Donald Trump’s tough immigration policies are shaking the US hospitality industry. Unite Here, the largest hospitality union in the US and Canada, reports a loss of 98,000 hospitality jobs from December 2024 to December 2025. Nearly one-third of hospitality workers are immigrants. The union blames Trump's immigration crackdown for scaring workers and reducing international visitors. Tourism revenue fell by $1.2 billion, a 5.5% drop from September 2024 to September 2025. "We need immigrant workers. They’re an important part of our workforce. They’re my members, they’re my neighbors, and the way they’ve been treated in this time is really abhorrent," said Wade Lüneburg, political director of Unite Here Local 17 in Minneapolis. Lüneburg added that immigration enforcement has led many workers to fear going to work. Earlier this year, 16 authorized airport workers in Minnesota who passed background checks were detained by immigration authorities. No comment came from the Department of Homeland Security or the White House on these detentions. The union report notes that international visitors to the US dropped by 2.5 million in 2025, even as global tourism rose. Minnesota, for example, saw a 15% drop in international air travelers due to a fall in Canadian tourists, causing an $81 million revenue loss for Minneapolis small businesses in January 2026. Gwen Mills, president of Unite Here, said, "The economic ramifications... are much further-reaching than just to immigrants and their families, as horrific as that is.” She added that violence, anti-immigrant talk, and fear are deterring both domestic and foreign travelers. Other cities also feel the pinch: Washington DC saw a record number of restaurant closures in 2025, and Las Vegas tourism dropped 7.5%. Hotel workers report slower business and more stress from fewer staff due to immigration fears. A 2025 report by the Economic Policy Institute warned that Trump's plans to deport 4 million people could cost 3.3 million immigrant jobs and 2.6 million jobs held by US-born workers. Greg Barney, a Washington DC cook, said fear affected everyone at work, "it was hard on all of us." The DHS and White House defended the policies. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said, "Removing these criminals from the streets makes communities safer and more welcoming for business owners, customers, and for tourists." A White House spokesperson added there is "no shortage of American minds and hands to grow our labor force."