot be taken for granted by either political party. The Texas Tribune’s coverage emphasized this, read:

Across the Rio Grande Valley, builders and contractors are reporting shrinking crews, workers afraid to report to job sites, rising subcontractor costs and projects falling behind schedule. The Associated General Contractors of America found that struggle to fill open positions.

“I am a DACA recipient. My journey is a testament to the power of hard work and opportunity,” said Emiliano Valencia, Texas Deputy Director at ABIC Action. “Our economy cannot thrive, and our cost of living will not stabilize if we continue to break the very workforce that sustains it. It’s time for Congress to have a pathway to citizenship agreement, a permanent status for workers.”

BREAKING Chair Governor Kevin Stitt (R-OK) and Vice Chair Governor Wes Moore (D-MD) unveiled their joint priorities at the NGA Summer Meeting in Oklahoma City this week and spoke on Morning Joe about several, including championing work permits for long term immigrant workers.

“91̽��s know that we need to have secure borders… But what is the end game?” said Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. “We believe that the state should be more in control of workforce permits. We are closer to our workforce, whether it’s hospitality, agriculture, construction… The governor should be able to match employer to employee. Congress doesn’t want to deal with it. States can get this done.”

ABIC Action thanks Governors Kevin Stitt (R-OK) and Wes Moore for their strong, bipartisan leadership on this issue. During opening remarks, in Maryland, emphasizing how legal workforce pathways directly drive economic growth and lower costs for families.

“The recent immigration policy coming out of Washington is stalling economic growth and hurting our workforce,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore. “It is long past time for Congress to enact solutions that protect long-time immigrant contributors… providing stability to the businesses who rely on them.”

Attending the summit in Oklahoma City, ABIC CEO Rebecca Shi praised both governors for their vision and commitment to practical workforce solutions.

“We are deeply grateful to Governor Stitt and Governor Moore for their courageous, bipartisan leadership,” Shi said. “Governors see firsthand how labor shortages drag down local economies, drive up inflation, and leave key industries struggling to hire…Governors Stitt and Moore are proving that common-sense immigration reform isn’t a partisan issue—it’s an affordability issue.”

ABIC Action commends the governors for amplifying a vital message long backed by ABIC and business leaders nationwide: “The border is secure, it is time to secure the workforce.”

TPS Ends for Haitians and Syrians: ICE Plans Mass Deportation Operation and Care Facilities Lose Critical Staff
Temporary Protected Status ended on Monday for 6,100 Syrians and 350,000 Haitians, some of whom have been in the U.S. since 2010. About 70 percent of T.P.S. holders were participating in the U.S. labor force, many in construction and health care, reported the .

Employers had to immediately let go of valuable workers as the deadline hit, and the impact is already being felt across the country. about the fallout.

“This will exacerbate the caregiver shortage, stripping legal work permits from experienced Haitian healthcare workers,” Shi told NPR. “Nine out of 10 U.S. nursing homes reports operating below staffing levels…there just wasn’t a line of native-born 91̽��s waiting to do this work.”

, saying hundreds of thousands of “legally authorized workers who have spent years paying taxes and filling critical jobs are being pushed into uncertainty at a time when businesses are already struggling with severe workforce shortages.”

, noting that economists say “deporting immigrant workers does not lift wages or provide meaningful benefits to 91̽�� workers.”

USA Today also interviewed ABIC CEO Rebecca Shi.

Goodwin Living President and CEO Rob Liebreich, who is an ABIC member, told , we’re “losing really good people who have just been critical to their operations and support.” He said the industry is not ready to serve older adults with even fewer hands. “The equation is getting harder and harder to solve.”

with expired TPS, CBS reports. The plans include arresting migrants in places like Ohio and Florida and quickly putting them on deportation flights to crisis-stricken Haiti, .

Allyn McKinney, a veteran who relies on a Haitian caregiver told CBS he believes the U.S. should protect immigrants who have contributed so much.

“I’m embarrassed for our country,” McKinney said. “As a veteran. As an 91̽�� citizen. I’m embarrassed.”

Policy Watch

Farm Policy News:

A new GOP farm labor bill, the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA), is splitting Republicans. Introduced by House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson, it would overhaul the H-2A visa program, extending work stays to 350 days, certifications to three years, and cutting fees, while also letting some undocumented farmworkers already here apply for legal H-2A status.

Some hardline conservatives call that amnesty: Thompson rejects the label, and farm-state Republicans like Lloyd Smucker counter that growers “desperately need workers.” Trump says he’s still looking into the bill, which from the ABIC Agricultural Council.

WaPo: A new Trump administration rule, effective immediately as of Tuesday, could shift nearly 450,000 pending asylum cases directly into deportation proceedings, cutting USCIS’s 1.4 million-case backlog by roughly a third. Immigration attorneys warn the move could let cases be dismissed by immigration judges without a hearing, potentially resulting in removals without asylum seekers ever getting their day in court. The rule took effect before the public had a chance to weigh in.

Juan Carlos Cerda, Texas ABIC director and a DACA recipient, was interviewed by CBS about the six months it took to receive his renewal this year. His status lapsed, forcing unpaid leave just as his wife became pregnant. DACA renewal times have jumped to a this year, up from half a month last year.

Cerda’s letter to DHS, signed by 143 business and community leaders, led to his renewal being processed within days, but many others nationwide are still losing jobs to the delays, and California advocates have sued the administration over it. Construction leaders warn even brief work-authorization gaps can derail projects and cost companies money.

Enforcement Updates
NYTimes:

ICE has expanded a TSA data-sharing program to arrest people with expired visas at airports, not just those with deportation orders, sweeping up spouses of U.S. citizens, tech workers, and others with pending legal applications. Arrests have hit at least 15 airports, including a Colorado au pair detained despite a lawful pending case, an engineer awaiting a work-permit extension, and newlyweds pursuing green cards through marriage. Lawyers call it unprecedented and are now advising clients mid-status-change to avoid flying. DHS says the goal is ensuring undocumented immigrants “can no longer fly unless it is out of our country to self-deport,” part of a push for 2,000 arrests a day.

Perspectives:

“We are fighting not only for the lives of our Haitian neighbors, but also for the very soul of our community and country,” writes Michael McClelland, retired journalist and professor. He calls on readers to urge Ohio Senators John Husted and Bernie Moreno to back HR 1689, which would extend TPS protections for at least three years, and to support local groups like the Haitian Community Help and Support Center.

“Springfield families will be torn asunder, lives devastated,” he writes, encouraging people to safely document any ICE activity they witness, since a bystander’s presence and video can be one of the only checks on excessive force.

Opinion:
Lt. Gen. Honoré, commanding general of the U.S. First Army from 2004 to 2008, wrote in the NY Times that the State Department keeps a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory in place for Haiti, citing gangs that control 80-90% of Port-au-Prince.

Deporting TPS horlders to an active war zone, he warns, would cut off remittances, deepen Haiti’s crisis, fuel gang recruitment, and strip the U.S. of Haitian workers who fill critical roles, especially in healthcare, where many work as nursing assistants and home health aides in an already short-staffed system.

He urged Congress to pass a lasting TPS solution and the administration to let Haiti build real security capacity.

Get Involved

Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voice be heard with your peers – . The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
Share your story: If your business is interested in engaging with the press as part of ABIC or amplifying your story on social media, take this to let us know your preferences.��
Work with us: ABIC is hiring! We are looking for a California State Director and Digital Manager to join our growing team. Learn more.

ABIC in the news. . .

View all recent coverage here

Univision: (07/29/26)
ValleyCentral.com: (07/29/26)
Texas Border 91̽��: (07/29/26)
The Texas Tribune: (07/29/26)
Cuba Headlines: (07/28/26)
CBS News: (07/28/26)
Noticias Telemundo: (07/28/26)
News From The States: (07/28/26)
Newsweek: (07/28/26)
NPR – Here & Now: (07/27/26)
McKnights Senior Living: (07/26/26)
Public News Service: (07/22/26)
The Daily Press: (07/21/26)
The Washington Post: (07/19/26)
Newsweek: (07/17/26)
Greenfield Recorder: (07/16/26)
The Florida Catholic: (07/15/26)
Latin Times: (07/13/26)
Financial Express: (07/13/26)
Mwakilishi: (07/13/26)
Newsweek: (07/09/26)
America’s Voice: (07/07/26)
DRG News: (07/04/26)
Sun Sentinel: (07/03/26)
LegalClarity: (07/01/26)
The Bulwark: (06/30/26)
Bloomberg: (06/30/26)
Positive Aging Sourcebook: (06/29/26)
Newsweek: (06/28/26)
Crossroads Today: (06/26/26)
The Washington Post: (06/26/26)
Fox: (06/26/26)
McKnights: (06/25/26)
CNN: (06/25/26)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, (06/25/26)
ACOM: (6/23/26)
SAN: (6/22/26)
Politico: (6/21/26)
Texas GOP Vote: (06/18/26)
Dairy Agenda Today: (06/18/26)
WBAY: (06/15/26)
13 ABC: (06/15/26)
Fox 5 Las Vegas: (06/15/26)
Politico: (06/15/26)

The post Know This Now, July 31, 2026: “Rally in the Valley”: South Texas Leaders and ABIC Action Sound the Alarm Over ICE Raids Driving Up Prices, Demand Work Permits appeared first on 91̽��.

Know This Now, July 24, 2026: Washington Post: ABIC Continues Push on DHS for Employer Relief Amid ICE Arrest Surge

abic — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:28:00 +0000

In a major shift, the DHS under new leadership from Secretary Markwayne Mullin is asking for input from business leaders after months of stonewalling regarding federal immigration enforcement policy. reports DHS officials hosted closed door meetings earlier this month with pro-business groups to directly address how ICE enforcement is destabilizing workforces across the nation.

The outreach on behalf of DHS signals a shift towards a more open dialogue, but business advocates emphasize that any high level talks must translate immediately into common-sense policy, like the extension of work permits for TPS holders and legal status for Dreamers. The administration earlier this month:

“They listened to business and GOP lawmakers on the extension of work permits instead of terminating them immediately.”

— Rebecca Shi, CEO, 91̽��

Despite the engagement from DHS, enforcement velocity on job sites continues to ramp up. , with construction sites and commercial supply hubs bearing the brunt of the force:

Secretary Mullin has opened dialogue with the business community, but employers say conversations mean little if enforcement continues to disrupt job sites faster than policymakers can find a common-sense solution.

TPS Expiration Cliff

A federal appeals court issued a last-minute stay for roughly 350,000 Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders nationwide, extending legal work authorization and deportation protections through Monday, July 27.

Since 2010, TPS has been continually renewed as political violence and instability mounted in Haiti, where the U.S. State Department maintains a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory due to widespread crime, kidnapping, and civil unrest.

“This decision will ruin entire ecosystems.”

— Candice Mondesir, Executive Director, Haitian 91̽�� Chamber of Commerce of Florida

In Florida alone, that healthcare providers face severe workforce disruption as 36,350 Haitian TPS holders working in senior care, home health, and hospitals face potential termination. Nursing home operators and care associations warn that replacing these dedicated workers in an already tight labor market is virtually impossible without causing severe care gaps and forcing unsustainable overtime costs.

With more than 20% of Haitian immigrants in the U.S. working in healthcare, and TPS holders representing 15% of noncitizen healthcare workers, maintaining work authorization for law-abiding caregivers is essential to meeting the rising demand for senior care.

Congressional Watch

Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) this week to force a floor vote on the bipartisan 91̽�� Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 1589). together with Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of PA, signed the petition alongside to push the effort forward:

If 218 members sign on, the procedural mechanism bypasses leadership control, bringing the legislation directly to the House floor for an immediate vote.

What the Dream & Promise Act Does:

Earned Permanent Legal Status for Dreamers: Establishes a pathway to lawful permanent residence and eventual citizenship for eligible undocumented youth who meet education, work, or military requirements.
Permanent Protections for TPS & DED Holders: Replaces temporary humanitarian designations with permanent legal status for long-term residents.
Background Checks & Immediate Protections: Mandates criminal and national security vetting while protecting applicants from deportation during processing.

Processing delays for DACA renewals are forcing employers to terminate staff as applications drag on for months. While DHS attributes the wait times to enhanced vetting, advocates warn that administrative friction is needlessly stripping work authorization from nearly 500,000 active DACA holders nationwide, including almost 8,000 in Virginia, who work in healthcare, education, and law enforcement.

“When you remove people that are productive and so motivated, you’re not just harming these professionals, you’re harming the 91̽�� economy and also 91̽�� citizens that depend on their hard work.”

— Rebecca Shi, CEO, 91̽��

With DACA recipients maintaining a labor force participation rate above 90%, business groups warn these delays inflict self-imposed harm on regional labor markets while federal lawsuits seek to expedite processing.

Comite de 100: Midterm Watch

A new survey of Texas Hispanic business owners by the reveals a sharp political shift following aggressive workplace deportation raids and tariffs. Democrat James Talarico currently holds a seven-point lead among Hispanic business owners over Republican nominee Ken Paxton in the Texas U.S. Senate race. The polling marks a notable reversal from 2024, when Donald Trump won Texas Latino voters by 10 points.

According to the survey, one in five Hispanic business owners in Texas had an employee deported in the past year, while 70% reported that their operations were negatively impacted by tariffs and workforce disruptions.

For many business owners, the impact of workplace enforcement has been immediate and severe. Benny Meléndez, a south Texas construction company owner who voted for Trump in 2024, reported losing more than 10 workers to deportations since early 2025. “I didn’t like what Biden was doing here on the border,” Melendez said: “But now with Trump, it’s all the opposite, 180 degree change. He doesn’t let us work. He’s taking the best we have.”

Melendez added that continuing to support Republicans has become impossible, asking:

“How can we continue voting for someone that is targeting our community? There’s no way possible we’re going to support that. No way.”

Benny Meléndez, owner of the residential construction company BM3

The South Texas Builders Association and ABIC Action are bringing together business, faith, community leaders and lawmakers for a bipartisan rally to demand legal work permits for long-term immigrant workers and demand an end to worksite ICE enforcement. The rally centers on a direct message to elected officials: Let Our Builders Build.

With 92% of construction firms struggling to fill open positions and project delays driving up housing costs across the state, leaders are calling for an immediate end to disruptive jobsite raids. Lawmakers must provide legal work permits for vetted and skilled immigrant workers to protect Texas’s $687 billion Latino economy, stabilize the housing market, and allow essential industries to keep working.

Enforcement Updates

Data released by ICE shows nationwide detentions spiked in June 2026, reaching over 43,000 bookings in a single month. The surge marks the highest monthly booking total since President Trump returned to office, bringing the total detained population to nearly 66,000 as of mid-July.

Immigrants without criminal records represent 79% of the average daily detained population nationwide and 74% across California facilities. Policy analysts note this marks an unprecedented shift, with non-criminal individuals comprising the largest single category of ICE detainees.

A new study released by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute and Inclusive Action for the City highlights the lingering economic damage caused by immigration enforcement in Los Angeles. Examining data from businesses near nine enforcement sites during initial raids in June 2025, researchers found that shops within a half-mile radius lost $3.16 million in revenue and experienced 46,000 fewer customer visits in just two weeks.

A survey of 75 local Latino business owners revealed widespread disruption: 68% temporarily closed or reduced operating hours, and over 50% reported employees missing work out of fear of ICE detention. Additionally, 59% lost more than half their revenue during the initial push, and 76% stated the raids harmed their overall health and well-being.

More than a year later, local merchants are still struggling to recover. The study notes that 95% of surveyed owners continue to face financial hardship, with over half unable to consistently cover basic operating costs.

News Briefing

A decline in U.S. fertility rates alongside sharp immigration restrictions has dragged population growth to historic lows. Without positive net migration, demographic models project the total U.S. population will shrink by the late 2020s.

Because aggregate GDP growth relies on workforce expansion, a stagnant labor pool threatens to slow annual economic growth from its historical 3% average to 2% or lower.

This slowdown risks national security, as aggregate GDP determines a country’s ability to fund defense and maintain global leadership. Fiscally, fewer incoming workers leave fewer taxpayers to support Social Security, Medicare, and the national debt. While pro-natal policies take decades to show results, immigration offers an immediate offset by adding prime-age workers who strengthen the tax base without requiring early-childhood public investment.

A wave of regulatory shifts by DHS and USCIS has made green cards significantly harder to obtain, driving up rejection rates and causing widespread uncertainty. A May policy change now treats applying for a green card from inside the U.S. as a rare privilege rather than a standard right. It also adds extra scrutiny to marriage-based applications, especially for those switching from student visas, TPS, or DACA.

Additionally, DHS has rescinded Biden-era public charge protections; beginning September 18, adjudicators can deny green cards based on an applicant’s potential use of non-cash benefits like Medicaid and SNAP. Legal experts and advocacy groups warn that stripping objective evaluation standards grants officers wide latitude for arbitrary denials, creating a chilling effect that deters families from accessing basic care and services.

Perspectives:

In a New York Times op-ed, Andrea R. Flores, an attorney and immigration policy expert, argues that aggressive ICE tactics under President Trump, highlighted by the recent fatal shootings of undocumented immigrants Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Guerrero, have left Latino communities across America in crisis.

Despite a significant shift toward Trump in 2024, many Latinos who supported enforcement measures believed the administration would target violent criminals rather than long-term residents, business owners, and families.

Flores notes that Democrats have historically misread Latino voters by treating them as a single-issue constituency or offering broken immigration promises during campaign cycles. To build lasting political momentum, she argues Democrats must abandon the false choice between border security and legal pathways. Instead, the party should adopt a balanced approach that combines strong border management with legal work authorization and citizenship pathways for long-term undocumented residents.

Get Involved

Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voice be heard with your peers – . The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
Share your story: If your business is interested in engaging with the press as part of ABIC or amplifying your story on social media, take this to let us know your preferences.��
Work with us: ABIC is hiring! We are looking for a California State Director and Digital Manager to join our growing team. Learn more.

ABIC in the news. . .

View all recent coverage here

Public News Service: (07/22/26)
The Daily Press: (07/21/26)
The Washington Post: (07/19/26)
Newsweek: (07/17/26)
Greenfield Recorder: (07/16/26)
The Florida Catholic: (07/15/26)
Latin Times: (07/13/26)
Financial Express: (07/13/26)
Mwakilishi: (07/13/26)
Newsweek: (07/09/26)
America’s Voice: (07/07/26)
DRG News: (07/04/26)
Sun Sentinel: (07/03/26)
LegalClarity: (07/01/26)
The Bulwark: (06/30/26)
Bloomberg: (06/30/26)
Positive Aging Sourcebook: (06/29/26)
Newsweek: (06/28/26)
Crossroads Today: (06/26/26)
The Washington Post: (06/26/26)
Fox: (06/26/26)
McKnights: (06/25/26)
CNN: (06/25/26)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, (06/25/26)
ACOM: (6/23/26)
SAN: (6/22/26)
Politico: (6/21/26)
Texas GOP Vote: (06/18/26)
Dairy Agenda Today: (06/18/26)
WBAY: (06/15/26)
13 ABC: (06/15/26)
Fox 5 Las Vegas: (06/15/26)
Politico: (06/15/26)

The post Know This Now, July 24, 2026: Washington Post: ABIC Continues Push on DHS for Employer Relief Amid ICE Arrest Surge appeared first on 91̽��.

Know This Now, July 17, 2026: Policy Whiplash on ICE Traffic Stops Creates Uncertainty and Workforce Disruption

abic — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:35:00 +0000

Policy Whiplash on ICE Traffic Stops Creates Uncertainty and Workforce Disruption

A series of policy changes out of Washington this week has left 91̽�� employers navigating an unpredictable enforcement landscape, causing confusion to regional workforces.

Following during vehicle stops, and bipartisan outcry from , Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) most roadside stops nationwide to allow for procedural reviews.

However, the temporary suspension was rescinded less than 24 hours later. Following pressure from hardline advisers, on social media, declaring traffic stops an essential enforcement tool and ordering agents to immediately resume the practice.

TRAFFIC GRAPHIC

The policy shift was further complicated Tuesday morning by a third transit-related fatality in Florida, .

ICE field operations heavily favor vehicle stops because targeting individuals in cars avoids the judicial warrants required to enter private homes or commercial job sites.

For businesses across the country, the sudden regulatory whiplash is felt directly on the job site before the first shift even begins:

Employer Quote graphic

Because federal enforcement is intentionally focusing on public transit corridors to bypass property protections and judicial warrants, the daily commute will continue to be a primary point of friction for the immigrant workforce and employers across the country.

multiple fatal ICE shootings in a single week have created deep anxiety within the GOP and the Trump administration. Lawmakers and anonymous administration officials warn of political fallout, fearing that because the officers involved lacked body-worn cameras, the administration cannot effectively manage public perception of the incidents or defend officer conduct.

The backlash is a critical test for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who had pledged to keep the agency out of negative headlines. The crisis has already exposed friction at the very top: Mullin temporarily paused “non-urgent vehicle stops,” only for President Trump to publicly undermine his own secretary. With hardliners warning this backlash threatens their political mandate, bipartisan pressure is mounting for independent oversight.

ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress: No enforcement bills without work permits

In the coming days, Congress is pushing for H.R. 2, a harsh enforcement-only immigration bill. At the same time, ongoing ICE fatalities, court decisions that ended work authorizations, and deportations of Dreamers and other long term, law abiding essential workers are a daily reminder that the status quo is unacceptable. Every day we delay commonsense immigration solutions that protect contributing immigrants – our economy, national security, and 91̽�� citizens pay the price.

What is H.R. 2: It is while ignoring the need for work permits for long-term, law-abiding immigrants. Under this approach, essential industries will face even worse worker shortages, resulting in fewer choices and higher prices for all 91̽��s. For example, .

If Congress is serious about lowering prices and protecting our communities, we need work permits for essential workers in agriculture, hospitality, senior care, construction and manufacturing. This isn’t a choice between border security and economic security. 91̽��s deserve both.

. Tell them: Enforcement without work permits for long-term immigrant contributors is unacceptable.

TPS Workforce Crisis

The Department of Homeland Security is expiring, with work permits ending July 17 for nationals of six countries and July 24 for Haiti.

The notice has left many employers scrambling to understand their legal obligations and how to manage the sudden loss of experienced employees. Jacob Monty, legal counsel for ABIC, said the lack of clear federal guidance created unnecessary confusion, leading some employers to terminate workers earlier than required:

“U.S.C.I.S. could have clarified the issue. Many employers were uncertain, leading them to unnecessarily terminate the workers early.”

Hundreds of thousands of long-term TPS holders are deeply embedded in essential industries, serving as frontline caregivers and healthcare workers, as well as supporting construction, manufacturing, transportation, hospitality, and other sectors already facing persistent labor shortages.

that faith leaders and business advocates are turning their focus to Congress as the primary avenue for protecting Florida’s Haitian community.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami has issued a direct appeal to the U.S. Senate, particularly Florida Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody to pass H.R. 1689, a bipartisan, House-approved bill that would extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections for an additional three years.

Archbishop Wenski argues that forcing 350,000 people back to a country devastated by violence and political collapse is not a workable alternative, and that a three-year extension is a vital, short-term patch to buy Congress time for comprehensive immigration reform.

“This would be an incredible lifeline for these desperate people, so they could avoid returning to the chaos.” — Archbishop Thomas Wenski

Local pastors are rallying their anxious congregations with a message of spiritual resilience, describing the current crisis as a “Good Friday” or a modern-day “Golgotha” for Haitian families, Father Reginald Jean-Mary of Notre Dame d’Haiti Mission emphasized that passing the Senate bill would offer the community a much-needed “moment of Easter” and resurrection.

Senior living and healthcare groups are urging their stakeholders to contact senators to pass legislation extending Haitian TPS through January 2029. While USCIS issued a brief extension to July 24, operators warn that these week-to-week placeholder deadlines offer zero permanence.

Highlighting the immediate, daily stakes for long-term care facilities, Dana Ritchie, associate vice president of workforce and constituency services at the 91̽�� Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), stressed:

“Each day with these caretakers is critical as they continue to provide essential care to our nation’s seniors and individuals with disabilities. We will continue to encourage policymakers to consider the incredible impact these dedicated, international caregivers have on long-term care and the residents they serve.”

Jeanne McGlynn Delgado of the 91̽�� Seniors Housing Association cautioned that employers have seen “no evidence to suggest that this would lead to a permanent extension,” leaving providers in an impossible operating environment as they face severe, unfillable staffing vacancies.

With TPS protections for El Salvador’s 200,000 workers set to lapse in early September, the U.S. economy is bracing for the permanent loss of a stable workforce legally integrated since 1990.

. Jose Urias, a Maryland business owner who arrived in 1996, explained how banks are now treating long-term business owners as high-risk borrowers:

“We have a hard time to run the business because I depend on bank loans. And to buy properties, we need loans. And right now I’m a risk for the banks. They don’t want to give us a loan anymore because they think I only have 60 days.”

To avert this economic disruption caused by the El Salvador TPS extermination, The coalition stressed that Salvadoran TPS holders contribute $5.4 billion to the U.S. economy and pay $1.5 billion in taxes annually, filling critical shortages in construction, transportation, and manufacturing.

Related Coverage: ABIC Action Warns of Economic Impact Over Potential Salvadoran TPS Expiration

Following President Donald Trump’s meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, ABIC Action released a statement detailing the economic impact of allowing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador to expire. With work permits for more than 170,000 Salvadoran workers set to lapse in 60 days, business leaders are urging the administration to use its executive authority to extend protections.

According to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), 90% of Salvadoran TPS holders participate in the U.S. labor force, contributing $5.4 billion to the U.S. GDP annually and paying $1.5 billion in federal, state, and local taxes. Removing these workers from the economy will increase labor shortages in sectors like hospitality, manufacturing, and construction, driving up costs for consumers. The data underscores why business leaders are urging the administration to extend TPS through executive action while Congress works toward permanent legislative solutions

Midterm Watch: Hispanic Vote in 2026

The battle for the Latino vote is taking center stage in the 2026 midterms. A shows President Trump’s approval among Latino voters sitting at 31%, with 69% disapproving, a fall from when his disapproval was at 55%.

However, strategists warn that this slump will not translate to an automatic Democratic victory. Republican consultant Mike Madrid points out that regional differences among Latinos are collapsing under the shared weight of inflation, leaving voters ready to punish whoever is currently in office:

“What you end up with is Latinos voting against whoever is in power and punishing them for the economic issues that aren’t being addressed.”

Aggressive mass deportation efforts have triggered public pushback from some Republicans. Florida GOP Representative Maria Elvira Salazar warned that the crackdown has gone too far:

“I’m tired of it because it’s time for us to keep that voting bloc that voted for the president in 2024.”

Writing for , Jack Herrera cautions that Democrats cannot mistake Trump’s drop in popularity for newfound enthusiasm;

While voters express deep distress over aggressive ICE sweeps under President Trump, working-class families are still feeling the sting of the Biden-era economy, which saw housing prices in swing states like Pennsylvania jump over 50% in six years.

Tony Pérez, an evangelical pastor in Reading, Pennsylvania, notes that despite intense anxiety over local immigration checkpoints, many in his community would still reluctantly back Trump: “You hold your nose and do it, because you have to.”

With Latino voters increasingly young, U.S.-born, and politically unaligned, they remain the most swing bloc of the midterms.

Dignity Act Milestone

Marking one year since its introduction, the coalition behind the bipartisan DIGNITY Act has officially surpassed 100 organizational endorsements, signaling powerful momentum for a framework that offers a bipartisan deal for dignity and stability for long-term immigrants and 91̽�� communities. Spearheaded by Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX), the bill has managed to unite historically adversarial factions—including agriculture, manufacturing, faith, and labor groups—under a single banner to modernize border security, stabilize our workforce and communities, and protect 91̽�� families and workers.

This growing consensus has translated into concrete traction on Capitol Hill, where the bill now boasts 40 congressional co-sponsors and an official endorsement from the influential Problem Solvers Caucus. , advocates point to the bill’s three core pillars as a common-sense solution to do what no previous government has achieved: securing the border through advanced technology and infrastructure, securing the workforce by providing legal work permits for law-abiding immigrant workers who have contributed for years, and securing the future with a $70 billion fund to upskill 91̽�� workers.

ABIC Ag Bulletin

More than are backing the bipartisan Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026 (H.R. 9535) to expand legal work pathways as U.S. farms struggle to fill jobs. According to reporting by the , in 2025, only 182 domestic workers applied for nearly 415,000 advertised agricultural positions, highlighting the growing gap between labor demand and the available workforce.

The legislation would expand H-2A visas to year-round sectors like dairy and livestock, reduce administrative burdens through multi-year certifications, and provide temporary legal status for experienced undocumented farmworkers. both the growing support from agricultural leaders for modernizing the H-2A program and the opposition from conservatives who argue it does too much by way of protections for the existing workforce and progressive groups that argue it doesn’t do enough.

News Briefing:

An economic warns that a historic low in U.S. population growth, driven by a record-low 1.6 fertility rate and a sharp decline in net migration, is steering the country toward a future of slower economic growth.

A shrinking workforce directly diminishes overall GDP, dragging projected annual growth down simultaneously. To counter these headwinds, the piece suggests policymakers must focus on boosting productivity, reforming entitlement programs, or reopening pathways for legal immigration to help shoulder the national debt.

Democratic lawmakers, led by New Jersey Representatives Frank Pallone and Nellie Pou, are intensifying , a 1,000-bed immigration detention facility in Newark run by the private prison operator Geo Group.

The backlash exposing systemic health and food safety violations, including unsanitized kitchens and food stored at dangerously warm temperatures. While New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport has sued the federal government to allow state health inspectors inside the facility, the Department of Justice has blocked those efforts, claiming state-level oversight is a pretext to disrupt federal operations.

The Department of Homeland Security dismissed the allegations as a “hoax,” asserting that detainees receive excellent care and due process, but local backlash has continued to mount.

Get Involved

Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voice be heard with your peers – . The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
Share your story: If your business is interested in engaging with the press as part of ABIC or amplifying your story on social media, take this to let us know your preferences.��
Work with us: ABIC is hiring! We are looking for a California State Director and Digital Manager to join our growing team. Learn more.

ABIC in the news. . .

View all recent coverage here

Greenfield Recorder: (07/16/26)
The Florida Catholic: (07/15/26)
Latin Times: (07/13/26)
Financial Express: (07/13/26)
Mwakilishi: (07/13/26)
Newsweek: (07/09/26)
America’s Voice: (07/07/26)
DRG News: (07/04/26)
Sun Sentinel: (07/03/26)
LegalClarity: (07/01/26)
The Bulwark: (06/30/26)
Bloomberg: (06/30/26)
Positive Aging Sourcebook: (06/29/26)
Newsweek: (06/28/26)
Crossroads Today: (06/26/26)
The Washington Post: (06/26/26)
Fox: (06/26/26)
McKnights: (06/25/26)
CNN: (06/25/26)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, (06/25/26)
ACOM: (6/23/26)
SAN: (6/22/26)
Politico: (6/21/26)
Texas GOP Vote: (06/18/26)
Dairy Agenda Today: (06/18/26)

The post Know This Now, July 17, 2026: Policy Whiplash on ICE Traffic Stops Creates Uncertainty and Workforce Disruption appeared first on 91̽��.

Know This Now Archives — 91̽��

Know This Now, October 9, 2026: 91̽�� Leaders Nationwide Join ABIC in Effort to Protect Salvadoran TPS Holders

91̽�� Leaders Nationwide Join ABIC in Effort to Protect Salvadoran TPS HoldersThis victory – though not yet permanent – was hard fought and the result of strategic coalition building led by TPS Alliance and ABIC

ABIC in the news. . .

Know This Now, October 1, 2026: THE TIME IS NOW: As Midterms Near, 250+ Hispanic Leaders Across Political Spectrum Call For Work Permits And Legal Protections For Long-Term Immigrants

ABIC in the news. . .

Know This Now, September 25, 2026: New Bipartisan ABIC/AFU Poll: Battleground Latino Voters Favor Candidates Who Prioritize Work Permits and Legal Pathways for Immigrants

ABIC in the news. . .

Know This Now, September 17, 2026: Lawmakers Join Restaurant and Food Leaders to Tell Congress: Pick from the “Menu” to Give Work Permits to Long-term Immigrants

ABIC in the news. . .

Know This Now, September 11, 2026: Salvadoran TPS and Work Permits Remain Valid, but Employers Still Lack Long-Term Clarity

ABIC in the news. . .

Know This Now, August 28, 2026: Halt to Visas Threaten 91̽��es and Affordability as Employers Urge Work Permits for Long-Term Immigrants

ICE Arrests Skyrocket in July

Comite de 100: The Latino Vote

Ag Council Chair Matt Teagarden on NPR Highlights Realities of Farm Labor Squeeze

Get Involved

ABIC in the news. . .

Know This Now, August 6, 2026: National Governors Association Unveils Immigration Framework Shaped by ABIC Action to Expand Work Permits to Long Term Immigrant Workers

ABIC in the news. . .

Know This Now, July 31, 2026: “Rally in the Valley”: South Texas Leaders and ABIC Action Sound the Alarm Over ICE Raids Driving Up Prices, Demand Work Permits

ABIC in the news. . .

Know This Now, July 24, 2026: Washington Post: ABIC Continues Push on DHS for Employer Relief Amid ICE Arrest Surge

What the Dream & Promise Act Does:

A decline in U.S. fertility rates alongside sharp immigration restrictions has dragged population growth to historic lows. Without positive net migration, demographic models project the total U.S. population will shrink by the late 2020s.

Because aggregate GDP growth relies on workforce expansion, a stagnant labor pool threatens to slow annual economic growth from its historical 3% average to 2% or lower.

ABIC in the news. . .

Know This Now, July 17, 2026: Policy Whiplash on ICE Traffic Stops Creates Uncertainty and Workforce Disruption

Policy Whiplash on ICE Traffic Stops Creates Uncertainty and Workforce Disruption

A series of policy changes out of Washington this week has left 91̽�� employers navigating an unpredictable enforcement landscape, causing confusion to regional workforces.

ABIC Ag Bulletin

ABIC in the news. . .

91̽�� Leaders Nationwide Join ABIC in Effort to Protect Salvadoran TPS Holders
This victory – though not yet permanent – was hard fought and the result of strategic coalition building led by TPS Alliance and ABIC