Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has promised the biggest deportation event in U.S. history if elected, claiming that immigrants, both legal and illegal, are taking jobs from Black and Hispanic Americans. However, government data shows that immigrant labor contributes to economic growth and provides opportunities for native-born workers, challenging Trump’s claims.
Economists warn that a mass deportation event could cost U.S. taxpayers up to a trillion dollars and lead to a significant increase in the cost of living, including food and housing. While Trump’s rhetoric on jobs has been called racist by Democrats and Black leaders, studies show that immigrants are often filling positions that native-born workers are unwilling to do, such as in agriculture and food processing.
International migrants, primarily from Latin America, have been a major driver of population growth in the U.S. and have helped fill labor shortages in industries like construction. Researchers have found that the presence of immigrant labor can actually improve employment outcomes for native-born workers, as new immigrants possess different skills and fill vacant roles.
Despite claims by Trump’s advisers that immigrants are taking jobs from Americans, data shows that there are more job vacancies than workers available to fill them, particularly in labor-intensive sectors. The looming threat of mass deportations has economists warning of detrimental impacts on the U.S. economy, with estimates of up to a trillion-dollar loss if such an event were to occur. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has emphasized the importance of immigrant labor in supporting economic growth without depriving other workers of job opportunities.
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