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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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Business leaders are urging the Trump administration to add more work visas amid fears of labor shortages created by the president's mass deportation program.
"We need action, not rhetoric," George Carrillo, the CEO of the Hispanic Construction Council, told Newsweek. "First, expand the H-2B visa program. The 62,000 visas available are laughably inadequate when industries like construction need between 700,000 and 900,000 workers to meet demand. Second, create work visa pathways for immigrant workers who have been holding our economy together for decades."
Why It Matters
The H-2B visa is a temporary, nonimmigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for seasonal or short-term nonagricultural jobs when there aren't enough American workers available. The construction sector is among the industries that commonly use this visa.
Read More on Politics
President Donald Trump has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history to address illegal immigration and border security. However, the policy has sparked concerns about its potential effects on the economy.
The American Immigration Council projects that the mass removal policy could carry a one-time cost of $315 billion. Furthermore, deporting 1 million individuals each year could lead to annual expenses reaching up to $88 billion.
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What To Know
"The answer is simple—we need to increase the number of work visas offered," Adam Lampert, the CEO of Manchester Care Homes, told Newsweek.
He added: "Over the 35 years since we enacted the current immigration laws, our economy has grown 5 TIMES LARGER, but we have hardly increased the number of workers that we will allow into the country to support this growth. For the benefit of every American, this needs to change."
The removal of thousands of undocumented workers could disrupt supply chains, exacerbate labor shortages and result in higher prices for consumers.
When asked about the direct effects of recent deportation orders on their industries and workforce, business leaders voiced their concerns.
"The administration's immigration orders have dealt a blow to the construction industry and gutted a labor force that keeps our projects running," Carrillo said.
"Nearly 30 percent of our workers are immigrants, and their removal is creating delays on 20 percent of construction projects. We're already battling a 500,000-worker shortfall, and if these policies continue, that number will hit over 1.5 million by 2030," he added.
Immigrant workers play a vital role in the U.S. construction industry. Nationally, immigrants make up about 25 percent of the construction workforce, but in certain states, that figure is much higher.
In California and New Jersey, immigrants account for more than 40 percent of construction workers. In Texas and Florida, that figure is about 38 percent. In Nevada and Maryland, immigrant workers make up 36 percent of the construction labor force.
These findings are based on analyses by the National Association of Home Builders and the Center for American Progress.
Carrillo said stalled immigration reform posed significant risks to economic stability and community well-being, particularly in the construction sector—which is already grappling with a labor shortage that has contributed to a 1.5-million-home deficit in the housing market, per a report by the Home Builders Institute.
"Beyond housing, there is an urgent need to rebuild communities and critical infrastructure in areas devastated by natural disasters, such as Asheville, North Carolina, after hurricanes; Los Angeles, following wildfires; and states like Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, and Kentucky after destructive tornadoes," he said.
Carrillo said addressing these challenges through immigration reform could play a critical role in alleviating the labor shortages affecting the construction industry. He argued that granting employment visas to undocumented workers could provide substantial economic benefits.
"Granting work visas to 900,000 undocumented construction workers could generate $97.5 billion in new revenue annually, potentially rising to $103.5 billion-$169.5 billion when accounting for economic ripple effects, while also protecting the $60 billion currently contributed by ITIN businesses," he said. "Comprehensive reform is essential to address these workforce shortages, support recovery efforts, and secure America's economic future."
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Securing the Border and the U.S. Workforce
Carrillo's argument for immigration reform as a solution to labor shortages in the construction industry intersects with broader concerns in other sectors, such as agriculture, where workforce challenges are similarly critical.
While business leaders have acknowledged the necessity of securing the southern border and focusing on deporting migrants with criminal records, they also see the potential in offering legal pathways for undocumented workers in key industries.
"We would like to see continued focus on deporting violent criminals and securing the border. From there, a focus on commonsense steps to create an opportunity to earn legal status for the current workforce in critical industries like food production, dreamers, and spouses of U.S. citizens is appropriate," Matt Teagarden, the CEO of the Kansas Livestock Association, told Newsweek.
Agricultural production could fall by $30 billion to $60 billion if Trump's deportation policy is implemented, according to the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC).
Rebecca Shi, the CEO of ABIC, shared her insights into the growing workforce challenges resulting from Trump's immigration policies.
"Our members are expressing both concern and optimism. With over 1.7 million open jobs across the country, there is deep worry about the growing threat of mass deportations, including people without criminal records and people on legal visas, and the fear and uncertainty that accompany it, as well as optimism that after 40+ years of failure, President Trump can both secure the border and America's workforce," she said.
Under Trump's hard-line immigration agenda, the Department of Homeland Security recently ordered migrants who entered the U.S. through the CBP One app to leave and revoked the legal status for thousands of migrants from countries such as Venezuela, Haiti and Nicaragua.
"There is growing apprehension about the instability surrounding workers who are currently 'legal' and who will become 'illegal' once their legal work permit programs end," Shi said. "Current protections, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), could be dismantled, leaving many workers vulnerable and employers struggling to fill critical roles."
What People Are Saying
George Carrillo, the CEO of the Hispanic Construction Council, told Newsweek: "The administration is too busy ignoring worker shortages and focused on implementing tariffs to care about how industries like construction are collapsing under their watch."
Rebecca Shi, the CEO of the American Business Immigration Coalition, told Newsweek: "Our members agree that we need a secure border, and we must address the broken immigration system that's worsening our workforce crisis. With a 94 percent decrease in border encounters from one year ago, President Trump has successfully secured the border—now we can secure America's workforce, bring down prices with sensible reforms."
Matt Teagarden, the CEO of the Kansas Livestock Association, told Newsweek: "Businesses are making certain their employment document files are in order. They also are confirming their rights and responsibilities in this area as well as helping their employees understand their rights."
Adam Lampert, the CEO of Manchester Care Homes, told Newsweek: "Immigrant employees are totally on edge. Employees don't even want to discuss immigration for fear of reprisal and/or deportation, despite the fact that they are working with legal visas."
What Happens Next
Business leaders have made it clear that they will push for comprehensive immigration reform as they look to secure the workforce of vital sectors.
As the Trump administration continues to carry out its immigration policies, it remains to be seen whether it will balance border security with the needs of critical industries that rely on migrant labor.
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