Utah is estimated to have between 75,000 and 114,000 unauthorized immigrants, with at least 20% of the construction force being immigrants. The state is facing a housing shortage of around 40,000 units, exacerbated by labor shortages. Steve Waldrip, Utah’s housing affordability czar, stated that deporting immigrants would not significantly impact housing prices but would hinder home construction by removing a portion of the workforce.
The construction industry is already struggling to find skilled labor, especially in trades like carpentry and plumbing. Utah needs to build around 7,000 single-family starter homes annually to close the housing supply deficit. However, population growth is outpacing construction, leading to a growing shortage of homes. Removing immigrants through deportations could further impact housing affordability as builders try to attract new employees with higher wages.
President Trump has promised a large-scale deportation operation, starting with violent criminals and targeting millions of unauthorized immigrants. Utah lawmakers have introduced legislation to support this agenda and enhance public safety. While the state is focused on deporting criminals, there is also a commitment to integrating productive immigrants into the economy.
Ultimately, immigration policy is a federal issue, and federal partners are currently targeting immigrants with criminal records for deportation. However, the practicality of deporting millions of people remains a challenge. The impact of deportations on housing demand may be less than anticipated due to factors like multigenerational living arrangements among unauthorized immigrants. Utah is navigating the balance between public safety and immigration enforcement to address the challenges posed by unauthorized immigration in the state.
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