On June 16, 2025, over 40 U.S. companies submitted disclosures to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), cautioning that intensified deportation efforts could adversely affect their operations. These filings highlight concerns about labor shortages, economic uncertainty, and potential recession risks across various sectors, including agriculture, technology, construction, and hospitality.
Broad Industry Concerns
The companies’ warnings come amid the Trump administration’s directive for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest 3,000 undocumented immigrants daily, leading to widespread workplace raids and public protests. Businesses fear that such aggressive immigration enforcement could disrupt their labor force and operations.
ImmuCell, a company specializing in animal health products, noted that many farms employ hardworking, non-criminal employees who have not yet achieved legal citizenship. Significant deportations of these individuals could negatively impact the operations of their customers and source farms.
Century Communities, a homebuilding company, expressed concerns in its 2024 annual report about potential labor shortages. The company stated that if it’s unable to hire enough skilled tradesmen and contractors, it may have a material adverse effect on its standards of service. Labor shortages may be caused by, among other factors, slowing rates of immigration and/or increased deportations, since a substantial portion of the construction labor force is made up of immigrants.
Hawaiian Electric, the … in Hawaii, warned that recession risks increase due to federal policies .The company cited an economic forecast predicting limited GDP growth for 2025 .
Tech Sector Implications
Technology companies are also expressing apprehensions. Alphabet, Google’s parent company, faces scrutiny over its government contracts linked to immigration enforcement. Zevin Asset Management, … socially responsible investment firm owning shares in Alphabet, filed a proposal urging the company to assess whether its businesses contribute to human rights harms in conflict … . The proposal highlights concerns about Google’s work as a leading cloud computing provider to ICE, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and … U.S. government at large, raising issues of potential complicity in human rights harms at the U.S. Southern border.
Economic Forecasts and Potential Recession
Financial institutions and consumer brands report that deportations could disrupt economic activity by reducing remittances and dampening customer spending. Hanmi Bank, under its holding mentioned in an SEC filing that the combination of tariffs, rising inflation could cause a mild recession in 2025.
Forum Investment Group’s real estate income noted that stricter immigration controls and deportations could have mixed outcomes, potentially increasing inflation but possibly benefiting U.S. workers through higher wages or cooling down overheated housing markets.
Impact on Remittances and International Operations
Companies with international operations are also concerned. Pacific Airport Group, operating airports in Mexico and Jamaica, stated that policies like mass deportations … could create uncertain economic conditions in … thereby impacting the company’s bottom line.
IDT Corporation, a cloud communications and financial services company, warned that mass deportations could negatively impact its enterprise customers, such as remittance transfer services. Disruptions to people’s ability to work or travel … could hurt customers and, consequently, its business.
Pricesmart, a discount store chain operating throughout Central America, expressed concerns that mass deportations could devastate the region’s economies. A major reduction in foreign workers sending … countries like Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua … would harm those nations’ economies and, by extension, Pricesmart stores. The company emphasized that money from foreign workers is a key source of income and poverty .
Conclusion
The collective warnings from these companies underscore the widespread economic implications of current immigration policies. As the Trump administration continues its aggressive deportation campaign, businesses across various sectors are urging policymakers to consider the potential adverse effects on the labor force, economic stability, and international relations.
