Trump vows to deport millions. Builders say it would drain their crews and drive up home costs

In Menifee, California, a KB Home single-family housing development is being constructed. Both presidential candidates are promising to build more homes, but former President Donald Trump’s plan to deport hundreds of thousands of people who work in construction would worsen labor shortages and drive home prices up. The construction industry relies heavily on foreign-born workers, with an estimated 1.5 million undocumented workers in the sector. Deportations would further strain an already tight labor pool, leading to fewer jobs and higher costs for homeowners. There are doubts within the industry about the feasibility of Trump’s deportation plan, but concerns remain about the impact on the construction workforce. The National Association of Home Builders is advocating for policy reforms to address the labor shortage and ease regulatory hurdles. The construction industry depends on immigrant workers to keep housing costs in check, and mass deportations would have a significant negative impact on home construction. Past experiences with state-level immigration crackdowns in Florida and Arizona have led to destabilization in the construction workforce and raised concerns about the effectiveness of such policies. Industry experts are calling for a serious conversation on immigration policy and reform to address the challenges facing the construction sector.