Cato Daily Podcast
How Deporting Immigrants Harms American Workers
Feb 26, 2025
Scott Lincicome, Vice President for General Economics at the Cato Institute and an expert on immigration and labor economics, challenges the myth that deporting undocumented immigrants benefits American workers. He reveals how such actions often harm the economy and reduce job opportunities instead. Lincicome discusses historical deportations, the unintended consequences on labor markets, and how immigrants drive economic growth. He argues that misunderstanding immigrant labor can degrade native workers' skills and disrupt overall economic stability.
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Quick takeaways
- Deporting immigrant workers detrimentally impacts the American labor market by increasing operational costs and reducing job opportunities for native workers.
- The removal of immigrants as consumers alongside workers negatively affects economic demand, leading to diminished growth and local economic vibrancy.
Deep dives
The Economic Impact of Deportations
Research indicates that deporting foreign workers adversely affects the American labor market rather than benefiting it. Historical deportation initiatives, such as those targeting Chinese and Mexican immigrants, reveal that removing these workers often shrinks industries that relied on their labor. As businesses struggle to replace immigrant workers, they face higher operational costs, which leads to decreased output and fewer job opportunities for native workers. Consequently, the notion that deportations will easily free up jobs for Americans is unfounded and counterproductive.
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