Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson Backs Trump’s Deportation Plans Amid Workforce Concerns in Texas

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson voiced support for President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed policy to deport undocumented migrants accused of violent crimes, during a Fox News interview. 

Johnson cited the strain undocumented immigrants place on the healthcare system and the broader costs of unregulated immigration. 

“Of course, we’d stand by President Trump in an effort to get rid of people in our country illegally who have violent criminal records,” Johnson said, emphasizing the need to address border security. 

Johnson’s remarks have sparked strong reactions. Critics, including Dallas City Council member Jaime Resendez, accuse the mayor of using fear tactics to politically scapegoat immigrants.

“As the son of formerly undocumented immigrants, I find the mayor’s remarks not only deeply misleading but also harmful in their fearmongering,” Resendez wrote on social media. 

Despite Johnson's public support, his influence on immigration enforcement is limited under Dallas' council-manager system, where policy decisions are shared among 14 council members. 

Additionally, the mayor’s stance comes amid broader concerns regarding the economic impact of deporting undocumented migrants. Texas, home to a booming construction industry, relies heavily on immigrant labor. According to a report by the American Immigration Council, more than 500,000 immigrants work in construction statewide, with nearly 60% undocumented. 

Stan Marek, CEO of the Houston-based Marek construction firm, warned of devastating consequences if large-scale deportations proceed.

“Housing would disappear. I think they’d lose half their labor,” Marek said, adding that Texas’ labor force simply cannot sustain its rapid growth without immigrant workers. 

Economist Ray Perryman echoed these concerns, emphasizing the gap between labor demand and workforce availability. 

“There are more undocumented people working in Texas right now than there are unemployed people in Texas,” Perryman noted, highlighting the impracticality of mass deportations. 

Photo Creator: Sandy Huffaker; Migrant worker in Broccoli field 

 

Meanwhile, undocumented workers like Veronica Carrasco, a house painter and single mother of three, are bracing for the impact of stricter immigration policies. 

“It makes me frustrated and worried,” said Carrasco, who has lived in Texas for over a decade. 

Facing the possibility of deportation, Carrasco has sought legal advice to ensure her children can stay in the U.S. under a relative’s care if necessary. Carrasco also refuted claims that immigrants take opportunities from American workers. 

“I didn’t come to take an opportunity from anyone. What happens is that no one wants to do the dirty work,” she said.

President-elect Donald Trump and Gov. Abbott in Eagle Pass, TX 

Trump’s renewed focus on deportation has reignited debates over federal and state responsibilities regarding immigration policy. Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott has expressed readiness to support the new administration, while Trump’s allies have proposed building detention centers to facilitate deportations. 

However, experts believe the path forward requires bipartisan cooperation. Marek suggested a guest-worker program similar to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to balance labor demands with national security concerns.