Immigration Enforcement Harms all Labor
Unemployment has increased for U.S.-born workers in the face of mass deportations: Trump’s draconian immigration enforcement is harming all workers. Economic Policy Institute, April 3, 2026
During the 2024 campaign, Donald Trump and J.D. Vance promised that mass deportations and a crack-down on immigration would open up jobs for unemployed U.S. citizens. The theory was simple: remove immigrant workers, and native-born U.S. citizens would fill those open positions. Well, the results are in, and the opposite is happening.
The unemployment rate for U.S.-born workers was 4.0% in 2024 under Biden’s administration, and it has risen under Trump. With today’s jobs report, the three-month average for 2026 shows the U.S.-born unemployment rate is at 4.3% (the non-seasonally adjusted average for 2026 is 4.6%).
Claims that mass deportations have helped U.S.-born workers are simply inconsistent with the data. This is no surprise. Economic research has repeatedly shown that increased immigration enforcement harms everyone in the labor market, including U.S.-born workers. Part of the explanation for this is that immigrants are not only workers, but also consumers. They generate demand and help the economy grow. Another part is that immigrants and U.S.-born workers complement each other in the labor market. For example, when immigrant roofers and framers disappear, there is less work available for the native-born electricians and plumbers. And when child care workers and cleaners are detained, deported, or terrorized by the Trump administration’s reckless and indiscriminate immigration enforcement, U.S.-born mothers work fewer hours to cover increased care responsibilities at home.
U.S.-born workers are faring worse under Trump’s assault on immigrants. The attacks have been going after undocumented immigrants. Included in these attacks are those with green cards, temporary statuses like parole and DACA, refugees, and asylum-seekers. Mass deportations, arrests, detentions, and the stripping of work permits from millions has devastated communities. Such actions by the Trump administration is failing to deliver the promised jobs boom.
Gee, what a surprise. Some additional information from a different source. Again, one year later Politico, “A year later, here’s where things stand on Trump’s manufacturing revival.”
Manufacturing payrolls actually declined slightly over the past year, with 98,000 fewer jobs year-over-year based on the most recent data from the Labor Department. There are 29,900 fewer auto manufacturing jobs and 18,000 fewer wood manufacturing jobs. Both sectors are what the president has tried to protect with trade barriers. New, higher tariffs on steel and aluminum have hindered the construction of factories. The industry’s hiring rate (often a reflection of confidence in the economic outlook) is lower now than it was at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Keep in mind Direct Labor is the lowest costs in the cost of manufacturing. Look to the other cost elements.