When ICE ramped up enforcement, US-born workers didn’t see any economic gains

Contrary to the belief that an immigration crackdown would lead to more jobs for US-born workers, ICE enforcement hasn’t produced economic gains for Americans.

By: Chloe N. East, University of Colorado Boulder and Elizabeth Cox, University of Colorado Boulder, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: May 29, 2026

Words: 1,073

Last Updated: 1 month, 3 weeks ago

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By Chloe N. East, University of Colorado Boulder and Elizabeth Cox, University of Colorado Boulder

President Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to strengthen the labor market. His immigration platform – including a pledge to conduct the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history – was central to that promise.

“For too long, Washington ignored how mass illegal immigration artificially suppressed wages, hurting working-class Americans – especially young men,” wrote Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on …

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