ICE Raids at Home Depots Disrupt Construction Labor Dynamics
Recent ICE raids targeting day laborers outside Home Depot stores in Los Angeles have sent shockwaves through the construction industry. The crackdown exacerbates an existing shortage of 500,000 workers, with Latin American immigrants historically filling critical gaps in small-scale projects.
Contractors face mounting delays as the informal hiring system collapses. "This will Ripple across the entire economy," warns George Carrillo of the Hispanic Construction Council, noting subcontractors' reliance on this labor pool. Home Depot maintains its no-solicitation policy but distances itself from enforcement actions.