In the Altadena neighborhood of Los Angeles, after the recent historic fire, a group of volunteers worked to collect broken branches and leaves from trees. This work is to prevent possible future fire.
A 60- year- old Mexican migrant laborer named Cesar was part of the group. Caesar has been working in the construction industry in California for the past 30 years. They do various house construction and renovation works. However, they fear for their future as they are still undocumented immigrants.
Such laborers will be hit hard by the massive deportation campaign proposed by President Donald Trump in his second term. Experts predict it will also hamper the process of rebuilding the 12,000 buildings destroyed by the recent Palisades and Eaton fires.
Importance of Migrant Labor in Reconstruction:
The construction industry employs a large number of migrant workers, who perform physically demanding and dangerous tasks. Caesar and laborers like him are known as ‘second responders’ because they step in to help after a natural disaster.
“If there is an exodus, who will do the work for this large migrant workforce?” That’s the question asked by Victor Naron, project director of the UCLA Labor Center.
Why is the manufacturing process challenging?
Construction in Los Angeles is already challenging. Building permits, the time it takes to get compensation from insurance companies, and the rising cost of building a house add to the difficulties. In addition, Los Angeles is one of the most expensive housing markets in the country. Now that thousands of people have been displaced, housing prices could rise even further.
“If the evacuation campaign is implemented, customers with minimal construction budgets will face a shortage of affordable labor,” said Dougal Murray, a home builder in Hollywood and Malibu.
Optimism and fear to face crisis:
Bob Clayman, a builder in Woodland Hills, said he hopes the Trump administration will take notice of the situation. “I am hopeful that they will not create more problems in an already dire situation,” he said.
But Trump’s policies have worsened the domestic crisis by blaming it on immigrants. After the election, the Los Angeles City Council passed a ‘Sanctuary City’ proclamation, which prohibited city employees from cooperating with evacuation campaigns at the local level.
Labor shortage in construction sector:
According to the 2023 US Census, one- third of construction workers in the US are immigrants. In California, the figure is 52%. Without immigrant labor, America would have thousands of vacant construction jobs.
Cameron Irwin, a builder in Altadena, says, “Building a house is a very hard and physically demanding job. So many people are turning to easier and equal- paying jobs.”
Economic impact of immigration on the state Caesar says, “California has the fifth largest economy in the world. The immigrant community is a big part of that.” He is of the opinion that in case of deportation, it will have an economic impact.
Workers and local economies in California could be hit hard, and it will take a concerted effort by local governments, citizens, and government to overcome this crisis.