ICE Raids Fuel Labor Shortages

The recent ICE arrests of construction workers in New Orleans, Tallahassee, and San Antonio have caused a lot of anxiety for undocumented laborers in the industry across the nation. Over 100 undocumented workers were arrested on their job site amidst the work day, some were sent to detention facilities, some were directly deported or sent to El Paso to wait for removal, and some are still unaccounted for according to their families. There is no confirmation on the exact number of undocumented workers in the construction industry, however, it is estimated to be about ⅕ of the workforce. This means that the continuation of ICE raids can stall or disrupt project deadlines, while also dramatically increasing the already existing labor shortage. Fear is not only pervading the workforce but also causing employers to worry as they are at risk of losing skilled laborers who trying to support their families. Employers and industry leaders are advocating for policy reforms, in hopes that the ongoing labor shortage crisis will prompt the government to create pathways to citizenship opportunities for these workers.