Donald Trump’s immigration policies are having a chilling effect on the hospitality industry, where nearly a third of workers are immigrants, according to the largest hospitality union in the US. The number of employed hospitality workers dropped by 98,000 from December 2024 to December 2025, according to a report from Unite Here, which represents 300,000 workers across the hospitality, food and tourism industries in the US and Canada. Union leaders say the Trump administration’s brutal immigration crackdown has not only scared workers but has also discouraged international tourism. Because of the federal government’s immigration crackdown, “many of our members have been afraid to go to work,” Lüneburg said. International visitors to the US declined by 2.5 million in 2025, even as international tourism increased around the world, according to Unite Here’s report.

Source: The Guardian February 18, 2026 23:29 UTC