Immigration enforcement and the immigrant workforce (2025-2026) Case Federal survey data analyzed by a pro-immigration think tank show roughly 1.4 million fewer foreign-born workers since January 2025, with caveats about survey estimation. Industry groups in construction, health care, agriculture and hospitality report labor strain, and the builders' group says enforcement is worsening it. The workforce data NFAP's July 2026 analysis of BLS household-survey data reports about 1.4 million fewer foreign-born workers since January 2025, and 1,847,000 fewer than the March 2025 peak. NFAP cautions that BLS adjusts its estimates toward Census expectations, so the actual loss may be lower than the BLS estimate, though it says multiple data sources show declines. An earlier estimate: CBS reported on Sept. 1, 2025 that preliminary Census data analyzed by Pew showed 1.2 million fewer immigrant workers from January through July 2025. Pew's Stephanie Kramer said it is unclear how much of the drop is departures, removals, underreporting or technical issues, but that Pew does not think the decline "isn't real." CBS noted the 1.2 million is a small share of a U.S. workforce of more than 171 million, though effects may be concentrated in agriculture, construction, health care and some states. Sector effects reported by industry groups NAHB (Sept. 25, 2026) says enforcement and jobsite raids are heightening worker fears and straining the construction labor pool, with the industry short about 300,000 workers and more than a quarter of the workforce immigrant. Citing KFF, WES reports roughly 1.2 million immigrants work in health care, including more than 25% of physicians, 16% of nurses and 28% of home health aides. WES, citing the American Immigration Council, reports immigrants are 25% of agricultural workers and 33% of meatpacking workers, and nearly 20% of hospitality workers; a union leader said some members are afraid to come to work. Perspectives Expert view — National Association of Home Builders Supports border security but says enforcement is worsening a construction labor shortage, and urges legal pathways for workers and more Americans entering the trades. Research notes Open leads: add a Census or BLS primary table, the CBS report on the 1.2 million drop, and an administration or restrictionist response. The NFAP and WES figures come from advocacy sources and are labeled as such. Note The size of the decline may be overstated because BLS adjusts its population estimates to match prior expectations. Sources [1] National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) (https://nfap.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/US-Labor-Force-Analysis-Jan-2025-to-June-2026.NFAP-Policy-Brief.July-2026.pdf) · 2026-07 [2] National Association of Home Builders (https://www.nahb.org/blog/2026/09/immigration-enforcement) · 2026-09-25 [3] World Education Services (WES) (https://www.wes.org/resource-library/blog/global-mobility/immigration-enforcement-and-its-economic-ripple-effects/) [4] CBS News — Federal data reveals 1.2 million drop in immigrant workers under Trump (https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/minnesota/news/immigrants-us-labor-force-trump-census-bureau-data) · 2025-09-01 Connections Related — Himes' Sept. 2, 2026 House Financial Services speech: tariffs, deficits, labor, the Iran war and consumer sentiment Himes' clip claimed labor shortages from immigration enforcement; this entry collects the data and industry reports. Same context — Treasury yields, the Sept. 2026 buyback expansion and the deficit Both are parts of the economic argument over the administration's policies in 2026.