Texas AFL-CIO delegates announce support for immigrants, Minneapolis solidarity at annual COPE Convention

By Jissela Cabrera

Assistant Director of News

GEORGETOWN– Texas AFL-CIO union representatives announce two resolutions passed at the 2026 COPE Convention on Jan. 25.

At the annual COPE Convention, delegates with the Texas American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) announced resolutions expressing support for Minneapolis solidarity, calling for limits on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in local communities, and outlining plans to assemble local unions to discuss future actions.

Texas AFL-CIO is the state labor federation representing more than 250,000 affiliated union members and advocating for working people — union and nonunion — including teachers, firefighters, farmworkers, public employees, doctors and nurses.

In a press release, Texas AFL-CIO stated that the first resolution supports Minneapolis solidarity and calls for ICE to be removed from communities.

Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar said the labor movement is united in standing up for immigrants, union members and families. The resolution follows the death of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse and member of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

“We condemn the horrific shooting of AFGE union member Alex Pretti and stand in solidarity with everyone impacted by ICE,” said Aguilar.

“We are committed to fighting back, and we’ll be organizing all of our unions, workplaces, and communities to fight back alongside us. An attack on one is an attack on all.”

The second resolution supports opposition to a potential expansion of immigration searches and the introduction of military troops in Texas.

The resolution includes plans to build a statewide table of representatives from Central Labor Councils, Area Labor Federations, statewide leadership and local union affiliates to prepare for and oppose expanded immigration enforcement and the introduction of military troops into Texas.

Texas Immigrant Worker Project Coordinator Fabiola Barreto said the union’s next step is to develop additional “Know Your Rights” trainings for members and workers, along with existing Fourth and Fifth Amendment trainings.

“We want to be able to try to create more trainings so that folks in the state of Texas or union members can feel empowered to be able to talk to their employers about immigration and how they can protect their workers,” said Barreto.

Barreto said it is important for younger generations to understand civic engagement and encouraged young workers to participate in organizing efforts and union activity.

“We know we are stronger when we work in coalition, and so when young workers stand up, when everyone stands up, we’re able to put a stop to fascism and to authoritarianism,” said Barreto.

“We need young people, like folks in college, to get involved with the labor movement, to join a union, and to unionize their workplace.”

To read the full resolutions, visit https://texasaflcio.org/news/texas-afl-cio-delegates-pass-resolutions-supporting-immigrants-calling-ice-out

To learn more about AFL-CIO, visit https://aflcio.org/