Undocumented Construction Workers Say Trump Crackdown Fuels Exploitation

Undocumented Construction Workers Say Trump Crackdown Fuels Exploitation
………………….

As the Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement, undocumented workers in the US construction industry report growing exploitation by some contractors who, they say, are cutting pay and extending hours under threat of deportation, The Guardian reported. An undocumented tile setter in Tucson, Arizona, said contractors cut rates by up to 40% when Trump returned to office. Many other workers now fear leaving home except to work and avoid main roads due to immigration raids.

Roughly 34% of US construction workers are foreign-born, and industry groups warn that mass deportations worsen labor shortages and drive up housing costs. The National Association of Home Builders called for secure borders but urged against mass removals, while the Building Industry Association of Washington stressed the need for pathways to legal employment for undocumented workers.

Advocates say some employers exploit workers’ fear of ICE raids to deny fair wages and safe working conditions. Laura Becerra of the Workers Defense Project in Texas said undocumented workers rarely report abuse due to fear of retaliation. In Washington state, union organizers say threats of immigration enforcement discourage workers from filing complaints.

A worker in Washington described companies paying as little as $10 an hour and threatening to report those who speak out. Savannah Palmira, of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, said ICE raids are undermining efforts to hold exploitative contractors accountable. While the Arizona Builders Alliance declined to comment, industry groups nationwide continue to warn that harsh immigration crackdowns could deepen workforce shortages and impact housing affordability.