Trump immigration jobs claims/ immigrant labor impact/ Black and Hispanic jobs/ Trump deportation plan/ U.S. labor market and immigration/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Despite Donald Trump’s claims that immigrants are taking jobs from Black and Hispanic Americans, data shows immigrant labor is essential for economic growth and often fills roles unappealing to native-born workers. Experts warn Trump’s proposed mass deportations could cost up to $1 trillion and lead to steep price increases for food and housing.
Trump’s Immigration Rhetoric vs. Reality of Immigrant Labor Quick Looks
- Trump’s Claim: Trump alleges immigrants are taking “Black jobs” and “Hispanic jobs.”
- Economic Evidence: Data shows immigrant labor helps economic growth and offers opportunities for native workers.
- Labor Needs: Immigrants fill roles in sectors like agriculture that lack U.S.-born workers.
- Deportation Costs: Mass deportations could cost up to $1 trillion and inflate costs of essentials.
Data Debunks Trump’s Claims that Migrants Take Black, Hispanic Jobs
Deep Look
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has promised the “largest deportation event” in U.S. history if elected, asserting that immigrant labor, both documented and undocumented, is taking jobs from Black and Hispanic workers. Trump’s remarks have drawn criticism for using divisive language and contradicting data that suggests immigrant labor benefits the U.S. economy and opens pathways for native-born workers.
At a recent rally in Reading, Pennsylvania, Trump warned that immigrants were “attacking” jobs belonging to Black, Hispanic, and union workers, linking immigration to both job displacement and criminal activity. Critics, however, say these assertions ignore the economic contributions of immigrants and the reality that many immigrant workers take on roles less desirable to U.S.-born citizens.
Trump campaign adviser Janiyah Thomas argued that illegal immigration is a priority for the administration, alleging that Democrats have neglected the interests of Black Americans. However, employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics contradicts the notion that immigrants are significantly affecting job opportunities for Black and Hispanic workers.
According to recent data, most native-born Black and Hispanic workers are employed in management, sales, and service roles, while foreign-born Black and Hispanic non-citizens are more likely to work in transportation, construction, and cleaning services. These data points challenge the perception that immigrants are taking jobs in industries where native-born workers dominate.
Immigrant Labor’s Role in Economic Growth
In recent years, immigration has become the primary driver of U.S. population growth, contributing significantly to economic expansion as birth rates in the U.S. decline. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau and studies by economists suggest that immigrant labor is essential in sectors like agriculture, construction, and food processing—industries that often struggle to attract U.S.-born workers.
University of California, Davis, labor economist Giovanni Peri found that the entry of new immigrants often benefits native-born workers, whose language skills and experience lead them into supervisory roles over time. His study on the 1980 Mariel Boatlift, when an influx of Cuban immigrants entered Miami, showed an eventual rise in wages for Black and Hispanic workers, indicating that immigrant labor did not harm job prospects.
Economist Stan Marek, who runs a construction firm in Houston, echoed these findings. “Absolutely not, immigrants are not taking jobs from Americans,” he said, explaining that many young people are not interested in blue-collar jobs. Marek believes the country needs a system that allows people in the U.S. illegally to work openly, enhancing national security and stabilizing labor supply. “There’s not enough blue-collar labor here,” he added.
Peri estimates that without immigrant workers, many companies would turn to automation, as technology can replace low-wage labor when there is a scarcity of workers. Dartmouth University economist Ethan Lewis observed that immigrant labor often supports job creation rather than displacement, particularly for U.S.-born workers in complementary roles.
Economic Impact of Mass Deportations
Trump’s proposal to conduct widespread deportations, targeting both documented and undocumented immigrants, could carry a heavy economic price. Peri estimates that removing undocumented immigrants from the workforce could cost the U.S. economy up to $1 trillion, considering that this segment makes up approximately 4% of the U.S. GDP annually. Such a reduction in labor would likely drive up food and housing costs significantly.
“Without immigrants, the cost of everything from produce to basic services would soar,” Peri noted. His findings align with those of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who recently argued that immigrant labor is critical for sustaining economic growth in the U.S. “On balance, it helps the economy grow without actually depriving other people of jobs,” Yellen said, emphasizing that labor supply is not a zero-sum game.
Additionally, organizing mass deportations would be a logistical and financial challenge, adding to the taxpayer burden while disrupting sectors reliant on immigrant labor, such as construction, farming, and hospitality. According to Peri, the cost of organizing and executing a mass deportation program would be “mind-boggling,” while the economic shock would disrupt food supply chains and other essentials.
Immigrant Labor in the U.S. Job Market
In terms of employment patterns, native-born Black and Hispanic Americans are largely employed in management, office, and service roles, while foreign-born Black and Hispanic workers are more frequently found in transportation, construction, and maintenance. These sectors often face labor shortages due to low wages and physically demanding conditions. Immigrants have thus become essential to sustaining these industries, while native-born workers continue to advance into supervisory or specialized roles.
Reports by the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank advocating for reduced immigration, have stated that immigrant job growth exceeds that of native-born workers. However, experts argue that this is partly because immigrant labor is vital for filling roles U.S.-born workers typically avoid.
Studies show that immigrant labor’s effect on native-born employment is generally neutral or positive. “There is no fixed number of jobs, and immigrants help sustain existing firms while creating new ones,” said Peri, underscoring that immigrant and native-born workers are complementary rather than competitive.
Trump’s assertions about immigrants taking “Black jobs” and “Hispanic jobs” appear to misrepresent the reality of the U.S. job market, according to economists. The data suggests that immigrant labor fulfills a crucial demand that native-born workers are often unwilling to meet. With labor shortages persisting in key industries, Trump’s proposed mass deportations could impact both economic stability and consumer costs.
