U
.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Southern California are exacerbating labor shortages in the state's homebuilding industry, which is already struggling to find workers. The National Association of Home Builders' CEO, Jim Tobin, suggests creating a construction-specific visa to address the issue and provide legal status for foreign-born workers.

    California has the highest concentration of undocumented workers in the U.S., with about 41% of its construction workforce being foreign-born and working in homebuilding. This demographic is particularly crucial as the state faces labor shortages. Tobin believes that creating a visa program similar to those for seasonal agricultural workers would help bring workers out of the shadows and provide them with legal status.

    Homebuilders are on high alert, watching developments closely as they try to navigate the uncertain landscape. The raids have raised concerns about the potential impact on the industry's ability to find skilled laborers. With 1.8 million undocumented workers in California, the homebuilding industry is particularly vulnerable to disruptions caused by ICE actions.

    Experts warn that the raids could further exacerbate labor shortages, which are already a major challenge for the industry. The University of California's Ziman Center for Real Estate estimates that there are currently around 250,000 construction job openings across the country. Any disruption to this workforce could have significant consequences for homebuilding projects in Southern California.