NAHB Criticizes Immigration Enforcement Due to Affect on Housing Construction

In a construction industry already facing numerous challenges, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has released a critical statement on the current federal immigration crackdown due to its reportedly negative effect on the industry’s labor force.

Official response and confirmed impact

Off the bat, NAHB noted members of the trade organization have reported that “increased immigration enforcement and jobsite raids are heightening worker fears and further straining the construction labor pool,” specifically shortening the industry by about 300,000 workers, according to governmental data.

“Immigrant workers are vital to meeting the nation’s housing needs, accounting for more than one-quarter of the construction workforce,” the statement read.

“The domestic labor pipeline alone cannot meet national or industry demand.”

NAHB said that it has been in contact with the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to voice its concerns directly.

Overall, these public comments represent stronger pushback from a prominent housing advocacy organization against federal immigration actions undertaken over the past year and a half, as the negative impacts on housing have become more clear.

Citing data from a Home Builders Institute (HBI) study, the statement noted that “the skilled labor shortage delays construction, drives up labor costs and raises home prices.” The study specifically found that the labor shortage on average adds two months to a construction timeline, reducing annual housing production by 19,000 homes, which represents a loss of $8.143 billion.