Americans Appear to Be Doing Jobs We Were Told They Wouldn't Do - Reliance on Foreign Labor Down in Texas

RedState 

For decades, we have been told that America needs foreign labor to "do the jobs Americans won't do." For Democrats and the left, that usually translates to illegal immigrants. But in the wake of President Donald Trump's closing of the southern border and the deportation of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants, it turns out that there are plenty of jobs that Americans are willing to do, and a new survey seems to be bearing that out in at least one state. 

The new survey by the Federal Reserve Bank in Texas shows that many companies in the Lone Star State are reducing their dependence on foreign labor. The survey, taken between February 10 and 18, shows a 20 percent decrease in “workers from a different country." That 20 percent is up from just two percent in February 2024. Within the last year, only 13 percent of companies had increased their reliance on foreign labor, down from 41 percent in February of 2024. However, there is still plenty of work to be done to reduce the dependence on foreign labor, as 68 percent of companies said they showed no change either way. The problem is that there are still many loopholes that allow construction companies to hire illegal immigrants without much risk, including hiring subcontractors and staffing agencies, who will mistakenly claim their workers are legally allowed to work.

However, the flip side of this good employment news is that many companies actually demand that the government supply them with cheap foreign labor so they can get around a labor market that is increasingly favorable to Americans' ability to bargain for benefits, and also to avoid investing in any new or more productive techniques or technology. Now, homebuilders in Texas are pitting President Donald Trump's illegal immigration crackdown, including raids on job sites, against his goal of putting the purchase of a new home more within reach for many Americans, and they are doing it by warning Trump that the GOP could lose many of the inroads made with Hispanic voters. 

Johnny Vasquez is an executive officer of the Rio Grande Valley Builders Association. He pointed to Hidalgo County, which went red for Trump in 2024, as one of the gains Republicans might lose. He stated bluntly, “For me and for our association, we need workers, whether they’re American or not. We just need workers.” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson answered, saying:

“There is no shortage of American minds and hands to grow our labor force, and President Trump’s agenda to create jobs for American workers represents this Administration’s commitment to capitalizing on that untapped potential while delivering on our mandate to enforce our immigration laws."

She added, “We see our priorities reflected in an agenda focused on higher wages, lower costs, and more opportunity."

Many reports say that Trump's America First policies are increasing pay for all Texans, including Hispanic Americans. A December 2025 report from The Birmingham Group stated:

The current labor shortage is driving unprecedented wage increases across commercial projects. Construction firms report difficulty filling critical positions, with some markets experiencing job opening-to-candidate ratios exceeding 3:1. This imbalance has created a seller’s market for skilled workers, enabling significant salary negotiations and competitive pay packages.

One of the biggest deterrents to illegal immigration is cracking down on those who hire them. So, the question for Johnny Vasquez might be: Are you saying there is a correlation between Hidalgo County going red and whether you hire Americans or illegal immigrants? 

Like anywhere else in the U.S., with the possible exception of blue states, the less foreign labor there is, the more jobs there are for American workers. That is what will keep Texas and other states red.