Trump trends towards focusing on the immigrant population who'll contribute to the LA rebuild.
In the heart of LA, Cesar, a 60-something Mexican immigrant who's called California home for over three decades, works as a day laborer in construction. Despite being undocumented, Cesar has been instrumental in helping build and remodel homes around the city. However, with President Trump's promises of intensified border security and potential mass deportations, Cesar's future and that of other undocumented workers could be at stake.
The challenges of rebuilding LA after the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires are immense, and these workers, often referred to as "second responders," play a key role. They handle the physically taxing and dangerous tasks of clearing rubble, aiding in the city's restoration. Questions abound about who will handle such labor-intensive tasks if a large portion of the immigrant workforce is deported.
Los Angeles' construction industry is notoriously complex, with a labyrinth of permits and red tape. The insurance payouts needed for reconstruction might cause delays, and LA's notorious high housing costs are also a concern. Experts predict tighter housing markets and rising building costs due to the displacement of thousands of residents.
Trump's stance on immigration is well-known. He's vowed to crack down, citing undocumented immigrants as a factor contributing to home affordability issues. Just weeks after his reelection, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a sanctuary city ordinance to protect immigrant residents, but Trump's recent actions contradict these efforts.
Los Angeles depends heavily on foreign-born workers in the construction industry, with California leading the nation in this regard. Nearly a quarter of the US construction workforce is estimated to be undocumented, according to immigration reform advocates. The question is, if these workers are deported, will there be enough replacement labor?
As it stands, the construction industry is already facing a labor shortage. Even with millions of undocumented people in the US, there are still over 276,000 open construction jobs. The loss of these undocumented workers could drive up costs and delay reconstruction, making the situation even more tenuous.
Cesar, like many undocumented immigrants, believes mass deportations would have far-reaching impacts. He notes the immense economic contributions of the immigrant community to California's fifth-largest global economy. In the end, the deportation threat could be not only devastating on a personal level but also economically for the state.
The construction industry in Los Angeles might struggle to find sufficient replacement labor if undocumented workers are deported, potentially leading to delays and increased costs. Given the significant economic contributions of the immigrant community to California's economy, mass deportations could have far-reaching impacts, both personally and economically.
