by Chris Russo – President, Texans for Strong Borders
On May 12, 2025, the Texas House of Representatives voted down House Bill 2858, a proposal to establish a state-managed guest worker program. The bill, authored by Democrat Ray Lopez of San Antonio and Republican Drew Darby of San Angelo, aimed to authorize the governor to seek federal approval for a program facilitating the migration of temporary workers from Mexico to Texas under U.S. nonimmigrant visas.
The bill failed to pass by a vote of 65-76, but nine Republican State Representatives joined unanimous Democrat support for the measure:
- Drew Darby (HD 72)
- Charlie Geren (HD 99)
- Ryan Guillen (HD 31)
- Ken King (HD 88)
- Stan Lambert (HD 71)
- Janie Lopez (HD 37)
- John Lujan (HD 118)
- Candy Noble (HD 89)
- Denise Villalobos (HD 34)
It is somewhat unusual for House Bills to reach the floor and then fail to pass, and HB 2858 very well may have passed except for the fiery debate against the bill offered by Rep. Mike Olcott of Fort Worth.
During the bill layout, Olcott asked Rep. Lopez if he was aware that, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, just 12% of all new job growth since the COVID pandemic has gone to U.S. born individuals. Lopez responded, “I don’t doubt it.”
Watch the debate here:
During debate, Olcott cited the fact that over 5 million illegal border crossings have occurred in the State of Texas over the last four years and stated that he was “in shock” that Republicans would support this legislation to “bring in even more immigration” while key legislation expanding E-Verify requirements to all employers and requiring Texas sheriffs to participate in the ICE 287(g) program were stalled. He went on to say that wages follow the principles of supply and demand and cited the Republican Party of Texas Platform’s position against the expansion of guest worker programs.
Plank 238 of the 2024 Republican Party of Texas Platform states:
It is certainly a positive sign that this bill failed with 76 Republican no votes on the House floor, but the fact that it reached the floor in the first place demonstrates that there remains a small but powerful contingent of Republicans who continue to push for expansions to legal immigration, even in the face of over 10 million illegal border crossings (not including gotaways) over the last four years.
After all, four of the Republicans—Darby, Geren, Guillen, and Chairman Ken King—sit on the same State Affairs Committee that has refused to hold a hearing on Universal E-Verify despite its status as a Legislative Priority for the Republican Party of Texas. These four Republicans voted with the 6 Democrats on the committee to advance HB 2858 out of committee with a recommendation of passage.
Time is running out for the Texas Legislature to pass key border security legislation. The Texas House has until this Thursday, May 15th, to pass House bills and Tuesday, May 27th to pass Senate bills.
I expect our elected leaders to support American Citizens job rights instead of non citizens.