RGV Hispanic Chamber: Tell us how the ICE raids are impacting your business

MCALLEN, Texas – The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has distributed a survey to small business members and non-members alike asking for their reaction the ICE raids and tariffs.

Cynthia Sakulenzki, president and CEO of the group, explained why her group has commissioned the survey.

“We have put out this survey because we have been receiving so many calls from members and non-members alike,” Sakulenzki said. “I’ve even gotten stopped at HEB, at Walmart, from people that know I’m with the chamber. And they have complained about what’s going on, complained about ICE taking their family members. They are saying their business has been hurt so, so bad, worse than what COVID did. They are asking me, what can the Chamber to do help.”

There are eight questions posed by RGVHCC in the survey. They are: 

1) Are recent tariffs affecting your business operations? If so, how?

2) Have your sales decreased since the implementation of the tariffs? 

3) Is your business being impacted by recent ICE activity or immigration enforcement actions? If so, how? 

4) If current conditions continue, how long do you anticipate your business will remain sustainable? 

5) What changes or support would most help your business adapt to current economic and political pressures? 

6) Have you reduced staff, hours, or services in response to recent challenges? 

7) If you had to reduce operations, how many employees were impacted or laid off?

8) Are you interested in attending a future workshop, roundtable or forum to discuss these issues and connect with other business owners?

Click here to view and complete the survey.

Sakulenzki said she has reached out to a construction industry trade association representative. She said that person is due to get back to her with advice on what employers and employees should do if ICE raids their premises.

“I had one construction company owner tell me that he normally has 16 to 18 construction workers working on his site. On that day, he said, only two showed up. When you cannot get the labor, costs go up and projects get delayed. They can get delayed for six months to a year.”

Sakulenzki said even though she is a United States citizen, she herself is fearful.

“Even I’m fearful. Obviously, my skin is brown. I do drive a nice car. I do dress decently, but that doesn’t matter. That doesn’t matter to them. They can pick you up at random. So I’m thinking, should I be carrying my birth certificate around? Should I be carrying my passport? It’s really not something to laugh at. I mean, just so many people have been hurt by this.”

The Rio Grande Guardian asked Sakulenzki if she had seen a recent letter U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez had sent to President Trump. In the letter, Gonzalez suggests the president sign an executive order that allows small business owners to sponsor undocumented immigrants so they can legally work without fear of deportation.

Sakulenzki said she had seen the letter.

“I wholeheartedly agree with the congressman. it might be the beginning of the path to citizenship, and that’s what we have been fighting for and suggesting for years, for more than 10, 15, 20 years. So, yes, definitely, I wholeheartedly agree with Congressman Gonzalez.”

Sakulenzki said she had also read the comments of McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, that the federal government explore options for lawful employment for all law-abiding people in the United States. That would include undocumented immigrants.

“Mayor Villalobos voiced his opinions very strongly. I was very pleasantly surprised. I am very proud of him,” Sakulenzki said of Villalobos.

Sakulenzki said the survey will remain on her chamber’s social media pages until Friday. She said she wants to garner the opinions of the small business community quickly, so she can immediately present them to elected officials, both at the federal and state level.

“We can’t waste any more time. We need to turn around and show our elected officials the facts and figures of what’s happening here in the Rio Grande Valley,” Sakulenzki said.

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