The article text:
At his firm in Maryland, Victor Moran, the CEO of a 1,200-person cleaning business, is taking extra measures to ensure his new hires are legally authorized to work in the United States. His company, Total Quality, has experienced a loss of about 15 workers since President Trump's administration initiated a crackdown stripping temporary protections from immigrants, notably those from Venezuela and Nicaragua. Concerns are mounting that expanding these policies could lead to further losses, impacting hundreds more of his employees who rely on similar work permits that are not easily replaceable.
These sentiments echo throughout various sectors in the United States, as Trump's push against undocumented immigrants intensifies, risking a critical supply of labor essential to the economy. Census data shows that nearly one in five workers in the US was an immigrant in the last year, the highest level seen in decades, compared to under 10% in 1994. Trump has confirmed that his focus is on those living in the country unlawfully, constituting about 4% of the total workforce. Targeting mass deportations was a pivotal aspect of his campaign—a stance that resonated with a significant portion of Hispanic voters.
The administration has resumed workplace raids targeting illegal immigrants—tactics that had been curtailed under President Biden. However, the current White House's strategies appear to be more extensive, affecting individuals with student visas, halting refugee admissions, and seeking to rescind temporary work permits granted by prior administrations. These actions pose significant disruption risks for millions who have settled in the US over the years.
Justino Gomez, originally from El Salvador and now a resident of Maryland, expresses his fears about losing protections that allow him to work under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. At 73, he has spent three decades contributing to the US economy, from working in restaurants to his current role in cleaning. Yet, with the threat of deportation looming, his anxiety grows daily, hampering his life both at work and in public spaces.
The economic implications of such policies are also under scrutiny. Experts predict that if the situation escalates, it could destabilize the economy further. Giovanni Peri, an economist at the University of California, Davis, warns that fears surrounding deportation could push immigrant workers into hiding—thus stalling workforce growth, which had already reached a plateau following Trump's inauguration. A diminished workforce may ultimately lead to inflationary pressures, compelling companies to raise wages in a bid to attract workers.
Adam Lampert, CEO of a caregiving company in Texas, highlights how crucial immigrant labor is for his business, which employs around 80% foreign-born workers. He notes that changes in immigration policy have already caused some workers to leave, creating ripple effects that challenge the sustainability of his service rates. Similarly, Esmail Porsa, CEO of a major Texas hospital network, emphasizes the urgent need for immediate workforce availability, especially as the population ages.
Despite acknowledging these disruptions in labor-intensive sectors, the Department of Homeland Security maintains that such enforcement actions remain vital to its agenda. The homebuilding industry is also feeling the impact, with decreasing attendance on construction sites causing delay and increased expenses in an already struggling market. Efforts from industry leaders calling for Congressional reform have yielded little hope for near-term changes, leading to a more enforcement-driven atmosphere than one focused on immigration policy discussions.
At his firm in Maryland, Victor Moran, the CEO of a 1,200-person cleaning business, is taking extra measures to ensure his new hires are legally authorized to work in the United States. His company, Total Quality, has experienced a loss of about 15 workers since President Trump's administration initiated a crackdown stripping temporary protections from immigrants, notably those from Venezuela and Nicaragua. Concerns are mounting that expanding these policies could lead to further losses, impacting hundreds more of his employees who rely on similar work permits that are not easily replaceable.
These sentiments echo throughout various sectors in the United States, as Trump's push against undocumented immigrants intensifies, risking a critical supply of labor essential to the economy. Census data shows that nearly one in five workers in the US was an immigrant in the last year, the highest level seen in decades, compared to under 10% in 1994. Trump has confirmed that his focus is on those living in the country unlawfully, constituting about 4% of the total workforce. Targeting mass deportations was a pivotal aspect of his campaign—a stance that resonated with a significant portion of Hispanic voters.
The administration has resumed workplace raids targeting illegal immigrants—tactics that had been curtailed under President Biden. However, the current White House's strategies appear to be more extensive, affecting individuals with student visas, halting refugee admissions, and seeking to rescind temporary work permits granted by prior administrations. These actions pose significant disruption risks for millions who have settled in the US over the years.
Justino Gomez, originally from El Salvador and now a resident of Maryland, expresses his fears about losing protections that allow him to work under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. At 73, he has spent three decades contributing to the US economy, from working in restaurants to his current role in cleaning. Yet, with the threat of deportation looming, his anxiety grows daily, hampering his life both at work and in public spaces.
The economic implications of such policies are also under scrutiny. Experts predict that if the situation escalates, it could destabilize the economy further. Giovanni Peri, an economist at the University of California, Davis, warns that fears surrounding deportation could push immigrant workers into hiding—thus stalling workforce growth, which had already reached a plateau following Trump's inauguration. A diminished workforce may ultimately lead to inflationary pressures, compelling companies to raise wages in a bid to attract workers.
Adam Lampert, CEO of a caregiving company in Texas, highlights how crucial immigrant labor is for his business, which employs around 80% foreign-born workers. He notes that changes in immigration policy have already caused some workers to leave, creating ripple effects that challenge the sustainability of his service rates. Similarly, Esmail Porsa, CEO of a major Texas hospital network, emphasizes the urgent need for immediate workforce availability, especially as the population ages.
Despite acknowledging these disruptions in labor-intensive sectors, the Department of Homeland Security maintains that such enforcement actions remain vital to its agenda. The homebuilding industry is also feeling the impact, with decreasing attendance on construction sites causing delay and increased expenses in an already struggling market. Efforts from industry leaders calling for Congressional reform have yielded little hope for near-term changes, leading to a more enforcement-driven atmosphere than one focused on immigration policy discussions.
