Trump’s Immigration Policies Reshape Labor Market as 1.2 Million Fewer Immigrants in Workforce

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – As Americans celebrate Labor Day, new data shows that President Donald Trump’s tough stance on immigration is reshaping the nation’s workforce, with nearly 1.2 million fewer immigrant workers in the U.S. since the start of his second term.

The Pew Research Center, citing preliminary Census Bureau data, reports that both legal residents and illegal migrants have declined in the labor force between January and July. Much of the reduction comes from illegal immigrants returning home or being deported under Trump’s policies, which prioritize border security and enforcement of immigration law.

For years, unchecked migration swelled the U.S. labor force. Immigrants now make up nearly 20 percent of American workers, including 45 percent in farming and 30 percent in construction. Critics warn the decline could tighten labor markets in some states, but supporters argue it’s long overdue to restore fairness for American workers.

“The influx across the border from what we can tell is essentially stopped, and that’s where we were getting millions and millions of migrants over the last four years,” said Pia Orrenius, a labor economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. She acknowledged that the sudden shift is having “a huge impact on the ability to create jobs,” but others see it as a necessary correction.

The number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. peaked at an estimated 14 million in 2023. Since then, stronger enforcement, deportations, and reduced protections under Trump have led to declines. Oxford Economics projects immigration will slow to about 500,000 per year through 2028–far below the pre-Trump years.

Farmers and construction firms reliant on cheap labor may feel the pinch, with some crops going unharvested and projects delayed. But conservatives argue this pressure will encourage higher wages and more opportunities for American citizens. “For too long, industries have depended on illegal labor at the expense of American workers,” said one policy analyst. “This is about restoring the dignity of work for citizens first.”

While the overall U.S. labor force remains strong at over 171 million workers, the Trump administration’s policies are clearly redirecting the economy toward lawful employment and away from mass dependence on foreign labor. For Trump, who campaigned on ending illegal immigration, this is not a side effect–it’s the point.

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