Here to Work: Immigrants Growing Houston’s Economy

May 30, 2024

To complement its native workforce, the United States relies on millions of migrants: naturalized citizens, legal permanent residents, and temporary authorized residents, along with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and temporary protected status (TPS) recipients, visa holders, and undocumented laborers. Without these immigrants’ labor, many sectors of the U.S. economy would halt, especially as employers struggle to fill over 8.8 million open jobs and consumers continue to deal with high prices partially due to a lack of available workers.

Despite the evidence of immigrants’ important economic and cultural contributions and the demographic strengths they bring to American society, the issue of authorizing migrant employment remains controversial in the political theater. This question of labor authorization greatly affects the most vulnerable group of migrants — undocumented workers — 1.1 million of whom are married to U.S. citizens and have U.S. citizen children. Polling shows significant public support for providing this population with work authorization. Thus, despite the political controversy, it is time to push for a visa path for this population — a DACA style program, if Congress does not act.

At this event, a panel of experts will explore opportunities to expand work authorization for immigrant spouses and parents of U.S. citizens and potential impacts on Houston’s growing economy.

Welcome Remarks

Jose Ivan Rodriguez-Sanchez, Ph.D.
Research Scholar, Center for the U.S. and Mexico, Baker Institute for Public Policy

8:40 am
Keynote Presentation: Expanding Opportunities and Addressing the U.S. Labor Shortage

Commissioner Adrian Garcia
Harris County Precinct 2

8:50 am
Panel Conversation

Moderated by: Juan Carlos Cerda, Director, Texas Chapter, American Business Immigration Coalition

Jorge Avila
Member, American Families United

Yolanda Batz
Student, University of Houston

Chris McCarthy
Chief of Staff, Office of Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia

Rachel Magaziner
Associate, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.

Laura Murillo
President and CEO, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce


9:50 am
Q&A Session

10:20 am
Closing Remarks

The Honorable Molly Cook
Texas State Senate District 15

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