President Donald Trump has built his platform on false claims of protecting American jobs. He’s promised a booming economy and safety for the Americans who voted for him. In an attempt to make good on his promises, he’s pushed for mass deportations and stricter border control, claiming his efforts will benefit the working class.
But here’s the problem: the United States economy can’t function without the work of undocumented immigrants.
Not only are mass deportations a moral stain on our country — ripping apart families with undocumented relatives and even authorized U.S. residents — they do far more harm than good to the economy. Trump’s promises of a booming economy all while pursuing a policy of mass deportation is rather contradictory: you can’t have a growing economy without the work of undocumented immigrants.
Undocumented workers make up a large part of the agriculture, construction and hospitality industries. Today, there are around 8.3 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. workforce, making up over 5% of all American workers. Looking into the agriculture industry specifically, almost half of all hired crop farmworkers in America are undocumented. The work undocumented immigrants provide is essential and it’s actually a lot closer to home than you think. Over 70% of the labor for Wisconsin dairy farms is done by undocumented workers. Undocumented workers help the economy run, and without them, the farming industry in Wisconsin could collapse entirely.
But this is about more than just filling jobs. Undocumented immigrants, just like U.S. citizens, contribute to the economy. A dollar spent by an undocumented immigrant contributes to the economy in the same way as a dollar spent by a U.S. citizen. In all of Wisconsin history, undocumented immigrants have paid nearly $199 billion in taxes. In 2022 alone, undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in taxes at the federal, state and local levels. That money helps fund schools, roads and Social Security — programs that benefit everyone.
If millions of undocumented workers were suddenly deported, businesses would be scrambling to fill jobs, and prices for things like food and housing could skyrocket. The UCLA Anderson Forecast has even warned that between tariffs, deportations and cutting government jobs, Trump's plans could push the country into a recession. Even though a downturn isn’t guaranteed, the risks go up if his policies take full effect.
Trump talks a lot about strengthening the economy, but his immigration stance goes directly against his word. The truth is, undocumented workers aren’t just surviving in the U.S. — they’re keeping things running. They fill crucial jobs, contribute billions in taxes and help businesses thrive. The idea that they’re a drain on the system just isn’t backed by data.
Let’s take a look at Social Security for example. Undocumented immigrants, many of whom will never receive benefits, actually help keep the system afloat. Any money that undocumented immigrants pay acts as free contributions into the system. While undocumented immigrants are not eligible to collect any of the money, their contributions have totaled to over $25 billion in Social Security taxes. That money that undocumented immigrants contribute touches almost all of our lives. In 2023, 71.6 Americans collected benefits from Social Security, and some of those benefits came directly from undocumented immigrants.
And if Trump’s mass deportations happen, the hardest-hit areas won’t be the “big cities.”
These suggested mass deportations will affect the rural communities and lower-income towns that rely heavily on immigrant labor. In places like this, undocumented workers aren’t "stealing jobs" like Trump claims they are, but instead filling jobs that otherwise wouldn’t get done. Without them, farms, construction sites and small businesses could struggle to survive.
If Trump’s goal is to boost the economy and protect American jobs, mass deportations aren’t the answer. Instead of kicking out millions of workers, the U.S. should focus on immigration policies that recognize how much immigrants contribute to our economy. That means offering valid pathways to legal work, balancing border security with realistic reforms and making sure businesses have the workforce they need.
Trump’s immigration crackdown might sound tough, but it could backfire. It would hurt the economy, raise prices and make life harder for the very people he claims to be helping.
Lillie Sunby is a sophomore studying psychology, communications and political science. Do you agree that Trumps immigration policy represents a threat to our economy? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
