NAHB Responds as Immigration Enforcement Keeps Legal Workers Off Job Sites
Originally Published by: NAHB — September 25, 2026
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As the housing industry faces a severe labor shortage, NAHB members report that increased immigration enforcement and jobsite raids are heightening worker fears and further straining the construction labor pool.
In some markets, stepped up immigration enforcement has discouraged legally authorized workers from reporting to jobsites, delaying home construction and raising costs as the nation confronts a housing shortage of about 1.2 million units.
Immigrant workers are vital to meeting the nation’s housing needs, accounting for more than one-quarter of the construction workforce. The domestic labor pipeline alone cannot meet national or industry demand.
Government data indicate that construction is short about 300,000 workers. A landmark Home Builders Institute study released in June 2025 found that the skilled labor shortage delays construction, drives up labor costs and raises home prices. On average, shortages add two months to construction timelines, reduce annual housing production by 19,000 homes and cost builders and consumers $10 billion each year.
NAHB is Acting on Multiple Fronts
NAHB believes a lasting solution requires a multifaceted approach:
- Securing the border without sacrificing American business interests to overly aggressive or unlawful enforcement,
- Creating legal pathways for certain workers to remain in the U.S., and
- Strengthening efforts to attract more Americans to rewarding careers in the skilled trades.
NAHB has been in contact with senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to voice concerns about inconsistent and overly aggressive law enforcement tactics targeting residential construction workers.
On Sept. 16, 2026, NAHB filed an amicus brief in the Fifth Circuit immigration case Sosnova Rodriquez v. Ortega, arguing that everyone in the United States deserves fair and consistent due process. NAHB said indefinite detention without the opportunity to seek bond separates people from their families, communities and workplaces. Oral arguments were held September 24, and a decision could come in the coming weeks or months.
The government’s new mandatory detention policy also has significant consequences for employers, workers and consumers. NAHB’s brief states that the policy has removed workers from the labor force, forced project cancellations, reduced revenue, eliminated jobs for U.S.-born workers and sharply decreased the number of homes available for sale.
On Capitol Hill, NAHB is urging Congress to pass the DIGNITY Act (H.R. 4393), which would strengthen border security and create an earned path to permanent work authorization for certain undocumented workers who meet clear, rigorous requirements.
Promoting Careers in the Skilled Trades
NAHB pairs its immigration reform efforts with a strong push to attract more Americans to meaningful careers in the skilled trades. At the local, state and federal levels, NAHB is urging policymakers to expand apprenticeships and trade education. We are also calling on Congress to pass the CONSTRUCTS Act (H.R. 1055/S. 189), bipartisan legislation to prepare young adults for rewarding careers in the construction trades.
Both NAHB and HBI are committed to addressing this critical issue through collaborative programs, education initiatives and advocacy efforts. The organizations aim to boost the skilled labor workforce and equip the next generation of construction professionals with the skills needed to meet growing demand.
As HBI graduates enter the workforce, they help fill critical labor gaps—strengthening the residential construction industry and contributing to lower housing costs across the country.
NAHB also supports the following solutions:
- Preserve legal pathways that allow immigrants to enter and work in the United States, including the H-2B temporary guest worker program, which helps fill construction jobs when qualified domestic workers are unavailable.
- Clarify that employers are responsible for verifying only the identity and work authorization of their direct employees—not workers employed by subcontractors.
When ICE Comes Calling
NAHB’s legal team prepared When ICE Comes Calling, a guide outlining best practices for business owners during an ICE raid. It is also available in Spanish.
NAHB also worked with immigration law expert Laura Foote Reiff of Greenberg Traurig, LLP to develop additional resources on ICE raids and immigration enforcement: