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Across U.S. building sites, intensified immigration enforcement under President Trump is deepening an already severe labor shortage. Contractors describe crews too scared to show up after ICE checkpoints and raids, slowing work and inflating costs. In Washington, D.C., bridge contractor Rurick Palomino says documented employees were detained for hours, pushing his federally funded project behind. An industry survey found 92% of firms struggle to hire; many report disruptions tied to enforcement. Homeland Security says 400,000 have been deported since Trump’s second term began, with 1.6 million self-deporting, even as the White House insists Americans can fill the jobs.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.