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Latin Times
Latin Times
Politics
Mateo Moreno

The 'Shadow Surge': Fear of ICE Raids Slows U.S. Construction and Drives Up Housing Costs

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 31: Federal agents, including Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino of the El Centro Sector for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, detain two men working on a home in the Edison Park neighborhood on October 31, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. (Credit: Photo by Jamie Kelter Davis/Getty Images)

Half-staffed crews are becoming a familiar sight on American building sites, and the cause is often quieter than a raid. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) says tougher enforcement has kept some legally authorized workers away from jobsites in certain markets, slowing projects and pushing up costs while the nation grapples with a shortfall of roughly 1.2 million housing units.

Staying home, not running away

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