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Immigration enforcement disrupts construction crews, NAHB warns
The Home Builders Institute estimates the industry must recruit about 723,000 workers annually, and immigrant labor has accounted for roughly one in four residential construction workers on job sites.
Homebuilders say stepped-up immigration enforcement and job-site raids are disrupting construction crews as the residential sector continues to face a long-running skilled labor shortage, HousingWire reports.
According to the Home Builders Institute, the industry needs to recruit about 723,000 workers each year to meet current demand and close the labor gap. The outlet notes immigrant workers have been a key part of the workforce, at about one in four residential construction workers based on official headcount statistics, and builders say the pressure has intensified this summer due to fears among workers who are legally authorized to work in the U.S.
HousingWire reports that the impact varies by market, with some builders describing it as significant disruption and others calling it an existential threat to their ability to keep operating, complete homes, and repay construction loans.
The industry’s concerns were raised with lawmakers on June 10 during the 2026 National Association of Home Builders legislative conference, where more than 1,100 homebuilders, remodelers, and other stakeholders met. The advocacy efforts include support for the Dignity Act, an expansion of H-2B visas, and more funding for apprenticeships and trade education.