House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) joined representatives in Houston on Monday, October 26, 2026, to criticize the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement activities. During a news conference at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Texas headquarters, the officials stated that enforcement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is negatively affecting the local economy and small businesses.
The public event followed a closed-door roundtable discussion with business owners and community advocates. Participants in that meeting included representatives from SEIU Texas, UNITE HERE, the Workers Defense Project, FIEL Houston, and local hotel and restaurant owners. The discussions focused on how current enforcement practices have influenced worker attendance and consumer behavior in the region.
Leader Jeffries stated that taxpayer funds should be used to improve affordability for Americans rather than for enforcement actions against immigrant communities. Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) noted that fear of enforcement is leading to lost paychecks for families and reduced revenue for restaurants. Rep. Christian Menefee (D-TX) and SEIU Texas President Elsa Flores also spoke, with Flores reporting that the workforce is fearful of traveling to work due to ICE activities.
The reported impacts affect a wide range of Houston’s economic sectors, including construction, hotels, restaurants, and small businesses. While specific total dollar losses were not reported, Rep. Garcia stated that the absence of workers at job sites would result in fewer homes being built and that small businesses lose money when customers are discouraged from leaving their homes.
Flores characterized the enforcement actions as targeting working-class people rather than violent felons. The participants described the situation as an "affordability crisis" for immigrant communities in Houston, as fear of detention disrupts regular employment and consumer spending. The representatives argued that these activities set a precedent for how federal taxpayer dollars are prioritized between immigration enforcement and domestic economic support.
The congressional representatives stated they would advocate for changes to the immigration system that prioritize dignity and humanity. While no specific legislative vote dates were announced during the conference, the members of Congress committed to pursuing reforms in the House.