The issuance of housing permits for new single-family homes across the US has dropped by 10.6% since January 2025. This decline is particularly evident in areas with a higher reliance on foreign-born workers, according to a report shared with the Guardian.
The construction industry, where foreign-born workers account for almost a third of all occupations, has been severely impacted. In states more dependent on immigrant labour, the cost of new single-family homes has increased by 10.9% in 2026, compared to the first eight months of 2024. This has raised the monetary value of building projects from an average of $305,752 to $338,752.
The report, commissioned by America’s Voice and conducted by Economic Insights and Research Consulting, links these economic changes to the Trump administration’s anti-immigration campaign. It also notes that native-born Americans are losing out on potential income in states like California, Nevada, New Jersey, Florida, and New York, where construction employment is declining.