(The Center Square) — Hosston truck stop developer James Silvio addressed the Caddo Commission this week concerning a recent a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid and the ongoing debate on a 2% sales tax.
Silvio presented engineering plans at Thursday’s meeting detailing his $13 million truck stop project to the Caddo Commission as the push for a sales tax increase continues. He spoke about the ICE raid that occurred at the truck stop on March 13.
Sylvio called into question the letter Caddo Parish Commissioner Chris Kracman received from Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City.
“This raid happened with no local law enforcement involved. And, all of a sudden, he comes up with a letter saying that there was a raid conducted. It just doesn’t make any sense to me,” Silvio said.
According to Silvio, the seven foreign nationals were not deported but instead await a hearing in April for their work permits.
“We thought the guys were fully vetted by immigration naturalization. They have alien numbers,” Sylvio said to the commission. “I talked to the attorney and he said they were undocumented workers. Undocumented individuals. They were not arrested. They were detained. According to his letter they were deported, well they were not, I visited with them a few days back. I went to see them.
“So, they are waiting for their work permits to come through. They have a hearing in April. So, we may actually get these guys back.”
Silvio’s statement comes days after the ICE reportedly detained and deported seven workers from the Hosston truck stop.
Mayor Kim Jaynes of Hosston followed Silvio’s statements with her own comments about the recent ICE raid.
“During a workshop meeting on March 17, 2025, Commissioner Chris Kracman referenced a letter from State Representative Danny McCormick suggesting that TA employees are primarily immigrants. That’s all they employ. This claim is misleading. Several of the employees come from Hosston,” Jaynes said.
A public hearing was held at the regular session to address the ordinance. Jon Glover came forward expressing concerns from a resident’s standpoint.
“There were some mishaps here– some missteps. And those missteps have brought us to where we are. I asked whether or not there were concrete documents that we actually entered into an agreement with this pilot program,” Glover said. “Though we have seen minutes that there were discussions, there was never really an agreement in writing that was done.”
The tax has sparked continuous controversy as residents and commissioners are divided on the proposed 2% sales tax at the TIF location.
“The parish hasn’t paid a dime for this. The parish hasn’t spent any money on this, this is all out of our pocket,” Silvio said when referencing the work already done at the location.
“They’re doing raids in New York, Chicago, and Denver, and now Hosston, it just doesn’t add up,” Silvio added.
Kracman held his stance in opposition to the tax as he’s done in previous sessions.
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“On principle, I’m not gonna vote on a tax increase. Not gonna happen. Especially when we’re already doing a property tax abatement.” Kracman said. “I was against this, and am against this on principle.”
The commission will have a final vote on the tax on April 17.