Construction Industry Already Feeling Effects of Trump Immigration Policies
With just two weeks in office, President Trump has put his proposed immigration policies into full swing
Feb. 3, 2025
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Immigrants currently account for more than a quarter of the construction industry's labor force.
Since taking office on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump’s immigration policies are already in full swing, and with immigrants making up a sizable portion of the construction workforce, many housing experts wonder about the long-term effects of these policies on the industry. Citing data from TheWall Street Journal, Construction Dive reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ramped up its detainment and arrest efforts, arresting 1,000 people during the last week. At the same time, about 26% of construction workers are immigrants, and an estimated 13% of them aren't authorized to work in the U.S.
While Trump campaigned on deporting anyone unauthorized to live and work in the U.S., doing so would be monumentally expensive, said Anirban Basu, chief economist for Associated Builders and Contractors. Basu said that estimates indicate it would cost $88 billion to deport 1 million people in one year. Read more
