Overview
- An Associated General Contractors of America survey from the summer found 92% of firms struggling to hire, with 28% reporting impacts from immigration actions in the past six months.
- Reported enforcement effects included ICE visits to job sites at 5% of firms, worker losses tied to actual or rumored raids at 10%, and subcontractor staff losses driven by fear at 20%.
- Contractors describe project slowdowns and cost increases as crews skip shifts or leave mid-task, disrupting tightly sequenced construction work, according to AGC chief economist Ken Simonson.
- A D.C.-area business owner reported ICE checkpoints on the Baltimore–Washington Parkway and arrests of Latino construction workers, citing heightened anxiety among crews and subcontractors.
- Maryland contractor Kenny Mallick, a Trump voter, said the crackdown is hurting his business and plans to step back from construction work due to mounting labor shortages.