FT News Briefing The Economics Show: What does a Trump presidency mean for immigration?
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Nov 24, 2024 Michael Clemens, an expert on migration economics from George Mason University, delves into the potential impacts of a second Trump presidency on immigration. He discusses the current role of over 12 million unauthorized immigrants in the economy and the ramifications of mass deportation. The conversation highlights how Trump's rhetoric often scapegoats immigrants during tough economic times and reflects on historical precedents for immigration policy. Clemens stresses the need for reform to create legal work opportunities and balanced migration management.
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Trump's Immigration Policy Restrictiveness
- Trump's first term immigration policies were a 7/10 on a restrictiveness scale (10 being most restrictive).
- His second term policies are projected to be 8/9, harsher than the Chinese Exclusion Act.
Trump's Legal Immigration Plans
- Trump aims to restrict high-skill visas and family sponsorships.
- He also wants to eliminate birthright citizenship, potentially impacting millions.
History of Birthright Citizenship
- Birthright citizenship originated after the Civil War to counteract racist citizenship restrictions.
- It aimed to ensure everyone born on US territory would be a citizen, regardless of parental status.