MCALLEN, Texas - U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar said Renee Good’s killing in Minnesota has caused a delay in organizing a meeting between the Department of Homeland Security and the South Texas Builders Association.
Cuellar met with STBA leaders at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen late last year. At the meeting, leaders with the trade association voiced concerns about ICE raids at construction sites. They said they are losing too many workers and projects.
Cuellar had a lot of sympathy for the builders and told them he would try and set up a meeting in Washington so they could voice those concerns directly with DHS.
But, the shooting death of U.S. citizen Renee Good by an ICE agent has put everything on hold, Cuellar said.
“I've talked to the ICE director twice. He says he'll give me somebody that can sit down with business. Because, look, if they want to get rid of criminals, that's one thing, but when they start going after the work side, that has an impact on our economy,” Cuellar told the Rio Grande Guardian.
“But I have been in contact with the South Texas builders. I've talked to some of the folks in Laredo, I've talked to some of the folks in San Antonio, and we're hoping that we can have something but the ICE Director, Mr. Lyons. He told me that he will set something up. But as you know, this ICE shooting, the Minnesota shooting, complicated things on that, but it's at the top of my radar.
Editor’s Note: Here is a video recording of Congressman Cuellar discussing his efforts to get a meeting with DHS for the South Texas Builders Association:
Editor’s Note: Congressman Cuellar spoke at an Immigration Enforcement & Construction Industry Impact Symposium hosted by STBA and held at McAllen Convention Center on Jan. 19. The Rio Grande Guardian will have a number of news stories from this event in our next edition.
