Ahead of midterms, business leaders and elected officials from swing states call for action to secure Hispanic-American businesses and America’s workforce
Washington, D.C. – Today, Hispanic American business leaders and elected officials from swing states launched the Hispanics Make America Great campaign. The campaign emphasizes the economic contributions and electoral strength of Hispanics while urging Congress and the Trump administration to provide work permits for long-term, law-abiding immigrant workers in essential industries such as agriculture, hospitality, construction and healthcare. The campaign stresses that, with the border now secure, the priority must be securing America’s workforce—essential to strengthening the U.S. economy and supporting businesses and communities across the nation, including Hispanic Americans.
Launched during Hispanic Heritage Month, the political importance of Hispanic Americans is undeniable, as they represent 36 million eligible voters and are expected to play a decisive role in the 2026 midterm elections. Recent polling by the American Business Immigration Coalition Action shows that 85% of Hispanics consider immigration personally important, and 84%, in addition to 78% of Republicans across battleground states, support President Trump’s proposal to grant work permits to trusted, long-term undocumented workers.
The virtual press conference convened mayors, state legislators and business leaders from Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Utah, Wisconsin and Arizona.
You can access the recording of the press conference here.
The Hispanics Make America Great campaign will host a follow-up press event with key Hispanic leaders at the 46th Annual U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Conference in Atlanta on September 23, along with additional local roundtables in cities such as El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, and Las Vegas.
Massey Villarreal, Co-Chair, Comité de 100 & CEO, Precision Task Group, Texas:
“Latinos are central to our nation’s future. But this contribution must be met with common-sense policies like legal work permits and bipartisan legislation such as the Dignity Act, so hardworking immigrants can contribute without fear. Recent polling across battleground states shows that voters are on board with President Trump’s idea to let long-term, trusted undocumented workers—essential workers—get work permits. Mr. President: This community is ready to vote for you again, but we need sensible reform. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate our culture, our economic power, and civic leadership, because Hispanics are woven into the very fabric that makes our country great.”
Sam Sanchez, President, Third Coast Hospitality Group, Illinois:
“We delivered a vote for border security. We delivered a vote for law enforcement. We believe in hard work, family, and religion. President Trump, on April 10th, you made a statement that touched the hearts of all of us, and we thought back then, and we still believe, that the vote we cast for your presidency was the right one when your statement was about work permits for long-term migrants in the United States. But we continue to see disappointment in some of our migrant families, and they’re losing hope. President Trump, we don’t want our vote to go somewhere else. We want to continue saying we did the right thing. We’re asking you to slow down the deportation of these essential workers, as you mentioned.”
Georgia State Representative Kasey Carpenter (R-Dalton):
“I represent Dalton and the Georgia State House District 4, a minority-majority district and a 75% Trump district. We can’t talk about affordable housing, we can’t talk about inflation without figuring out a way to keep these individuals here. And so I urge Congress, I urge President Trump to focus on a solution now. Now that we’ve secured the border, let’s focus on a solution, because the reality is Hispanics are going to control the vote, the swing vote in the state of Georgia, and it’s important for us to grow the Republican Party in our state, to listen to not only Hispanics, but also other folks in the state that agree with us.”
Colorado State Representative & Republican Minority Whip Carlos Barron:
“In Colorado, Hispanic men have the highest labor force participation of any group at 79%. We create businesses, drive consumer spending and keep our economy moving forward. We support common sense immigration solutions like work permits for hardworking, law-abiding immigrants who pay taxes and contribute to our economy. All of these strengthen families, help businesses grow, and keep America strong. Hispanics embody resilience, work and community—the very values that make America great.”
Mayor Javier Villalobos of McAllen:
“As Mayor, I know what I need for our community: a strong workforce. So, I urge Congress, I urge the Senate, and the administration to put all the politics aside, do what’s correct for the American people, and that is to find a thoughtful pathway—and I’m not talking about citizenship. I’m not talking about amnesty. I’m talking about putting people that can be productive to our country to work. And I think that can be done.”
Darryl Morin, CEO of Advanced Wireless, Wisconsin:
“Wisconsin’s workforce continues to be under tremendous pressure, threatening not only our existing businesses, but also outside investment into our great state. If we somehow were able to create interest in every available job, we’d still be more than 42,000 workers short. We need this President and this Congress to act swiftly, not only so we can grow our businesses and our economy, but also to protect our nation’s economic security.”
Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera:
“Berks County residents recently voted for Trump, with many pointing to the economy and the high cost of living as their main concerns. They also understand that our immigration system is broken and our economy depends on fixing it. People need a legal pathway to work, to contribute and to thrive. Hispanics make Pennsylvania and America stronger, and they are an important political and economic force. We want a system that recognizes our contributions and ensures our economy and the future of America remain strong.”