Immigration Policies Negatively Impact Apartment Rental Market

Tighter immigration enforcement leads to higher vacancies and financial pressures on landlords, especially those providing affordable housing.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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A new report highlights how the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration is having a significant negative impact on the apartment rental market, particularly in states with large foreign-born populations like Florida and Texas. Two-thirds of landlords and developers in Florida and over 20% in Texas reported experiencing a 'significant' or 'somewhat negative' impact from immigration policy enforcement. This has led to higher vacancies and financial pressures on landlords, especially those operating affordable housing units, as they struggle to fill abandoned units and cover rising costs.

Why it matters

Tighter immigration policies are contributing to higher apartment vacancies and financial strain on landlords, which could further reduce the availability of affordable housing options in many communities. This issue disproportionately affects lower-income renters who are already struggling with rising rents and limited options.

The details

The report found that the Trump administration's immigration crackdown has led to a significant drop in the pool of potential renters, especially in states with large immigrant populations. This has resulted in higher vacancy rates, making it harder for landlords to cover their costs and maintain affordable units. Many newer, less experienced landlords have also been hit hard, as they struggle to operate housing efficiently during a time of rising insurance, tax, utility, and maintenance expenses.

  • In 2023, 49.7% of renter households were considered 'rent-burdened', spending more than 30% of their income on housing.
  • In 2022, 12.1 million renter households were 'severely cost-burdened', spending more than 50% of their income on housing.
  • From January 2021 to December 2025, wage growth has not kept pace with the annual increases in rents.

The players

Ariel Lopez

Owner of South Florida-based multifamily landlord The Lopez Cos.

John Burns Research and Consulting

A research firm that conducted a survey for the National Apartment Association on the impacts of immigration policies.

National Apartment Association

A trade group representing the apartment industry.

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What they’re saying

“It's created a lot of havoc for the multifamily sector. The water has reached our noses.”

— Ariel Lopez, Owner, The Lopez Cos. (Bisnow)

What’s next

The report suggests that the impacts of tighter immigration policies on the apartment market will likely continue, potentially leading to further reductions in affordable housing options in many communities.

The takeaway

This issue highlights the complex interconnections between immigration, housing affordability, and the financial viability of landlords, especially those providing lower-cost rental units. Policymakers will need to carefully consider the broader economic implications as they evaluate future immigration enforcement measures.