Increasing Unemployment Due to Deportation

Trump’s Immigration Enforcement Hurts All Workers

“Unemployment has increased for U.S.-born workers in the face of mass deportations,” Economic Policy Institute

During the 2024 campaign, Donald Trump and J.D. Vance stated mass deportations and a crackdown on immigration would open up more jobs for unemployed U.S. citizens. The removal of immigrant workers would cause opportunities for 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 inconsistent with the data. This is no surprise. Economic research has repeatedly shown that increased immigration enforcement harms eryone in the labor market, including U.S.-born workers.

Part of the explanation for this being immigrants are not just workers. They are also consumers, which generates demand and helps the economy grow. Another part is 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. AB: I would add to this, the available work comes at a slower pace. Labor is no longer needed. 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.

At risk here, (as taken from Trump’s deportation agenda will destroy millions of jobs) is the loss of an approximate 6 million more jobs as shown in the chart below.

As a result, U.S.-born workers are faring worse under Trump’s assault on immigrants. It is not just going after immigrants who are not undocumented in the United States. Trump and his administration has expanded deportation to include those who are legally in the United States This would include green cards, temporary statuses like parole and DACA, refugees, and asylum-seekers. Mass deportations, arrests, detentions, and the stripping of work permits from millions have devastated communities and failed to deliver the promised jobs boom. Doing such to Labor has a large impact on the United States Economy. I can only imagine the fear.

“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, Daniel Costa and Ben Zipperer