U.S. Virgin Islands Recovery Never Hinged on Undocumented Immigrants, Bryan Says

As the federal government tightens immigration laws, Governor Bryan says RebuildVI will draw workers from the U.S. mainland, though he acknowledges rising labor costs as a challenge.

In his interview with the Consortium earlier this week, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. clarified that his administration's strategy for rebuilding the U.S. Virgin Islands after the devastating storms of 2017 was never to depend on undocumented immigrants. Addressing the current federal crackdown on illegal immigration, Governor Bryan stated, “Our problem was never to rely on illegal immigration to do our recovery. Our plan was to be able to get workers from the U.S. workforce.”

The governor expressed skepticism about the sustainability of President Trump's immigration policies, particularly the plan to transport illegal immigrants back to their homelands. "I think the President's plans are lofty," he remarked. "They don't have anywhere to put all these people." He highlighted the logistical challenges by noting the current capacity issues in detention facilities: "The jails are full in San Juan, they're full in Florida. They're full in Texas."