ICE raids at construction sites starting to disrupt major projects

President Donald Trump’s efforts to deport undocumented workers are causing disruption to some major construction projects.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently raided two university projects—one in Tallahassee, Fla., and another in San Antonio, Texas. More than 100 undocumented workers were arrested at the Tallahassee site. Following the raid, some jobsites in Florida reportedly paused or shut down work for the day.

The number of undocumented construction workers is difficult to determine, but some estimates reach as high as one-fifth of the labor force. Construction industry leaders have called for providing more pathways into the industry for undocumented workers.

Associated Builders and Contractors has been calling for bipartisan solutions for the immigration system for more than 20 years. With the industry already facing a serious shortage of workers, industry leaders fear that mass deportations could make the situation a lot worse.