Trump strikes a softer note on immigration; builders need proof

On Sunday, President Donald Trump indicated that he is open to negotiating an immigration deal with the incoming Democratic Congress. However, despite softening post-election rhetoric, the Trump administration appears to be sending mixed signals on immigration, clouding the outlook for any potential bipartisan agreement. The stakes of the nation’s highly contentious immigration debate remain high for homebuilders. After a surge in job site raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this summer and fall, many homebuilders say their workers, including those in the country legally, were swept up in enforcement actions. Whether a bipartisan immigration deal materializes remains an open and pressing question for the numerous builders facing ongoing job site disruptions. Speaking to CBS News’ 60 Minutes on Sunday, President Trump suggested his administration’s immigration policies “might be too tough” and may have contributed to last week’s election outcome. “When you go into a hotel…and you have a woman that’s worked there as a maid, as a cleaner, as a this, as a that, as a waitress – a lot of good things, great jobs – and all of a sudden, they’re being taken out of the cou...