Economic Effects of Immigration Policy Under Trump
President Donald Trump is influencing the wages of millions of Americans by ending federal allowances for many undocumented immigrants, according to an immigration economist from a Washington, D.C. think tank.
“We might see stronger wage growth in certain jobs, particularly in agriculture and among home health workers,” the economist noted. Wendy Edelberg, associated with a prominent research facility, shared these insights.
However, she also mentioned that the deportation of immigrants is likely to have a modest economic impact on the broader U.S. economy.
Edelberg believes that businesses will need time to adjust, especially with the sudden decrease in available immigrant labor, a situation that hasn’t occurred in decades. She pointed out that the influx of immigrants is declining significantly.
Her remarks come as reports indicate that many Americans are struggling with stagnant wages, housing issues, and diminished wealth due to immigration policies that have been in place since 1990.
For instance, Rachel Brunberg, CEO of a housing facility in Florida, has already seen a loss of ten workers due to a program that allows humanitarian parole. She anticipates losing another thirty as temporary protected status for Haitians comes to an end.
“This might just be the beginning,” Brunberg said. She noted that many employees are fearful of being deported themselves or having family members deported.
Brunberg received less than a day’s notice about her employees losing their work permits, which forced her to scramble to fill their shifts. She’s currently raising salaries and bonuses, but replacing not just aides, but also maintenance staff, dishwashers, and servers has proven to be quite challenging.
Furthermore, a large meatpacking company recently signed a contract giving 26,000 workers better pay and benefits, which has garnered excitement among the employees. One worker expressed her joy about the pension news, feeling hopeful for her future financial security.
In a recent tweet, Treasury Secretary Scott Becent mentioned that wages for hourly workers have increased by nearly two percent in just the first five months, attributing this growth to pro-worker policies in place under Trump.
Edelberg, who voices strong opposition to Trump’s immigration policies, is now reevaluating the labor market, especially after millions of American workers have faced job losses over the years.
Progressive commentators have raised concerns about the potential impacts of these policies, noting that some advocates push for a transition to promote economic fairness while others focus on innovation.
