Federal immigration crackdown could slow Triangle construction, builders warn

Construction projects in the Triangle and beyond could crawl to a halt because contractors can't find enough workers to meet demand in the midst of the ongoing federal immigration crackdown, according to commercial builders and construction industry advocates who are joining a national push for an easier, faster pathway for immigrant workers.

Nearly one-third of the construction workforce in this state was born in another country, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce. And builders say even workers who have legal status here are worried about being swept up in a federal immigration raid, which is threatening progress on jobsites.

Charlie Wilson, the owner of Durham commercial construction firm C.T. Wilson, says the company is doing less work than they’d like to. Wilson said the construction industry has been facing a labor crunch for years, but it's worse now.

"We see the impact a lot in our subcontractors," said Wilson, whose company builds schools, hospitals and other kinds of government buildings. "They're just having to turn down work, too, because just they don't have enough labor here to do it."

Because of the labor shortage, Wilson said, contractors are having to raise pay to entice workers. "And it takes longer to do things," he said, "because a crew that might have 10 people now has five people, and you can only work so much overtime."

He added that the probably is particularly acute in the Triangle. "We need a legal pathway for people to come in," Wilson said.

A group that represents contractors was one of dozens of organizations and business owners to sign a letter to President Donald Trump Wednesday asking for exactly that.

"You have secured our border," the letter from the American Business Immigration Coalition says. "Now, we are here to support your vision to secure our workforce."

As of Wednesday, more than 170 groups and individuals had signed onto the letter, including Carolinas AGC, a group that represents more than 800 commercial contractors and builders in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Trump signaled months ago he would support a long-term work permit for some unauthorized immigrants in fields like agriculture and construction. It would be limited to those who have been working in the U.S. for a long time and have no criminal record.

Dave Simpson, the chief executive of Carolinas AGC, said he hopes the president will follow through on the idea. Simpson says immigrants are often among the best workers.

"They get there early, they go home late. They're talented," Simpson said. "A lot of them are craftsfolks, and a lot of them are sending money back to their families in countries like Mexico and Colombia."

Anti-immigration groups have criticized the work permit proposal, saying it’s the same thing as amnesty. In the meantime, federal immigration enforcement raids at worksites are on the rise. Simpson and Wilson say even immigrants who are in the U.S. legally are staying home because they’re worried about being swept up anyway.

"When we're talking about people possibly being deported, there is concern that it may affect them, whether they're legal or not," Simpson said.