North and South Carolina contractors depend heavily on immigrant construction workers at all skill levels—from laborers and carpenters to concrete finishers and superintendents. Federal enforcement priorities have shifted significantly since 2024, creating new continuity risks for 2026 projects across the construction sector.
The Chicago Sun-Times coverage on April 25, 2026, described coordinated ICE operations at several Chicago-area commercial construction sites, resulting in immediate work stoppages, delayed pours, and emergency re-sequencing of critical-path activities. Multiple job sites shut down within hours.
Alicia Martin, president of ABC Illinois, captured the operational reality: “Our biggest gap isn’t entry-level labor anymore—it’s experienced, highly skilled immigrant craft professionals that companies can’t easily replace when raids or audits sideline their crews.”
This article provides a practical, business-impact analysis for owners, executives, and HR leaders at Carolinas commercial contractors who need to understand how these national trends affect local projects, compliance decisions, and workforce planning. The focus remains on workforce continuity, federal compliance expectations, and pragmatic strategies aligned with merit shop principles—not political or partisan arguments.
Immigrant construction workers face a combination of heightened legal insecurity, systemic economic exploitation, and elevated physical risk that affects workforce stability across the industry.
Immigrant workers are not a niche group but a core component of the modern construction labor force nationally and in the Carolinas. This is particularly true in high-growth metro areas like Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Greenville-Spartanburg, and Charleston, where demand continues to outpace labor supply.
The construction industry contributed approximately 4.4% of the national gross domestic product in 2023, highlighting its significant role in the U.S. economy. Approximately 25% of the U.S. construction labor force is foreign-born, compared to about 18-19% of the overall U.S. workforce. In key states like California and Texas, immigrant workers comprise over 40% of the construction workforce.
In the Washington, DC, and Baltimore metro areas, immigrants make up 39% of the construction workforce—approximately 130,000 individuals. El Salvador is the top country of origin for immigrant construction workers, accounting for 37% of all foreign-born workers, followed by Guatemala at 12% and Honduras at 11%. Eighty-eight percent of immigrant construction laborers identify as Hispanic.
The construction industry faces a severe labor shortage, with an estimated need for 501,000 additional workers in 2024 alone to meet current demand—largely due to low immigration rates and an aging workforce. Associated Builders and Contractors projects gaps of 500,000-650,000 workers annually through 2028. Carolinas contractors compete for this constrained talent pool while delivering federally funded infrastructure, industrial, and data-center projects that intensify demand.
Federal enforcement evolved from broad interior-enforcement pauses earlier in the decade to a 2024-2026 environment in which worksite compliance is again a visible focus for DHS and ICE. The April 2026 Chicago actions demonstrate this shift clearly.
The April 25, 2026, Chicago Sun-Times coverage described coordinated ICE operations at several Chicago-area commercial construction sites, resulting in immediate work stoppages, delayed pours, and emergency re-sequencing of critical-path activities. Multiple job sites shut down within hours.
Federal priorities now emphasize:
While large multistate companies may be primary targets, medium-sized regional contractors in North Carolina and South Carolina face increased risk through random or complaint-driven I-9 audits and E-Verify record reviews.
| Violation Type | Penalty Range |
|---|---|
| Technical paperwork errors | Low hundreds per form |
| Knowing-hire violations | Thousands per unauthorized worker |
| Continuing-employment violations | Thousands per worker |
| Repeat offenders | Tens of thousands + potential federal contract debarment |
Beyond civil fines, contractors risk project shutdowns, schedule slippage, exposure to liquidated damages, and reputational harm if enforcement sidelines a significant portion of the workforce. Many undocumented workers avoid reporting safety violations or wage theft for fear of employer retaliation or immigration enforcement, creating additional compliance blind spots.
The federal I-9 requirement, applicable since 1986, requires all employers to verify employment eligibility. E-Verify is the electronic system cross-checking new hires against DHS and Social Security records. Both systems matter significantly to contractors in the Carolinas in 2026.
ABC Carolinas offers templates, sample policies, and member-only webinars on building standardized, repeatable hiring and verification workflows.
Many high-profile enforcement actions, including those covered in the Chicago Sun-Times, involved tiered subcontractor structures in which the general contractors did not directly employ much of the affected workforce yet still absorbed schedule and reputational damage.
Undocumented workers in the construction industry often face exploitative conditions, including low wages and unsafe working conditions, due to reliance on labor brokers. Firms in high-enforcement regions use tier mapping of labor—tracking which workers belong to which subcontractor at each site—and require subs to designate a compliance point of contact.
ABC Carolinas can connect members with sample subcontract language and peer benchmarks for vetting processes.
The April 25, 2026, Chicago Sun-Times story illustrates how raids removing dozens of experienced immigrant workers from active jobs can instantly disrupt critical-path activities, even when the prime was not the direct employer.
As Alicia Martin observed, the most acute continuity risk lies in the loss of seasoned, highly skilled migrant workers—foremen, lead carpenters, concrete finishers, steel erectors, and superintendents—whose experience is not easily backfilled by the local labor pool.
Latino and foreign-born workers have a fatality rate of 4.3 per 100,000, exceeding the national average, according to the “Death on the Job” report of 2026. Language barriers increase the risk of accidents; many safety training programs are provided only in English.
Consider this scenario: A poured-in-place parking structure or tilt-wall industrial building loses its core immigrant concrete crew mid-project. Even with aggressive re-staffing, milestones can slip by weeks while new workers integrate with existing teams and learn site-specific requirements.
Contractors in high-enforcement states over the past decade—Arizona, parts of Texas, and Midwest markets—have tested and refined continuity strategies that Carolinas firms can adapt.
Many immigrant construction workers do not have health insurance or receive benefits, making them more vulnerable to health risks. The construction industry relies heavily on immigrant labor, particularly in skilled trades, as many have been in the U.S. for decades and possess valuable experience. Workforce continuity planning should integrate with safety culture and quality systems.
ABC Carolinas helps members benchmark continuity strategies through our Construction Workforce Management guidance.
The immigrant labor question sits within the broader labor-shortage context documented by ABC and national industry partners in our Construction Industry Labor Shortage Data Drivers and Strategic Responses hub.
The U.S. construction industry needs 501,000 additional workers in 2024 alone, beyond normal hiring, to meet demand driven by infrastructure, industrial reshoring, and private development. Recent policy changes, such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, are expected to increase pressure, necessitating a 30% increase in the workforce to meet new infrastructure demands.
These roles directly affect businesses’ ability to meet project schedules and support continued economic growth in the region. Ignoring immigrant workforce dynamics leaves structural gaps in succession planning and long-term capacity.
HR leaders and operations managers share responsibility for building systems in which every new hire and trade partner is vetted consistently, properly documented, and integrated into safe, lawful workplaces.
Construction workers are five times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than other employees due to close contact and sharing tools—another reason proper workforce documentation and fair treatment protocols matter.
ABC at the national and chapter levels supports legal, market-based approaches to workforce supply, including reforms to temporary-worker programs and clearer employment-eligibility rules for employers.
The Free Enterprise Alliance provides a broader context on how immigration, workforce, and regulatory policy intersect with free enterprise. ABC Carolinas aligns regional advocacy with national principles while addressing Carolinas-specific needs for builders and contractors.
Engage ABC Carolinas to access member-only tools: sample audit checklists, webinars on ICE and DOL inspections, labor-shortage data summaries, and guidance from our Construction Workforce Management resources.
Communicate transparently with teams about the increased compliance focus—reinforcing that the goal is to maintain lawful, safe job sites while protecting the company’s ability to win and deliver work.
ABC Carolinas serves as the regional partner for commercial contractors, specialty trades, and suppliers navigating immigrant workforce realities, labor shortages, and heightened enforcement in North and South Carolina.
Connect with ABC Carolinas staff to schedule a workforce risk review, explore apprenticeship partnerships, or access resources from our Construction Industry Labor Shortage Data Drivers hub. Treat ABC Carolinas as your long-term strategic ally in managing workforce continuity and compliance in a changing 2026 environment.
While enforcement strategy varies by region, construction remains a nationally visible sector. The April 25, 2026, Chicago Sun-Times report shows multi-site, multi-employer operations are again on the table. Vulnerability depends on subcontractor structures, prior compliance history, use of labor brokers, and the quality of the I-9/E-Verify program—not just geography. Carolinas contractors should assume similar actions are possible and prepare through strong documentation practices and clear on-site response protocols.
First, verify the identity and credentials of officials. Notify your designated internal contact in HR or legal. Contact your employment or immigration counsel immediately. Cooperate within the scope of the warrant or notice while preserving your rights. Staff should be trained not to obstruct officials, not to volunteer unnecessary information, and never to destroy or alter records. Create a written enforcement response plan and train key managers before any event occurs.
Supporting immigrant workers and complying with the law are complementary goals. Fair wages, strong safety programs, bilingual safety training, and respectful working conditions benefit all workers and reduce risk. Companies must avoid discriminatory document practices during I-9 completion and follow the same lawful process for all new hires. Offering formal education through apprenticeships helps workers build careers regardless of their native-born status or work authorization status.
National and regional labor statistics show that immigrant workers are heavily concentrated in concrete, framing, drywall, roofing, masonry, and some mechanical roles. The greatest risk lies with mid- to late-career professionals—foremen, lead hands, specialists with 10+ years—who require months to replace. Companies should map which critical roles on current projects are heavily staffed by immigrants and prioritize cross-training and succession planning for those areas to avoid greater risk to project delivery.
Access ABC Carolinas’ Construction Industry Labor Shortage Data Drivers and Strategic Responses hub for current data on labor gaps specific to construction. ABC National and the Free Enterprise Alliance publish policy analyses on immigration, visa reform, and workforce-related regulatory changes. Attend ABC Carolinas briefings and webinars where staff interpret federal policy in the context of North and South Carolina markets, helping your home builders and commercial contractors plan accordingly.
