These foundations are poured ready to go, and we can’t even start the construction on them. And unfortunately, right now, we’re not seeing that.” For months, federal agents have been sweeping up workers at construction sites in South Texas. We just never thought that this would come and affect us in the construction industry, but most importantly, affect our economy here in South Texas.” “We are seeing a reduction of almost 60 percent of our volume on the residential side of our business. Everybody’s hurting.” In the Rio Grande Valley, two of President Trump’s top priorities, the economy and mass deportation, are colliding as ICE raids upend the construction industry. He went to Washington, D.C., with a few other builders and pleaded with them to ease up on job sites in South Texas.

Source: New York Times March 19, 2026 06:01 UTC