Immigration Enforcement Adds Uncertainty to Roofing Workforce

The immigration crackdown has impacted the roofing industry and its workforce, but litigation against and brought forth by the federal government may change how enforcement and visa processing operate.

Meanwhile, a recent Supreme Court decision might create an atmosphere where immigration agents can detain citizens based on their appearance and the language they speak.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that immigration agents in Los Angeles could consider an individual’s race during sweeps.

“If the officers learn that the individual they stopped is a U. S. citizen or otherwise lawfully in the United States, they promptly let the individual go,” wrote Justice Brett Kavanaugh in the ruling.

The three dissenting opinions warned that citizens are at risk of being detained “simply because of their looks, their accents, and the fact that they make a living by doing manual labor.”

Even before the Supreme Court decision, Latino people in the country have been the target of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and arrests. The roofing industry is among those that have been targeted, with about a third of its workforce being Hispanic.

According to ProPublica, more than 170 U.S. citizens have been held by immigration agents since the beginning of President Trump’s second term. More than 20 reported being held over a day without being able to contact loved ones or a lawyer. About 50 Americans were held after agents questioned their citizenship, almost all of whom were Latino.

Class-Action Lawsuit

An Alabama man has brought a class-action lawsuit against the federal government after he was detained twice by immigration authorities.

Leonardo Garcia Venegas, a construction worker born in the U.S., was apprehended last May on a construction site in Alabama by armed agents in camouflage who “went straight for the Latino workers,” according to the lawsuit. He showed them his REAL ID, which is only issued to those legally in the U.S., but agents allegedly dismissed it as fake.

He was then detained two weeks later at another private construction site when an immigration patrol saw him working, entered the site and arrested him.

Following these incidents, Garcia Venegas sued the Department of Homeland Security, working with the Institute for Justice. The suit, filed Sept. 29, accuses immigration authorities of violating Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure.

It calls for enjoining ICE and its immigration enforcement agencies from conducting any further warrantless construction site raids or seizures of citizens and other lawfully present workers.

“Armed and masked federal officers are raiding private construction sites in Alabama, detaining whoever they think looks undocumented, and ignoring proof of citizenship,” said Institute for Justice Attorney Jared McClain. “That’s unconstitutional, and this case seeks to bring that practice to an end.”

A statement from the Department of Homeland Security said that during a targeted worksite operation, “Garcia Venegas attempted to obstruct and prevent the lawful arrest of an illegal alien.”

“Any U.S. citizens arrested are because of obstructing or assaulting law enforcement,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a written statement.

Whether the class action lawsuit gains traction and succeeds remains to be seen. Should it prevail, though, it could set a precedent for other states to follow suit in ending warrantless raids.

Sanctuary City Policies and H-1B Fees

Published reports indicate the U.S. Department of Justice is appealing a ruling dismissing a case involving sanctuary policies in certain U.S. cities.

In February, a lawsuit filed by the DOJ accused local, county and state governments in Illinois of blocking federal immigration law. Specifically, it addressed rules in place that prevented state and local law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement.

A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in July, indicating the U.S. lacked standing to sue with respect to Sanctuary Policies. The DOJ was given a month to amend its complaint, but didn’t do so. The ruling was converted into one with prejudice.

According to ABC-affiliated WLS, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate on Oct. 24 filed an appeal with the Seventh Circuit.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit on Oct. 16 that challenges the Trump administration’s new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa petitions. The chamber argues it is unlawful because it overrides provisions in the Immigration and Nationality Act that govern the H-1B program.

“The new $100,000 visa fee will make it cost-prohibitive for U.S. employers, especially start-ups and small and midsize businesses, to utilize the H-1B program, which was created by Congress expressly to ensure that American businesses of all sizes can access the global talent they need to grow their operations here in the U.S.,” said Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber.

Though the roofing industry doesn’t use H-1B visas, the lawsuit could set a precedent for how other visa programs, like H-2Bs, are governed in the future. The National Roofing Contractors Association believes, based on members of Congress opposing the new fee, that the lawsuit could renew legislative efforts regarding immigration reform.

Congress has introduced H.R. 5494, bipartisan legislation that would create a new class of visas known as H-2Cs. These would help contractors fill long-vacant, year-round positions.

“This legislation will provide a vital resource to meeting the workforce challenges we face today and in the future,” said NRCA CEO McKay Daniels in a September 2025 statement. “We urge Congress to act now to help ensure America’s roofing contractors can continue providing affordable, life-sustaining shelter and support our nation’s economic prosperity.”