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Protest on migration and the workforce
In the first days of his presidency, Trump began signing executive orders on immigration. These orders have targeted not only immigrants but the economy.
Trump revived many of the same programs during his previous administration. While campaigning, Trump made promises to “round up and remove millions of unauthorized immigrants”.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported and detained almost 1.2 million immigrants from Jan. to the end of July. Trump aimed to deport “the worst of the worst”, “dangerous criminals” and yet most of those detained have no criminal record.
While many immigrants are displaced, detained and deported—the workforce is dwindling with their departure. Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, cited immigration policy as a leading factor in the slowdown of labor supply. The U.S. labor force has dramatically declined for the first time since 2010 due to the Trump administration’s immigrant reduction efforts.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that occupations such as construction, farming, cleaning, food preparation, etc., are among jobs with a high rate of immigrant workers.
This report correlates that immigrant workers’ are vital to the growth and success of the U.S. As a result of immigration deportation, the U.S. unemployment rates have increased as they are an integral part of social security.
Immigrant entrepreneurship and immigrant professionals refer to individuals who conduct trade and business, respectively, filling economic niches in the middle class. The contributions of “skilled immigrants increase innovation at the regional and firm level”. Immigrants not only strengthen the workforce and the economy, but also bring ideas and innovation that advance our society through the creation of new jobs, increased demand, etc.
Rebecca Diamond, a professor of economics at Stanford Graduate School of Business, found immigrants to be responsible for 24% of patents. Mass deportations limit the number of high-skilled jobs in innovation due to a lack of immigrants coming into the American workforce.
The Supreme Court recently overturned an order prohibiting federal agents in Los Angeles from stopping and questioning anyone on their immigration status on looks, accents and ethnicity.
Economists say the U.S. labor pool is contracting due to policy, raising concerns for the health of the U.S. economy.