Summary
Overview
In the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, a historically Democratic region with a heavily Latino population, the Trump administration's immigration raids have devastated the construction industry and sparked an unprecedented political shift. The South Texas Builders Association, many of whose members voted for Trump, now finds themselves fighting against the very policies they supported as their workforce disappears and the American Dream they've built becomes endangered.
The Raids Begin and Confusion Sets In
When ICE raids started intensifying in early 2025 in the Rio Grande Valley, people were initially confused and frightened. Videos circulated of workers being arrested mid-job, handcuffed while pouring driveways. Developer Mario Guerrero became one of the first to speak out publicly, using social media to sound the alarm about how these raids were devastating the local economy and construction industry.
- ICE raids began targeting construction workers in the Rio Grande Valley, taking both people with criminal records and those without
- Workers stopped going to work and church out of fear, and videos showed agents arresting workers mid-job
- Mario Guerrero, a developer and executive director of the South Texas Builders Association, posted a video warning about economic devastation
- The STBA represents 159 construction and real estate businesses across the Rio Grande Valley
" Because this is going to ruin our economy. It's going to ruin the housing market, the American dream. "
" What did we do? Because many, if not most of them, had voted for President Trump. What the fuck did we do? "
The Rio Grande Valley's Complex Immigration Reality
The Rio Grande Valley is a unique border region where 80% of construction workers are estimated to be undocumented, yet immigration is woven into the fabric of daily life rather than being a simple political issue. The region had traditionally voted Democratic but shifted red in 2024, partly due to frustration with the massive immigration surge under Biden that peaked with 10,000 immigrants crossing daily, straining local resources and creating perceptions of unfairness.
- The Valley is a purple region with high Hispanic concentration where immigration is part of daily life, not just politics
- During the Biden administration's immigration surge, up to 10,000 immigrants per day crossed the southern border
- Valley residents felt the surge created unfairness, with new arrivals getting preferential treatment over citizens and legal immigrants
- Stories circulated of workers waiting years for visa renewals while new arrivals were processed, and of hospital care disparities
" Here in the Valley, like, racism is not a thing here. We have a little shell around us. "
" Even heaven has borders, right? Not everybody's going to make it in. "
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