Trump’s Immigration Policies Hurt The U. S. Construction Industry

President Trump’s efforts to end DACA and TPS, along with restrictions on H-1B visas, could hurt the American construction industry by eliminating up to 1.5 million skilled tradespeople from the labor pool. Associated General Contractors reports that 82% of member employers expect to experience problems filling labor force needs because of these restrictions. Washington D.C. Laborers Local 11, serving 200 contractors, estimates 25% of its members hold TPS, or Temporary Protected Status, as refugees from conflict torn countries, mostly from El Salvador.

Ohio based Independence Excavating, a site development and underground utility contractor, complains that 75% of his skilled tradespeople working 12 to 18 feet underground have been with the company for 20 years, and may lose their right to work and live in the U. S. under Trump’s changing immigration policies.