Business leaders expressed concern over the Trump administration’s immigration policies in a virtual forum with Sen. Ruben Gallego on Thursday. Gallego used the forum to discuss his own immigration reform plan.
The number of job openings in Arizona has increased by more than 52% since 2024. And some Arizona business leaders say they won’t survive if their migrant workers are deported.
Monica Villalobos, president and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, says Arizona’s economy has long depended on migrant labor in industries like agriculture and health care.
“Even if every single eligible worker on unemployment received a job today, there would still be over 70,000 open jobs in Arizona," Villalobos said.
Mass deportations could also threaten the state’s construction industry, she said.
“For every 100 low-income renters, there are only 26 units available. Whether you’re looking at construction or agriculture, you’re going to see those impacts," Villalobos said.
Gallego laid out his reform plan earlier this week saying it will prioritize border security, expand legal pathways to citizenship, and provide protections for long-term undocumented workers.
Villalobos says the state’s housing and labor shortages are deeply connected to immigration policy.
