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Dive brief:
- In a case with ramifications for the construction industry, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit issued an injunction on Tuesday to stop a controversial Texas immigration law which the Supreme Court had allowed to take effect.
- SB 4 would make illegal entry into Texas a state crime, in addition to a federal crime, and give state officials the power to arrest people suspected of entering the country without authorization.
- Construction relies heavily on foreign-born workers. Immigrants make up one in four construction workers, and even more (31%) in the trades, according to a recent analysis by the National Association of Builders. In Texas and California, immigrants would make up as much as 40 percent of the construction workforce by 2022, the NAHB said.
Diving knowledge:
Increased immigration to the U.S. through 2022 has supported the construction workforce, the NAHB said, easing demand for trade workers on projects. Foreign-born workers train 64% of plasterers and plasterers, 52% of drywall installers, 48% of painters, 47% of roofers and 46% of carpet and flooring installers, according to the NAHB.
The US 5th Circuit The Court of Appeals heard the arguments on the case on Wednesday.
The Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, stated that the the law would deter illegal immigrationan issue that President Joe Biden’s administration feels has failed.
“Biden’s deliberate inaction has left Texas to fend for itself,” Abbott said at the time of the signing.
Biden had asked Congress to approve bipartisan immigration bill at the beginning of February, which according to him would make the country fairer and safer. However, the Senate Republicans blocked the law to move forward
The White House this week denounced the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the law to take effect, citing the the law would make communities less safe and charge law enforcement. The statement also noted continued efforts to pass a bipartisan border security agreement.
