California Leaders Respond to Immigration Claims in the State of the Union

Following President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address, leaders from across California’s business, labor, and civic communities spoke out about the economic consequences of the administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

Recent research highlights the scale of the disruption. Immigration enforcement activity in Los Angeles County has been tied to more than $1 billion in lost wages, productivity, and sales, affecting workers, businesses, and communities across the region.

Business leaders say these impacts are already being felt across industries.

“As Los Angeles contends with devastating wildfires, trade disruptions, and rising costs, it is also confronting one of the most consequential economic challenges since the pandemic: the federal government’s current approach to immigration enforcement,” said Mary Leslie, President of the Los Angeles Business Council and a CA4US coalition member.

“Immigrant workers are the backbone of construction, hospitality, and service industries, and when fear keeps people from working, the ripple effects hit small businesses and the region’s overall rebuilding efforts.”

Economic development leaders say businesses are also seeing declines in customers and disruptions to operations.

“We’ve heard firsthand from Los Angeles businesses that unpredictability and ICE fears drive away customers and workers, creating labor shortages, operational disruptions, sharp revenue drops, and slowed growth,” said Alysia Bell, President of UNITE-LA.

Immigrant workers are deeply integrated into California’s economy. In Los Angeles County alone, undocumented workers generate nearly $254 billion in economic output and support more than one million jobs.

CA4US brings together business, labor, and civic leaders working to ensure the economic consequences of immigration enforcement remain part of the public conversation.