AGC Calls on Congress to Extend Legal Status for Some Construction Workers

In early November, AGC joined several national construction trade associations in urging Congressional Leaders to extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for individuals from El Salvador, Haiti, and Honduras. The TPS program is a category of legal status granted to individuals fleeing armed conflict, environments disaster or other extraordinary events resulting in them receiving authorization to work in the United States. The system has existed for decades and involves strong vetting and biometrics.

Of the 300,000 individuals with TPS, more than 50,000 work in the construction industry. Over the next several months the authorization for TPS will have to be renewed for individual countries. AGC is concerned that the Trump administration may not grant a renewal and could result in 50,000 legal construction workers without work authorization which will increase the workforce shortage in the industry. The letter sent by AGC encourages Congress to use its authority and take legislative action to ensure TPS holders can continue to work legally in the country.

For more information, contact Jim Young at youngj@agc.org or (202) 547-0133.