Atlanta Construction Loses 5,100 Jobs as ICE Sweeps Leave Sites Empty

Leo Cárdenas sold his white work truck to survive.

The Venezuelan contractor in Dunwoody, Georgia, lost his entire staff in recent months. Most workers, including his stepfather, returned to their home countries through deportation or voluntary departure. This happened during the immigration enforcement push led by President Donald Trump. Cárdenas, who has a baby, now runs his small business without outside help. He fears becoming the next target for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, even though he is legally in the United States.

The situation reflects a wider trend in the construction industry. Between September 2025 and September 2026, the Atlanta metro area lost approximately 5,100 construction jobs. It is the hardest-hit region in the country, according to data from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Gabriela Matute, executive director of the Hispanic Construction Association of Georgia, told EFE that the impact is real. She noted that labor shortages are the primary cause of current project delays. These delays lead to higher costs and longer timelines. Matute acknowledged that while labor cycles fluctuate, the uncertainty caused by ICE operations affects the entire Hispanic community. She emphasized that construction has historically been the entry point for immigrant workers, many of whom now own businesses in Georgia.

Even legal residents and U.S. citizens are staying away from job sites. They prefer not to expose themselves or their families to the risk of encounters with federal agents. The AGC survey, conducted with the National Center for Construction Education and Research, identified several other factors slowing down new projects. These include rising material costs, high interest rates, and political uncertainty. The survey found that immigration enforcement affects the availability of staff at nearly one-third of companies. This holds true even when general market conditions improve.

The labor shortage is severe nationwide. Following Atlanta, the most affected areas are New York-New Jersey, Oakland, Riverside-San Bernardino in California, and Lakewood-New Brunswick in New Jersey. Other impacted cities include Pittsburgh, Sacramento, Arlington, San Diego, and Corpus Christi. The survey interviewed 1,830 companies. It found that 87% of firms have open positions for laborers. An additional 82% have vacancies for salaried roles. This lack of personnel is directly causing delays in ongoing projects. Specifically, 42% of respondents reported project delays due to a shortage of their own workers or those from subcontractors.