Texas GOP Rep Nathaniel Moran Pushes Bill to Address Worker Shortages Amid ICE Raids

East Texas Republican Rep Nathaniel Moran is breaking with much of his party to confront a problem that ICE raids and Trump-era immigration policies have worsened: worker shortages. During visits to his district, Moran heard firsthand from local businesses struggling to fill jobs because of an aging workforce and immigrant workers fearing deportation.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas confirms this trend, reporting that Texas’ labor force growth has slowed to its lowest pace since the pandemic. Economists attribute the decline to retirements, fewer births, and the administration’s crackdown on immigration. “Since the immigration enforcement changes began in mid-2024, U.S. and Texas job growth have fallen well below their respective long-run trend,” the Dallas Fed noted in October. The raids and deportations are chilling labor supply, especially in industries reliant on immigrant workers.

Moran, in his second term, proposes a tax credit bill estimated to cost between $15 and $20 billion to incentivize workforce participation. He acknowledges it is no substitute for comprehensive immigration reform but insists it’s a necessary stopgap. “We also need to solve our immigration policy. It might fill the gap, but it’s a great idea whether we have an immigration problem or not,” Moran said.

His proposal has garnered endorsements from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and industry groups like the National Association of Home Builders and the National Restaurant Association, who see it as a vital remedy for the country’s labor crunch.

Yet Texas GOP leadership remains largely silent or dismissive. Governor Greg Abbott recently praised Texas job numbers as proof that “free enterprise flourishes,” ignoring the growing evidence that immigration enforcement is draining the workforce. At a January congressional hearing, HUD Secretary Scott Turner downplayed the need for immigrant labor, calling the idea “a slap in the face” to American workers.

Meanwhile, business owners like Todd Dillender, COO of Caliber Collision near Dallas, report that ICE raids have exacerbated labor shortages, even in sectors with strict hiring rules. “Immigrant workers from Latin America represent a large source of labor in the car repair sector,” Dillender said. “The raids are making matters worse.”

Moran urges ICE to focus on deporting “the hardened criminal element,” rather than sweeping up immigrant workers critical to the economy. His bill faces an uncertain future with budget-conscious Republicans wary of new tax credits. But the growing labor shortages and the fallout from Trump’s immigration crackdown are forcing some GOP lawmakers to reconsider the costs of their hardline policies.