How will Trump’s mass deportation plans affect construction industry?

[rangerrebew]

How will Trump’s mass deportation plans affect construction industry?
By Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post
Published: February 16, 2025, 5:19am
 

President Donald Trump’s pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants has construction-industry watchers concerned about what enforcement operations might mean for the state’s workforce, laborer working conditions and housing prices.

Nationally, foreign-born workers, regardless of legal status, fill an estimated 30% of trade jobs like carpentry, plastering, masonry and electrical roles. The U.S. construction industry, meanwhile, employs an estimated 1.5 million undocumented workers — or 13% of its total workforce, according to the Pew Research Center.

While the Trump administration says it’s targeting undocumented individuals with criminal histories, industry professionals are bracing for what an expansion of the deportation criteria might mean for the sizable workforce here without legal papers.

A highly publicized raid in Denver and Aurora, Colorado, last week was billed as targeting members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, but immigration advocates and witnesses said federal agents detained people who were not gang members or criminals.

https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/feb/16/how-will-trumps-mass-deportation-plans-affect-construction-industry/

[rangerrebew]

How will NON-DEPORTATIONS affect the crime industry?

[libertybele]

Sadly in this area, ILLEGAL labor is used by contractors to bid jobs so that they can be competitive.

It needs to stop.

It is true that ILLEGALS can be found waiting around at Home Depot for day labor jobs.  That needs to stop.

DEPORT THEM ALL!!

[Fishrrman]

Around here, I'll reckon that at least 50% of the "construction workforce" is illegal.
Might well be closer to two-thirds.

No doubt that if they are all deported, there'll be disruption throughout the building trades.

I'm the staunchest anti-immigration poster in this forum.
But in the process of sending the undesirables back, we may also be forced to recognize that some of the illegals - a very modest number - ought to stay with some kind of "work permit" status, knowing they will foreign nationals "forever".

Call it... for lack of a better word... (cough)... a process of... "selection".
That kind of thing has been done before...

[libertybele]

Around here, I'll reckon that at least 50% of the "construction workforce" is illegal.
Might well be closer to two-thirds.

No doubt that if they are all deported, there'll be disruption throughout the building trades.

I'm the staunchest anti-immigration poster in this forum.
But in the process of sending the undesirables back, we may also be forced to recognize that some of the illegals - a very modest number - ought to stay with some kind of "work permit" status, knowing they will foreign nationals "forever".

Call it... for lack of a better word... (cough)... a process of... "selection".
That kind of thing has been done before...

Process of selecting?  By whose standards?  No and No.  No one gets to play God.  Sorry.  ILLEGALS have committed a crime by coming into the country ILLEGALLY they need to be deported with NO chance of coming into the country LEGALLY for 5 years.

Unless we make are laws strict and stringent, deportation will NOT be successful.  If people think that they can come here and all they have to do is work, that does nothing to keep them from coming in ILLEGALLY (with all the perks) -- what about those who come into this country LEGALLY???  That's a slippery slope and one that should not be climbed.

[Sighlass]

The thread of "who needs a new roof" in the next few years... (or owns a construction/roofing business).

Who will be the next roofer, unless Trump ups his deportations, probable the same illegals.... (probable more are crossing the border than Trump is deporting)... If Trump actually makes a dent, then you get your druggies and felons for roofers.... with a few good kids just making some money the hard/honest way.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Process of selecting?  By whose standards?  No and No.  No one gets to play God.  Sorry.  ILLEGALS have committed a crime by coming into the country ILLEGALLY they need to be deported with NO chance of coming into the country LEGALLY for 5 years.

Unless we make are laws strict and stringent, deportation will NOT be successful.  If people think that they can come here and all they have to do is work, that does nothing to keep them from coming in ILLEGALLY (with all the perks) -- what about those who come into this country LEGALLY???  That's a slippery slope and one that should not be climbed.

I support.

None can come illegally and stay, whether you are a doctor, engineer or a common laborer.

We need people here, but they must respect our laws and illegals have proven they do not care about our laws.

I have grandkid teenagers who would love to make money mowing lawns, keeping swimming pools clean and hauling furniture from stores.  Just like I did growing up.