ICE Raids Disrupt Los Angeles Economy
July 6, 2025 — Bloomberg News (John Gittelsohn)
Los Angeles was already struggling to rebuild its fragile economy following devastating wildfires. Now, the situation has worsened: ICE raids targeting immigrant workers are disrupting construction, framing, landscaping, and retail renovation projects. Workers are leaving job sites, causing delays and staffing shortages for real estate developments and reconstruction efforts Bloomberg.com+15Bloomberg Law+15Bloomberg.com+15.
Between June 6 and June 22, more than 1,600 people across the L.A. area were arrested at construction, automotive, and day-labor sites Wikipedia+3Facebook+3Wikipedia+3.
Framers and landscapers are abandoning projects; real estate developers report they are “scrambling to figure it out” due to insufficient labor The Guardian+3Bloomberg Law+3Threads+3.
This sudden erosion of labor supply is deepening delays in rebuilding and commercial repairs. As immigrant workers—key contributors to these industries—go into hiding, the recovery of post‑wildfire rebuilding and broader economic revitalization face renewed setbacks.
