Marc Veasey Questions Secretary Wright on Mass Deportations' Impact on Permian Basin Oil Workforce

Impact of Mass Deportations on Permian Basin Workforce

• 📌 Rep. Marc Veasey questioned Secretary Wright about the potential consequences of mass deportations on the Permian Basin workforce.
• 💡 The Permian Basin accounts for nearly 50% of U.S. oil production, and a significant portion of its dangerous jobs are performed by undocumented workers.
• ⚠️ Veasey highlighted that studies show undocumented workers make up about 13% of the workforce in Odessa, a key hub for Permian operations.
• 📉 He expressed concern that a plan to deport 3,000 people daily, as reported by Steven Miller, would lead to lost production and a lack of replacement workers.

Secretary Wright's Response and Workforce Concerns

• 🗣️ Secretary Wright acknowledged employing many recent immigrants from Mexico and South America, describing them as hardworking but noted that in his company, all were working illegally.
• ❓ Wright questioned the accuracy of the 13% figure for undocumented workers and asked about the hiring practices, specifically if third-party companies were used.
• 🤝 He confirmed his company hired all employees directly and implemented the E-Verify system.

Disruption and Workforce Needs

• 🚨 Veasey inquired if the President should call in the National Guard to Midland, Texas, if large-scale deportations became disruptive, drawing a parallel to Los Angeles.
• ⚖️ Wright emphasized the need to distinguish between those who came legally and those who are here illegally.
• ⚠️ The discussion also touched upon the potential disruption to the oil patch workforce if Temporary Protected Status (TPS) were revoked for individuals.
• ⛽ Veasey concluded by asking if it's easier to drill for oil with no employees or by navigating EPA regulations, to which Wright responded that employees are definitely needed.