Immigration Policy Tied to Job Growth, Claims Treasury Secretary

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently spoke out, suggesting that President Trump’s strict immigration policies are playing a role in boosting job opportunities for American workers. He mentioned that with ongoing deportations—both voluntary and mandatory—the administration anticipates real wage growth to return as private sector jobs increase.

“Mass free immigration has come to a halt,” Bessent told an interviewer, highlighting that approximately 1.82 million individuals have been affected by deportation efforts.

He added that, according to data, wages for workers in the U.S. have been on the rise.

“Before April, we saw real wages for American workers increase consistently throughout President Trump’s administration. I’m optimistic we’ll see that trend resume soon,” he noted.

Bessent believes the government’s immigration actions have redirected job opportunities back to American citizens while simultaneously strengthening the private sector—an important factor for long-term wage growth. “Crucially, these jobs are in the private sector,” he emphasized.

He expressed support for the administration’s approach to downsize the federal workforce, pointing out that the response to the pandemic required adjustments. “There was a significant fiscal crisis and governmental expansion,” Bessent remarked. “President Trump often says that if we expand the government too much, we might create jobs, but that would also lead to higher deficits and lower productivity.”

He anticipates that the country might be on the verge of a major productivity surge, similar to what happened in the 1990s.