Michael Hilal

Because a Trump presidency will devastate the housing market and all the subsequent industries that are affected by it

Currently we are at a boiling point in this country with housing prices because of a lack of inventory, which in turn is inflating costs. As we unpack how a Trump presidency would be bad, we should be looking at his impact on the housing market and all the subsequent industries that are affected by it. A Trump presidency would be bad.

Anyone who is on the fence or who has not voted yet and works in construction, carpentry, architecture, or interior design, Trump’s mass deportation plans will devastate and bring this industry to a halt. Mass deportations could result in a loss of over a quarter of the workers in an industry that is already struggling with staffing. Additionally, we are not even considering the documented people who work in these industries with family members and friends who might be undocumented, it would discourage them from taking these jobs in fear of exposing their loved ones.

It’s estimated that if all the undocumented immigrants in this industry are deported it could cost the US economy almost a trillion dollars. Imagine all of your projects that would not be possible without the most hardworking people I’ve ever seen, who are doing a thankless job. If construction stops, plumbing stops, electrical work stops, carpentry stops, interior design stops.

Yes, our industry is addicted to immigrant labor, but it’s because there are just not enough Americans who are interested in these jobs. This work is rough both physically and mentally.  Americans are largely not driven to fill these roles. You can assume companies go to immigrant labor because it’s about paying people less, but I can tell you from firsthand experience it has more to do with not being able to fill these jobs with Americans. We need to come up with thoughtful legislation and a realistic pathway to citizenship for our much-needed immigrant workforce. We should be letting these people know how much we appreciate them instead of villainizing them.

Imagine the impact to the supply chain connected to the design and build space and the sales of goods and tax revenue it drives. In a market where we’ve hit a bit of a wall, a Trump presidency would further depress this industry. 

Yes, you might think that this a narrow and selfish appeal, and in many ways it is, but please consider all of the subsequent industries the housing and construction market touch—it’s all of them. 

Michael Hilal is an interior designer living in San Francisco, California, who is of Mexican and Palestinian descent. He focuses on developing spaces that are inspired by the easy living and sun-kissed imperfection of his home state of California. His practice lies at the intersection of interiors, objects, art, and fashion, and he specializes in working with artists and artisans spanning many communities and backgrounds.