Construction Crisis: Will Deportation Threaten LA’s Recovery?
los Angeles, reeling from the aftermath of devastating wildfires, faces a monumental task: rebuilding thousands of homes and businesses. Yet, looming over this recovery effort is a dark cloud: the threat of mass deportations under President Trump’s second term.
Cesar, a Mexican immigrant in his early 60s, embodies the precarious situation facing countless construction workers. He relies on day labor jobs, helping to rebuild the very fabric of LA. But, as Victor Narro, project director for the UCLA Labor Centre, points out, Cesar and others like him are frequently enough overlooked. These “second responders” are vital to LA’s construction industry, quietly contributing to the city’s growth. Narro warns,”If there are deportations,who is going to do the work of this large immigrant workforce?”
The situation is further complicated by LA’s notoriously complex building regulations,insurance delays,and sky-high housing costs. Dougal murray, CEO of Racing Green group, a builder of custom homes, believes stricter immigration policies could disproportionately impact lower-income housing.”People who have a lower budget will be more likely to work with unlicensed subcontractors or those who employ undocumented immigrants” due to lower costs, Murray explains.
Bob Kleiman, owner of a homebuilding company, expresses cautious optimism, hoping the Trump administration recognizes the potential damage mass deportations could inflict on a city already struggling to recover.”I’m an optimist that they won’t pull the rug out from underneath an already aggravated situation,” Kleiman says. “I hope they won’t move forward with something that will further add salt to this wound.”
However, Trump’s rhetoric and actions paint a starkly different picture.His campaign promises centered on intensifying border security and deporting record numbers of migrants, blaming undocumented immigrants for the nation’s housing affordability crisis. Following his reelection,the los Angeles City Council unanimously adopted a “sanctuary city” ordinance,barring city employees from aiding ICE unless legally required. Yet, Trump’s inauguration saw sweeping executive actions, including declaring a national emergency at the southern border and threatening to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities. He has also signaled plans for coordinated immigration sweeps in major cities alongside ICE.
The construction industry relies heavily on foreign-born workers. According to the 2023 American Community Survey, over a third of construction workers nationwide are foreign-born, with California leading the nation, tied with New Jersey, at 52%. While the Census bureau doesn’t directly ask about immigration status, the National Immigration Forum estimates undocumented workers constitute nearly a quarter of America’s construction workforce. Replacing them with legal American workers seems unlikely, considering the 276,000 open construction jobs reported in November, a significant figure despite a decrease from previous years.
Cameron Irwin, owner of Cambuild Constructions, acknowledges the shortage of skilled laborers in LA.”Building a house is strenuous. it’s hard work that requires a lot of physical labor,” irwin explains. “People are finding that they can do something that’s paying similar, and they don’t have to put that effort in. That’s where the undocumented workers come in.”
Irwin’s own Altadena home was destroyed in the recent fires, highlighting the personal impact of the crisis. He emphasizes the vital role immigrants play in California’s economy. “California is the fifth largest economy in the world. Part of that is due to the economic contributions of the immigrant community. If these deportation threats are carried out, it would have an enormous impact not only on a state level. It would be destructive.”
What are the potential consequences of mass deportations on LA’s construction workforce and the city’s recovery?
Construction Crisis: Will Deportation Threaten LA’s Recovery?
Los Angeles,reeling from the aftermath of devastating wildfires,faces a monumental task: rebuilding thousands of homes and businesses. Yet, looming over this recovery effort is a dark cloud: the threat of mass deportations under President Trump’s second term.
Cesar, a Mexican immigrant in his early 60s, embodies the precarious situation facing countless construction workers. He relies on day labor jobs, helping to rebuild the very fabric of LA.But, as Victor Narro, project director for the UCLA Labor Center, points out, Cesar and others like him are frequently overlooked. These “second responders” are vital to LA’s construction industry, quietly contributing to the city’s growth. Narro warns, “If there are deportations, who is going to do the work of this large immigrant workforce?”
Interview wiht Dougal Murray, CEO of Racing Green Group
We spoke to Dougal Murray, CEO of Racing Green Group, a builder of custom homes, to get his outlook on the potential impact of mass deportations on LA’s construction industry.
Archyde: Mr. Murray, many experts beleive that President Trump’s renewed focus on immigration enforcement could substantially impact the construction industry in Los Angeles. What are your thoughts on this?
Dougal Murray: It’s a valid concern. This city relies heavily on immigrant labor, both documented and undocumented, to build its homes, apartments, and infrastructure. Stricter immigration policies could lead to a shortage of workers, driving up labor costs and potentially slowing down construction projects. This could have a ripple effect on the entire economy.
Archyde: Could this disproportionately affect lower-income housing developments?
Murray: absolutely. People who have a lower budget will be more likely to work with unlicensed subcontractors or those who employ undocumented immigrants due to lower costs. That’s a risk, of course, because it could lead to unsafe construction practices or projects that don’t meet building codes.
Archyde: Do you see any potential solutions to this challenge?
Murray: The most effective solution is thorough immigration reform. Without it, we’ll continue to see this pendulum swing back and forth, with administrations alternating between toughening and easing immigration enforcement. This creates uncertainty for businesses and workers alike. We need a more stable and predictable system that allows us to attract and retain the skilled labor we need to build this city.
Bob Kleiman,owner of a homebuilding company,expresses cautious optimism,hoping the Trump administration recognizes the potential damage mass deportations could inflict on a city already struggling to recover. “I’m an optimist that they won’t pull the rug out from underneath an already aggravated situation,” kleiman says. “I hope they won’t move forward with something that will further add salt to this wound.”
Though, Trump’s rhetoric and actions paint a starkly different picture. His campaign promises centered on intensifying border security and deporting record numbers of migrants, blaming undocumented immigrants for the nation’s housing affordability crisis. Following his reelection, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously adopted a “sanctuary city” ordinance, barring city employees from aiding ICE unless legally required. Yet, Trump’s inauguration saw sweeping executive actions, including declaring a national emergency at the southern border and threatening to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities. He has also signaled plans for coordinated immigration sweeps in major cities alongside ICE.
The construction industry relies heavily on foreign-born workers. According to the 2023 American Community survey, over a third of construction workers nationwide are foreign-born, with California leading the nation, tied with New Jersey, at 52%. While the Census bureau doesn’t directly ask about immigration status,the National Immigration Forum estimates undocumented workers constitute nearly a quarter of America’s construction workforce. Replacing them with legal American workers seems unlikely, considering the 276,000 open construction jobs reported in November, a notable figure despite a decrease from previous years.
Cameron Irwin, owner of Cambuild Constructions, acknowledges the shortage of skilled laborers in LA. “Building a house is strenuous. It’s hard work that requires a lot of physical labor,” Irwin explains. ”People are finding that they can do something that’s paying similar, and they don’t have to put that effort in. That’s where the undocumented workers come in.”
Irwin’s own Altadena home was destroyed in the recent fires, highlighting the personal impact of the crisis. He emphasizes the vital role immigrants play in California’s economy. “California is the fifth largest economy in the world. Part of that is due to the economic contributions of the immigrant community. If these deportation threats are carried out, it would have an enormous impact not only on a state level; it would be destructive.”
What are your thoughts on the potential impact of mass deportations on Los Angeles’s recovery, considering the contributions of immigrant workers to the construction industry? join the discussion in the comments below.
