Nevada Could Face Major Economic Losses as Immigration Protections End
Nevada could lose hundreds of millions of dollars from its economy if thousands of immigrants lose legal protections and the ability to work. The changes could affect workers, families, businesses, and tax collections across the state.
Thousands Could Lose Work Authorization
About 15,000 people in Nevada could lose their immigration status under current federal policies. Around 7,000 of them now have government-approved work permits.
The construction and hospitality industries are expected to feel the largest impact. Each industry could lose about 2,000 workers. These fields depend heavily on immigrant labor to fill jobs, serve customers, build homes, and complete major projects.
Nearly 80,000 immigrants in Nevada have some type of protected status. This group includes people covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, Temporary Protected Status, asylum protections, and U-Visas for people who survived serious crimes.
About 52,000 people in this group have work permits. Their jobs add an estimated $1.8 billion to Nevada’s economy each year.
Families With Citizen Children Face Pressure
The effects would reach beyond the workplace. Many households include people with different immigration statuses. A parent may lose permission to work while a spouse or child remains legally protected.
These mixed-status families could face lost income, housing problems, and difficulty paying for food, health care, and other basic needs. As many as 4,000 U.S.-citizen children in Nevada could live in households affected by the loss of immigration protections.
When a worker loses legal status, the family may also lose access to stable employment and regular pay. Some families could be forced to move, while others may struggle to keep children in the same schools and neighborhoods.
Temporary Protections Are Being Removed
Federal immigration policies have narrowed eligibility for temporary protections for people from Haiti, Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Cuba. These programs allow people from certain countries to remain in the United States when returning home would be unsafe because of war, disasters, or other serious conditions.
About 6,000 Salvadorans living in Nevada were notified that their temporary protection would end on September 9. Salvadorans remain protected until the Department of Homeland Security makes a formal decision about the program.
Federal law requires the department to review a country’s eligibility for Temporary Protected Status at least 60 days before the protection period ends. Until that decision is made, the protections remain in place.
Economic and Tax Losses Could Grow
Nevada could lose about $441 million in economic activity from the people expected to lose immigration status. The state and local governments could also lose roughly $40 million in yearly tax collections.
Federal and payroll tax losses could total another $48 million. These losses would come from lower earnings, fewer payroll contributions, and reduced spending by households affected by the policy changes.
Businesses could also face higher costs as they try to replace experienced workers. Construction companies may have trouble completing projects, while hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses could face staff shortages.
- About 15,000 people in Nevada could lose immigration status.
- Nearly 7,000 of those people currently have work permits.
- Construction and hospitality could each lose about 2,000 workers.
- Nevada could lose about $441 million in economic activity.
- State and local tax losses could reach about $40 million.
- Federal and payroll tax losses could total about $48 million.
Losses Could Become Much Larger
The number of affected residents could rise sharply under the current path. About 34,000 people in Nevada could lose their immigration status by the end of the projected period.
Of that total, about 21,000 people could lose permission to work. Construction could lose around 7,000 workers, while hospitality could lose about 5,000. Health care and education could lose another 2,000 workers.
The wider impact could include an estimated $849 million reduction in yearly economic contributions. Combined state, local, federal, and payroll tax losses could reach about $220 million each year.
Immigration enforcement has increased across Nevada, along with deportations and changes to temporary protection programs. The results could affect more than the people directly involved. Employers, families, schools, local governments, and entire industries may all feel the financial and social effects.