American Business Immigration Coalition Action, Comité de 100, Local Elected and Business Leaders Gather in Pasadena’s Hotly Contested Congressional District 9 to Support Immigration Reform
Pasadena, TX – Today, the Comité de 100 and the American Business Immigration Coalition Action (ABIC Action) were joined by local elected and business leaders in Harris County to call on federal lawmakers to support common-sense immigration reform that provide long-term undocumented immigrants legal work permits and citizenship for Dreamers,, like the Dignity Act and the Dream Act, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Speakers also emphasized the power of the Hispanic electorate in determining the results of the 2026 midterm elections and control of Congressional District 9. A 15% Hispanic crossover could turn the district from R+16 to D+1.6, turning CD-9 into one of the most hotly contested congressional districts in the country.
Speakers voiced support for work permits for long-term, law-abiding undocumented immigrants and legal status for Dreamers. The Dignity Act and The Dream Act have bipartisan backing and would provide legal certainty to immigrant communities.
Hispanic voters represent a quarter of the Texas electorate and 51% of Hispanic voters in CD-9, making them a decisive voting block in this November’s midterm elections. The historic surge in Hispanic voters in the Hispanic-majority Congressional District-9, partially in response to immigration enforcement overreach, was flagged as a wakeup call to elected officials. Recent research from ABIC Action demonstrates how this trend could potentially reshape or flip four new Hispanic-majority congressional districts in Texas this November.
To view a recording of the press conference, click here.
Juan Carlos Cerda, Texas State Director, ABIC:
“We’re in Pasadena, Congressional District 9, here today because we want to pass the Dignity Act and a path to citizenship for Dreamers. Our research shows that if 15% of Hispanic voters cross over from Republicans to Democrats, that means that this district would go from R+16 to D+1.6, so we need our lawmakers to respect the Hispanic vote. We need them to recognize that Hispanics want immigration solutions to secure our economy, secure our workforce, and to make this place prosperous.”
Massey Villarreal, CEO, Precision Task Group; Co-Chair, Comité de 100:
“The secure border shouldn’t mean tearing apart law-abiding families, and hurting the very workforce that keeps Texas growing. Nearly one quarter of the Houston workforce is foreign-born. These workers keep construction sites, restaurants, and small businesses running. When policy ignores that reality, projects stall, costs go up, and everyone feels the hit. In Greater Houston, where Latinos contribute $139 billion into the economy, we need workers to keep prices low and affordable. Our region has over $40 billion in bulk construction projects. Where are we going to get these workers if immigrants have left the country? The record number of Latinos who voted Republican in 2024 want a solution, not more problems. If either party ignores our economic concerns or disrespects our humanity, they will lose us just as quickly as they won us.”
Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia:
“I’m standing in solidarity with Comite de 100 as well as ABIC. The immigration system is broken. So currently, we’re asking for Congress to act on the DREAM Act and the Dignity Act. Let’s get these measures to the table so we save the economy. In Precinct 2, I have over 600,000 individuals who have questionable immigration status. Out of this 600,000, 30% are supporting our construction industry, 18% are supporting our hospitality industry, and 4% are supporting our manufacturing industry. They are supporting our economy, and we cannot let this environment of fear undermine our economy. If the economy here were to go to the side, it will fracture the Texas economy and the national economy. We need members of Congress to act.”
Dr. Laura Murillo, CEO, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:
We want you to know that here in Houston, Texas, representatives, businesses, and professionals are here supporting and speaking with leaders who can help with this immigration issue.
John Martinez, CEO, Regional Hispanic Contractors Association:
We believe in secured borders. We believe that if you have a felony, you are a criminal; you need to go back to your home country, or at least you need to leave the US. But we also believe that the men and women who are here, hard working and building our roads, our schools, our bridges, our hospitals, that they need an opportunity—a pathway to make sure that they remain in this country legally and that their families don’t have to live in fear on a daily basis. Regional Hispanic Contractors has always supported that we follow our laws; we ask that our laws now be amended with the Dignity Act and DACA (DREAM Act).