When ICE ramped up enforcement, US-born workers didn’t see any economic gains
Researchers found a 4% drop in employment for likely undocumented workers in sectors hit by ICE raids, with no measurable wage gains for U.S.-born workers.
- Increased ICE enforcement activity during President Trump's second term caused a 4% drop in employment rates for undocumented workers in agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and wholesale sectors.
- The percentage of apprehensions conducted in public spaces—streets, workplaces, and courthouses—more than doubled, rising from 19% to nearly 50%, as ICE arrests became more indiscriminate and visible.
- A Wharton study found consumer spending dropped 6.2% weekly in heavily impacted areas, while Pew Research reported 43% of foreign-born respondents feared deportation, creating widespread labor market chilling effects.
- Research shows mass deportations do not create new job opportunities for Americans; employment and wage growth stagnated in construction during 2025 despite enforcement efforts.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed in July 2025 that immigration suppressed wages for working-class Americans, yet Minneapolis officials estimated the city lost US$203 million in economic activity.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Increased ICE Enforcement Fails to Benefit US Workers, Study Shows
A new study finds that intensified ICE operations under Trump's administration did not yield expected economic benefits for US-born workers. Instead, unemployment rose, and wage growth stagnated, with a significant decrease in employment rates among immigrants without an uplift for native workers.
When When Ice Ramped up Enforcement, Why Didn't US‑Born Workers See Any Economic Gains
Republished with permission from The Conversation, by Chloe N. East, University of Colorado Boulder and Elizabeth Cox, University of Colorado Boulder President Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to strengthen the labor market. His immigration platform—including a pledge to conduct the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history—was central to that promise. “For too long, Washington ignored how mass illegal immigration artificially suppressed …
ICE Crackdown Didn't Create More Jobs for Americans, Study Finds
Highlights:Areas with increased ICE enforcement saw lower immigrant employment. US-born workers did not experience higher employment or wage growth. Researchers found a strong "chilling effect" among immigrant workers. Consumer spending and economic activity declined in some affected areas. Construction was among the sectors most impacted by labor shortages. President Donald Trump returned to office promising to strengthen the labor market, with…
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