Summary

Trump’s immigration crackdown threatens disaster recovery efforts, as immigrant workers make up the majority of skilled restoration labor.

Deportations could stall rebuilding in hurricane- and wildfire-affected states like Florida, California, and North Carolina.

Trump has also proposed eliminating FEMA, further jeopardizing recovery.

Experts warn that past anti-immigrant policies, like Florida’s in 2022, forced workers underground, worsening labor shortages.

The disaster-recovery workforce, built over two decades, cannot be easily replaced, and without it, rebuilding efforts across the U.S. will face severe delays.