Few issues weigh more heavily on the roofing industry today than immigration. Workforce shortages are no longer cyclical or temporary. They are structural, persistent, and increasingly shaped by enforcement policy, documentation requirements, and political uncertainty. For roofing contractors, immigration compliance is no longer a background human resources issue. It is a front-line business risk that directly affects labor availability, project timelines, pricing, and legal exposure.

Roofing legal experts Ben Briggs and I will address these challenges and more directly at the International Roofing Expo. The session is designed to provide contractors with practical guidance on managing immigration compliance, including how to respond to ICE raids, prepare for and navigate I-9 audits, and reduce the risk of workforce disruption.

Navigating Immigration Regulations in Roofing

Speakers:
Trent Cotney, Partner, Construction Team Leader
Benjamin Briggs, Partner
Adams and Reese, LLP

Date: Jan. 22
8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Location: W229

At the same time, immigration remains one of the most misunderstood policy areas impacting construction. Contractors often receive conflicting advice, rely on outdated assumptions, or assume that basic compliance will insulate them from disruption. In today’s enforcement environment, that assumption is increasingly dangerous.

A Workforce Reality the Industry Cannot Ignore

Roofing relies heavily on immigrant labor, particularly in skilled and semi-skilled field positions that are becoming harder to fill through domestic hiring alone. Demographic shifts, declining participation in the trades, and generational movement away from physically demanding work have narrowed the labor pipeline. Immigration has historically filled that gap, but the rules governing lawful employment have tightened, enforcement activity has increased, and tolerance for informal practices has largely disappeared.

Even contractors acting in good faith face growing exposure. A single Form I-9 error, an improperly handled E-Verify mismatch, or reliance on a subcontractor with undocumented labor can trigger audits, penalties, or sudden crew disruption. These risks compound on larger projects, multi-employer jobsites, and public work, where compliance expectations are higher and scrutiny is unavoidable.

Enforcement Is No Longer Abstract

Immigration enforcement is no longer limited to egregious violators. Audits and investigations increasingly target routine construction employers, particularly those operating across multiple jurisdictions. Several states have layered additional verification requirements on top of federal law, creating a patchwork of obligations that contractors must actively manage rather than passively acknowledge.

What makes this environment especially challenging is the speed at which compliance failures escalate. A notice of inspection can quickly lead to labor shortages, project delays, liquidated damages exposure, or licensing consequences depending on the jurisdiction. Contractors who treat immigration as someone else’s problem often discover too late that it is operational, contractual, and legal all at once.

The Limits of Existing Visa Programs

Many roofing contractors ask why existing visa programs cannot simply solve the labor shortage. The answer is that current immigration pathways do not align well with how construction actually operates. Guest worker programs are capped, administratively burdensome, and often poorly timed for an industry driven by weather events, emergency response, and regional demand swings.

As a result, contractors are left operating in a system that acknowledges economic need but provides limited lawful avenues to meet it. That disconnect between policy and reality defines today’s immigration challenge in roofing.

Proper documentation, internal audits, consistent hiring practices, and subcontractor vetting remain essential. Roofing contractors should be reviewing I-9 processes, training managers, and aligning immigration compliance with broader risk management strategies. However, compliance alone does not solve the workforce shortage or provide long-term stability.

That is why industry advocacy and policy engagement have become critical. Contractors can no longer afford to remain passive observers in immigration debates that directly affect their ability to operate, compete, and grow.

A Policy Conversation the Industry Must Lead

The roofing industry needs pragmatic immigration solutions that reflect economic reality while maintaining lawful employment standards. That includes expanded and modernized guest worker programs, clearer employer safe harbors, and realistic transition mechanisms that stabilize the existing workforce. These are not ideological positions. They are operational necessities.

Looking Ahead

Immigration will remain one of the defining challenges facing roofing over the next decade. Contractors who treat it as a temporary disruption or secondary issue will continue to struggle. Those who engage, adapt, and advocate will be better positioned to manage risk and maintain continuity.

The labor shortage is real. Enforcement pressure is increasing. And the need for workable immigration policy has never been clearer. Roofing contractors have a seat at the table, but only if they choose to use it.

What You Will Get:

• Learn how to maintain I-9 compliance and respond appropriately to notices of inspection;
• Explore the legal rights and responsibilities of employers, and common pitfalls that lead to costly penalties;
• Understand best practices for workforce documentation and audit readiness;
• Get practical guidance to protect your business and ensure compliance with federal immigration laws.