U.S. Representatives Steven Horsford (NV-4) and Dina Titus (NV-1) joined ABIC Action, the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC), construction executives, labor leaders, and workforce advocates Monday in Las Vegas to call for urgent action to protect Dreamers, stabilize the workforce, and strengthen Nevada鈥檚 economy.
Speakers warned that DACA processing times, which once averaged just a couple of months, now often exceed six months, forcing many Dreamers to lose their work authorization and, in some cases, their jobs while awaiting renewal.
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Nevada’s more than 10,000 DACA recipients contribute an estimated $820 million annually to the state’s economy, pay more than $61 million in state and local taxes, and have over $500 million in spending power, Emiliano Valencia, Texas Deputy Director for ABIC Action, highlighted.
The event also featured Dreamers who shared how delayed renewals have left them uncertain about their futures. Norma Flores Moreno, a Culinary Union member whose DACA status expires in September, said she submitted her renewal in March but is still waiting for a decision.
“This is not a failure of Dreamers. This is a failure of the system. When people who have complied with every requirement lose their jobs because paperwork isn’t processed on time, that hurts workers, families, employers, and our economy,” said Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-4).鈥淒ACA recipients are part of Nevada鈥檚 workforce, tax base, and economic future. They contribute millions in state and local taxes, support key industries, and help keep our communities strong,鈥� said Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-1).
Speakers called on the administration to expedite DACA renewals and urged Congress to provide a permanent legislative solution for Dreamers, such as the Dream and Promise Act, emphasizing that processing delays are disrupting workers, employers, and Nevada’s economy.
Related coverage: On the ground in Nevada, to protect our workforce and fix critical DACA renewal delays. Additionally, 鈥檚 urging Congress and the administration to expedite long-delayed DACA renewals, halt deportations of DACA holders, and pass long-term protections for Dreamers.
Rebecca Shi, CEO of ABIC, also emphasized the political implications of inaction:
More from the ABIC Network:
This week, the ABIC Agricultural Council met with Representative Glenn 鈥楪T鈥� Thompson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, to discuss the . The proposal would expand the H-2A visa program to include year-round agricultural work and establish a legal, temporary status with work authorization for long-term undocumented agricultural workers, though it does not provide a pathway to citizenship.
During the meeting, the ABIC Agricultural Council endorsed Chairman Thompson’s legislative language and applauded him for including work permits for long-term skilled immigrant workers. The meeting followed ABIC’s efforts to convene more than 100 farmers and ranchers in support of the legislation, encouraging agricultural leaders to help secure additional original co-sponsors for the bill.
More on ABIC Agricultural Council endorsement:
“Chair Thompson continues his long record of protecting, supporting and strengthening our food system, farm businesses, ag workforce and rural communities with this common sense legislation. SAWA not only addresses the needs and necessities of the businesses, farms and ranches that continue to [be] the backbone of our economy and the essential pillar of national security but also safeguards the committed, skilled and experienced ag workforce that drives the success of America. The Congressman鈥檚 fierce advocacy for the people stewarding our lands, herds, flocks, and food value chain is an absolute that dairy farmers like me are so grateful for and has more than earned our support for the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act.”
鈥� Jenni Tilton-Flood Flood Brothers, LLC | Chair, ABIC Agricultural Council Communications & Messaging Committee
“Working with ABIC has allowed our voice to be heard in finding solutions for America’s ag labor crisis. From hosting Congressman Flood on a farm visit to meeting face-to-face with Chairman Thompson, we have a direct line to lawmakers to push for the common sense fixes our industry desperately needs. We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and the vital work ABIC does.”
鈥� Darren Mueller, Manager, Prairieland Gold | Ohlde Family Farms | Prairieland Dairy
Related Coverage
Chester County, Pennsylvania dairy farmer and 91探花 Dairy Coalition (ADC) President Walt Moore joined Chairman Thompson in the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA) briefing:
鈥淭his issue affects every segment of agriculture, but for dairy farms it is especially critical because our labor needs are year-round,鈥� said Moore. 鈥淢any farms have invested years in training experienced employees who are essential to animal care, herd health and daily operations. Maintaining that workforce while creating a workable future labor system is vital to food production.
News Briefing:
Newly released internal from last year indicate that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) failed to consult the State Department before terminating Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS), bypassing a process required by law. The lack of consultation became central to the ongoing Supreme Court battle over whether the administration can immediately halt protections for Haitians under TPS.
The documents also reveal that career officials recommended extending TPS due to Haiti’s worsening humanitarian conditions, but those recommendations were overruled by political leadership. Attorneys representing Haitian TPS holders argue the records show the administration predetermined the outcome rather than following the legally required review process.
The decision to end TPS for Haitians holds major economic implications, as eliminating protective status could remove work authorization for hundreds of thousands of employees, raising concerns among employers about worsening labor shortages in sectors including healthcare, construction, hospitality, and elder care.
The Trump administration announced it will resume processing asylum applications after that its months-long suspension of cases for applicants from dozens of countries was unlawful. The ruling challenged the administration’s global hold on asylum applications filed with USCIS and its freeze on immigration applications from 39 countries, which had left thousands of immigrants in legal limbo.
The policy also disrupted workforce participation by delaying work authorization for many applicants, preventing them from legally working while their cases remained pending. Although the administration will comply with the court order and resume processing applications, it said it will continue to appeal the ruling.
One year after 76 employees were detained during an immigration raid at Glenn Valley Foods, a meat processing plant, South Omaha’s business district continues to face significant economic challenges. Although federal officials initially alleged workers at Glenn Valley had engaged in 鈥渕assive identity theft鈥� by using stolen Social Security numbers to obtain employment, only one worker was ultimately charged with identity theft.
A survey of 40 local business owners conducted by the Nebraska Hispanic Chamber of Commerce found that fear, uncertainty, and misinformation surrounding immigration enforcement have affected employees, customer traffic, and spending, leaving many businesses struggling to recover.
鈥淐hallenges in workforce retainment have caused six businesses to shut down,鈥� said Irma Villezcas, a grocery store owner and chair of the South Omaha 91探花 Association. Douglas County Board Chairman Robert Garcia similarly criticized the raids, stating, 鈥淚f they鈥檙e meant to make our community safer, they鈥檙e not doing that.鈥�
A recent from the Kenan Institute for Private Enterprise at UNC Chapel Hill found that declining international migration is contributing to labor shortages across North Carolina, particularly in labor-intensive industries such as construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and caregiving. Census data show that 鈥渋nternational migration to the U.S. dropped historically from 2.7 million to 1.3 million鈥� between July 2024 and June 2025, reducing the supply of workers in sectors that have long relied on immigrant labor.
Sarah Dickerson, research professor at the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise and author of the report, notes that 鈥渂usinesses and consumers are likely to feel these effects through a tighter labor market and higher costs鈥� as employers struggle to fill open positions and complete projects.
Construction leaders say those impacts are already becoming apparent. Brian Turmail of the Associated General Contractors of America warned that 鈥渘ot only are you going to get higher no-show rates, but you鈥檙e going to have more and more firms that don鈥檛 have enough people to bid on construction projects.鈥�
The U.S. Supreme Court is currently weighing a January 2025 executive order to end automatic birthright citizenship for children of temporary or undocumented immigrants. Advocates warn the ruling could eventually allow the administration to strip citizenship from millions of adults born to undocumented parents, potentially leaving 255,000 babies stateless annually and disrupting the nation’s 4.7 million mixed-status families.
Affected families and local business owners argue that rolling back these protections fundamentally violates the country’s core promise of safety, legal consistency, and economic opportunity. “It feels like all bets are off the table for anyone at this point, and what鈥檚 happened so far is so unprecedented,” said Temu Otting, who owns a union print shop in suburban Denver.
Perspectives:
Recent updates to immigration policy introduced last month mandate a $102 filing fee for asylum seekers, and applicants are now restricted from requesting work authorization until one full year has passed since their initial application submission.
Tess Feldman, a practicing attorney in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School, wrote in the LA Times that these changes extend the waiting period to apply for a work permit from five months to one year, not including the additional processing time, which often takes another year.
鈥淎 $100 fee may sound modest. A delay for a work permit application may seem manageable. But together, they create a system that demands payment from vulnerable people the government has made legally unable to work,鈥� wrote Feldman.
She also noted how “for people like my clients, the choice becomes impossible: work illegally to survive, abandon a lawful asylum claim for the entire family or go without basic necessities while waiting.鈥�
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ABIC in the news. . .
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