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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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A Texas Republican mayor has told Newsweek that mass deportations risk undermining the U.S. economy by targeting immigrants who contribute by paying taxes.
Javier Villalobos, the mayor of McAllen, said he believes “some of it is good, some of it I'm not too crazy about,” when asked about the Trump administration’s mass deportation policy.
"There are also a lot of people that are not in agreement with deporting people who can be productive for our country, who produce for our economy, produce for our families, and our business owners. So I think I'm with a lot of people in that," he added.
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Villalobos said that he fully backs the deportation of "dangerous" people who are not productive; however, he has concerns over the removal of law-abiding immigrants who pay taxes.
In 2022, immigrants contributed approximately $96.7 billion in taxes at the federal, state, and local levels, according to the think tank, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.
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President Donald Trump pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. However, the president's flagship immigration policy has sparked concerns about its potential effects on the economy, the workforce, and the acceleration of labor shortages. Agricultural production could fall by $30 billion to $60 billion if Trump's deportation policy is implemented, according to the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC).
Villalobos, who has served as mayor of the South Texas border city since 2021, argued that immigration enforcement should recognize the country’s labor needs.
He said: "I understand the reason, they may have been here illegally, but you get back to the issue that our country needs a workforce. That's why we keep on talking about trying to find a pathway to lawful employment, even if they have possibly been here or entered improperly."
Villalobos suggested the administration could fine law-abiding undocumented immigrants who pay taxes and provide them a pathway to obtain legal status.
The mayor also said that heavy-handed immigration enforcement operations near sensitive locations such as courtrooms can deter people from seeking justice or fulfilling legal obligations.
ICE, U.S. Border Patrol and several federal agencies have been stalking the halls of immigration courts across the nation in a bid to increase the number of arrests. Villalobos said that the presence of immigration agents has "a chilling effect" because immigrants don't know what's going to happen.
"It might be pushing some people that may otherwise be law-abiding into maybe not even showing up," he said.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a memo on Trump's first week in office, overturning a policy that restricted ICE agents from conducting operations near or within sensitive locations such as schools, churches and courtrooms.
The mayor urged the federal government to pursue a practical, step-by-step approach to immigration reform. He also clarified that he was not advocating for citizenship or amnesty, but for creating opportunities for immigrants to work legally, contribute to the U.S. economy, support themselves and send money back to their home countries.
Villalobos urged both parties in Washington to cooperate on immigration issues.
He supports addressing immigration issues incrementally, starting with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and then developing employment visas and other legal pathways for immigrants to work.
Villalobos said: "Republicans and Democrats need to start working together and find a way to get our country back in line. And when it comes to immigration they need to start working together. And I mean the Senate, Congress, and the administration.
"I think it's very important that unless they do, our country will fail. It will take some time, but it's going to be very difficult. We need the workforce."
Interview With Javier Villalobos, Mayor of McAllen, Texas
What do you think about the administration targeting non-violent immigrants?
I understand the reason, they may have been here illegally, but you get back to the issue that our country needs a workforce. So, and that's why we keep on talking about trying to find a pathway to lawful employment, even if they have possibly been here or entered improperly, even if, you know what, maybe they can find a penalty and let's start, if they're good and productive and law-abiding, let's see what we can do and get them a pathway.
What sort of economic impact, or if any, has the deportation policy had on McAllen and the workforce in your city?
We're fortunate that I really don't see much of an impact yet. Okay. I know there have been some raids, I know there have been some people who have been taken, but fortunately, I do not see an impact yet.
I see sometimes a little slower or, you know, especially in construction sites that they're, you know, they're affected somewhat, but within a day or two they're back working with other people.
What kind of work permits that you want to see for long-term tax-paying immigrant workers?
Well, what I would like to see is just lawful employment.
I'm not talking about making anybody a citizen or amnesty or anything, I'm just talking about allowing people to work and be productive for our country, for our businesses, for themselves, and to be able to send money to their own country. That's the way it used to be back in the old days, and it worked, it was proven back then, and it can be done again.
What is your message to President Trump?
My message is not necessarily just to President Trump, it's to both parties, Republicans and Democrats, that they need to start working together and find a way to, you know, get our country back in line. And when it comes to immigration or immigration policies, they need to start working together. And I mean the Senate, Congress, and the administration. I think it's very important that unless they do, our country will fail. It will take some time, but it's going to be very difficult. We need the workforce.
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