Actually, You Don’t Want Mass Deportation

How fear of immigrants holds up the economy and keeps the poor poor

Jared Beardsley

14 March 2025

Introduction

“The Democrats say, ‘Please don’t call them animals. They’re humans.’ I said, ‘No, they’re not humans, they’re not humans. They’re animals.’” (Layne, 2024) Donald Trump’s sentiment towards immigrants is, unfortunately, very familiar to the general population. Illegal immigration has been framed as the nation’s biggest problem, with deportation and increased border security being a promise from both the Democratic and Republican parties. Considering our increased political polarization, this bipartisan support for an issue is almost bizarre. The common through-line is to “protect American jobs,” with the implication being that working-class Americans will have access to more jobs, jobs being stolen by these illegal immigrants. The reality of the situation is that the jobs being protected are the employers of the migrants, and the fear and hatred directed towards migrants is what keeps workers from realizing their actual enemy.

This is nothing new. Immigrants have been painted as the enemy of the working class for centuries. The role has been passed from the Irish to the Italians, Slavs, Chinese, and so forth. Now, it is the plight of the Hispanics to carry this burden. The narrative has been the same for over a century. They’ll take your jobs! They’re sloths who waste taxpayer dollars! They bring crime! Drugs! Rape! You know the story by now. Immigrants, the people who aren’t like us, will bring the downfall of society. Immigrants, illegal or not, are painted as a threat, as a societal disease, and as less than human. In reality, this fear is a tool. Immigrants aren’t wasting taxpayer dollars, they’re paying taxes. Undocumented migrants aren’t taking your jobs, they work just as much as you, but with lower pay and worse conditions. They aren’t bringing crime, they’re actually committing less crime than we are. Yet despite this data, illegal aliens are compared to animals that are “poisoning the blood of this country.” The reality of undocumented migrants and their effect on the economy is contradictory to the fears spread by Donald Trump and the rest of the GOP. But why? Who benefits from this misinformation?

Immigrants aren’t “taking jobs.” These jobs are being given to them, because undocumented migrants have fewer legal protections, and this allows for them to be exploited more. Undocumented immigrants are paid below minimum wage, work in worse conditions, and face more danger because it is cheaper for the companies that are hiring them. Your jobs weren’t taken. They were outsourced to raise profits.

Today, I’ll address the effect that illegal immigrants have on society, the damage mass deportation would cause, and who stands to benefit from this current system. Border security and mass deportation have been pitched to you as the great solution to the economic problem, but not only is this the opposite of fact, but it distracts the lower classes from seeing who is truly screwing them over.

The Role of Illegal Immigrants in the U.S. Economy

The economic impact of undocumented immigrants is undeniable. Studies show that they contribute significantly to key sectors such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality, comprising a large percentage of the workforce (Venditti, 2024). Without their labor, these industries would face severe shortages, leading to production slowdowns, higher operating costs, and price surges for consumers. Additionally, undocumented workers pay billions in state and local taxes, directly funding public services such as schools, infrastructure, and emergency healthcare (Cervantes, 2024; Vergara, 2024). The notion that they drain public resources is a myth—many undocumented immigrants contribute more in taxes than they receive in benefits. The system drains them, not the other way around.
        Undocumented immigrants do not weaken the economy; they strengthen it. These workers fill vital positions in industries where legal labor is scarce, taking on roles that many citizens are unwilling to perform. The contributions of undocumented workers extend beyond their labor—they generate billions in tax revenue and consumer spending, significantly supporting local economies (Cervantes, 2024). To assume their removal would lead to economic growth is a grave miscalculation. Instead, deporting them en masse would destabilize entire industries, drive up prices, and ultimately hurt the very citizens who have been led to believe they stand to gain.

Who Employs Illegal Immigrants

         Undocumented laborers are the silent workforce behind the functioning of key American industries. Agriculture depends on them to harvest crops under conditions that most legal workers refuse to endure. Construction projects—from roads to high-rise buildings—rely on their physical labor. The hospitality sector, from hotels to restaurants, is sustained by undocumented workers who clean rooms, wash dishes, and prepare food (Venditti, 2024). Without them, the cost of running these industries would skyrocket, leading to job losses even among legal workers. The reality is not that undocumented immigrants are stealing jobs, but that they are performing jobs that would otherwise go unfilled.
        From a business perspective, the exploitation of migrant labor is not just a necessity but a highly profitable strategy. Companies benefit from paying undocumented workers lower wages, often below legal minimums, and avoiding costs associated with healthcare, benefits, and legal protections (Weinman, 2024). This cost-cutting measure allows businesses to maximize their profits while keeping consumer prices artificially low. Employers also leverage the fear of deportation to discourage undocumented workers from demanding fair treatment, effectively maintaining a submissive and cheap workforce (Flynn, 2016). In industries where profit margins are razor-thin, hiring undocumented workers provides a competitive advantage, ensuring steady productivity without the financial burden of labor protections. The harsh reality is that this economic model thrives on the vulnerability of migrant labor, turning their lack of legal status into a lucrative business practice.
        Corporations are driven by profit, not national loyalty. It is for the same reason that companies outsource labor that they hire illegal immigrants: it’s so cost-effective. Undocumented workers provide them with an easily exploitable labor force—one that can be paid below-market wages without benefits or legal protections (Weinman, 2024). This is not an accident but an intentional manipulation of labor laws to keep costs low and profit margins high. These same corporations push anti-immigrant rhetoric to shift blame away from themselves, using undocumented labor while simultaneously funding policies that keep these workers in a vulnerable position (Cervantes, 2024). The narrative of the immigrant as an economic threat is nothing more than an illusion. It is the corporations hiring them that threaten the working class.  

Why Legal Workers Aren’t a Viable Substitute

 The argument that deporting undocumented immigrants will create jobs for Americans ignores economic reality. The positions they occupy are often low-paying, physically demanding, and lacking job security—conditions that most legal workers are unwilling to accept. Businesses dependent on undocumented labor do not simply refuse to hire legal workers; they cannot find enough workers willing to take on these roles at the wages currently offered (Lisiecki, 2024). If undocumented workers were removed, businesses would not miraculously begin offering fair wages to legal workers. That’s way too expensive! They would turn to automation, outsourcing, or downsizing, leaving American workers no better off than before.
        Furthermore, past attempts to replace undocumented labor with legal workers have largely failed. In agriculture, for instance, states that enacted strict immigration laws saw crops rot in the fields because there were not enough domestic workers willing to take on the grueling, low-wage jobs left behind (East, 2024). Similarly, industries such as meatpacking, construction, and hospitality have struggled to attract American workers, even when unemployment rates are high (AIC, 2024). The reality is that undocumented immigrants are not displacing American workers—they are filling labor gaps that would otherwise remain empty, keeping essential industries afloat, and preventing widespread economic disruptions.

The Harms That Mass Deportation Would Cause

To Corporations

If undocumented workers disappeared overnight, entire industries would struggle to survive. Agriculture, already facing labor shortages, would experience massive disruptions, leading to food shortages and price spikes. The construction industry would slow dramatically, delaying infrastructure projects and pushing housing prices higher (AIC, 2024). Small and medium-sized businesses that depend on affordable labor would be forced to close, leading to job losses even among legal employees (East, 2024). The economic impact would be swift and brutal, far from the economic revitalization that mass deportation advocates claim.  

To Consumers

The financial burden of mass deportation would not fall on corporations alone. In fact, it would arguably hurt consumers (that’s us!) far more. Without low-wage labor, agricultural products would become more expensive, raising grocery bills for every American household (Warren, 2017). The cost of housing would surge due to labor shortages in construction, and service industries—from restaurants to hotels—would increase prices to compensate for higher wages (Warren, 2017). What appears to be a policy of economic protection would, in reality, make life more expensive for everyday citizens (Warren, 2017).
        A mass deportation policy would send shockwaves through industries that depend on undocumented workers, disrupting supply chains and creating inflationary pressures that hurt consumers the most (Vergara, 2024). Deporting long-time residents would lead to an annual GDP loss of hundreds of billions of dollars, directly impacting the affordability of essential goods and services (Vergara, 2024). With fewer workers available to sustain food production, harvesting delays, and labor shortages would force farmers to charge higher prices, leaving middle and working-class citizens to bear the brunt of increased grocery costs (Vergara, 2024). The hospitality industry, which relies heavily on immigrant labor, would also experience major disruptions, leading to higher prices for dining, travel, and lodging (Vergara, 2024). Consumers who are already struggling with rising living expenses would find themselves paying significantly more for basic necessities (Vergara, 2024).
        Beyond the economic statistics, this reality carries severe consequences for working and middle-class families (Vergara, 2024). Parents already making sacrifices to keep food on the table would face even tougher choices as grocery prices rise (Vergara, 2024). Housing costs, already out of reach for many, would become even more unattainable as construction slows and the supply of new homes dwindles (Vergara, 2024). Everyday conveniences would become luxuries, widening the gap between the wealthy and the working poor (Vergara, 2024). The same politicians who champion mass deportation as a means to protect American jobs fail to acknowledge that their policies would make basic survival harder for millions of citizens (Vergara, 2024). The burden of these economic disruptions would not fall on the elite, but on the very people deportation was supposed to benefit.

To the Working Class  

But, at least there will be more available jobs, right? This couldn’t be further from the truth. The idea that American workers would benefit from mass deportation is rooted in wishful thinking rather than economic fact. The removal of undocumented workers would not lead to wage increases or better job opportunities. Instead, it would encourage businesses to invest in automation or move operations overseas, further reducing job availability (East, 2024). Additionally, many U.S. citizens rely on industries supported by undocumented labor. When these industries falter, layoffs follow, affecting both immigrant and non-immigrant workers alike.    

Undocumented workers accept low wages not because they devalue labor, but because the system is structured to exploit their lack of legal protections. Studies have shown that undocumented immigrants earn significantly less than their U.S.-born counterparts, often making 20% to 40% less for the same work (Camarota, 2023). This wage suppression doesn't just impact immigrants—it drags down overall wages, as businesses prioritize cheap, easily exploitable labor over fair pay for all workers. With an abundant supply of labor willing to work under substandard conditions, employers have little incentive to raise wages or improve working conditions. This creates a cycle where businesses profit while workers, legal or not, struggle to make ends meet, their wages stagnating as the cost of living continues to rise.
        Beyond the numbers, this reality is deeply personal. It means the American worker who once earned a livable wage in construction, agriculture, or service industries now finds their paycheck stretched thinner each month. It means parents working multiple jobs just to afford rent and food, watching their dreams of homeownership or higher education for their children slip further away. It means that the very people fueling the economy are left in financial destitution. Rather than blaming immigrants for accepting what little they are offered, the outrage should be directed at the corporations and policymakers who enable a race to the bottom, prioritizing profits over human dignity.

To the Overall Economy

The broader economic impact of mass deportation would be nothing short of catastrophic. Businesses struggling to find workers would downsize or close, leading to massive job losses. Consumer spending would decline as prices rose, stalling economic growth (Reichlin-Melnick, 2024). Tax revenues would shrink as the contributions of undocumented workers vanished, placing additional strain on public services, not to mention taxpayers (Reichlin-Melnick, 2024). Deportation does not revitalize the economy. It kills it  

Entire industries that rely heavily on undocumented labor—such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality—would experience severe disruptions (Reichlin-Melnick, 2024). Farmers, unable to replace workers quickly, would drastically drop supply, exacerbating food shortages and driving up prices at an unprecedented rate (Reichlin-Melnick, 2024). And here I was thinking eggs would get cheaper. The construction industry, already facing labor shortages, would grind to a halt as projects stall, further deepening the housing crisis and making homeownership even more inaccessible for working-class Americans (Reichlin-Melnick, 2024).  

With fewer workers contributing to social programs and tax bases, local and federal governments would face budget shortfalls, leading to cuts in education, healthcare, and infrastructure projects (Reichlin-Melnick, 2024). The economic stagnation would not be temporary—once businesses shut down and labor markets collapse, recovery would be slow and painful. The domino effect of these economic failures would create a prolonged recession, ultimately harming every sector of society. Without immediate labor replacements, supply chain disruptions would become the norm, making even basic necessities harder to access and afford. The economy would not just slow down; it would begin to unravel, exposing the undeniable truth that undocumented workers are an indispensable part of the nation's financial stability (Reichlin-Melnick, 2024).

So, Why Is Deportation Occurring?

Keeping Them Illegal Keeps Costs and Prices Low

 By ensuring that undocumented immigrants remain in a state of legal limbo, corporations can continue to exploit them with impunity. The constant fear of deportation prevents these workers from demanding better wages or safer working conditions. As long as they remain undocumented, they remain vulnerable, and that vulnerability translates into higher profits for businesses (Flynn, 2016). This is not an unintended consequence of the system. The system is working exactly as intended. Employers rely on this fear to keep wages artificially low, knowing that undocumented workers have little recourse to fight back. Meanwhile, consumers indirectly benefit from these exploitative practices, as lower labor costs mean cheaper goods and services. However, this cycle of exploitation does not just harm immigrants—it suppresses wages for all workers, creating a race to the bottom where corporations reap the rewards while laborers, both immigrant and citizen alike, suffer. These workers are not just statistics. They are human beings with families, aspirations, and a right to live.
        Undocumented workers endure long hours, unsafe conditions, and meager wages—not because they want to, but because they have no other choice. The looming threat of deportation forces them into compliance, ensuring that they accept unfair treatment without protest (Korol, 2022). This system does not just exploit immigrants—it exploits every member of the working class. When employers know they can get away with underpaying one group of workers, they feel no pressure to offer fair wages or benefits to anyone. This devaluation of labor ripples through the entire economy, reinforcing income inequality and stagnating wages even for native-born workers.
        The real tragedy is that this fear is not abstract—it is lived, breathed, and endured every single day by millions who simply want to survive. Families live in constant anxiety, knowing that a routine traffic stop or a simple mistake could mean separation, detention, or deportation. The system thrives on this fear, weaponizing uncertainty to ensure compliance.

They’re a Scapegoat for Society’s Problems, Not the Root Cause

 When wages stagnate and economic hardship spreads, immigrants are conveniently blamed. This narrative diverts attention from the real problem: corporate greed and policies designed to benefit the wealthy at the expense of workers (Certo, 2024). By convincing the public that immigrants are the enemy, those in power maintain the status quo, ensuring that the real sources of economic instability remain unchallenged.
        This manufactured resentment serves a crucial function: it prevents workers from recognizing how similar their plight is to the illegal alien. Instead of uniting against exploitative employers who suppress wages, slash benefits, and erode job security, workers are pitted against one another based on citizenship. This allows corporations to continue exploiting the labor force unchecked. If workers recognized that their true oppressors were not immigrants, but the same politicians and elite who sold them on a lie, they might begin to demand real change—higher wages, better protections, and a more just economy. But as long as immigrants remain the convenient scapegoat, the cycle of exploitation continues.
        Historical and contemporary studies confirm this pattern. In times of economic distress, ruling classes have repeatedly used marginalized groups as scapegoats to deflect from systemic failures (AIC, 2024). By shifting the blame onto undocumented immigrants, corporations and policymakers avoid scrutiny for suppressing wages and dismantling labor protections (Garsd, 2024). The irony is that immigrant labor plays a critical role in sustaining key industries, yet rather than recognizing this contribution, society is conditioned to view them as threats rather than allies in the fight for economic justice.

Debunking the myth of migrant crime

The myth that undocumented immigrants bring crime to the United States has been weaponized for political gain, creating unnecessary fear and division. However, research consistently shows that immigrants—both documented and undocumented—commit crimes at significantly lower rates than U.S.-born citizens (AIC, 2024). This reality contradicts the fear-mongering narratives that paint immigration as a threat to public safety. The truth is, that undocumented individuals often go to great lengths to avoid legal trouble, and obviously so, as any run-in with law enforcement could lead to detention or deportation. This cautious behavior, combined with strong family and community ties, results in crime rates among immigrants being lower. Yet, despite this evidence, the false association between immigration and crime continues to be spread, distracting from the real issues that drive crime rates, such as poverty and lack of economic opportunity.
        Politicians and media figures pushing the crime narrative ignore the overwhelming data that tells a different story. Multiple studies have found that cities with higher immigrant populations experience lower crime rates than those with fewer immigrants (Garsd, 2024). This isn’t a coincidence—immigrants contribute to safer communities by prioritizing stability, family unity, and economic advancement. Moreover, the constant vilification of immigrants diverts attention from the corporate and political failures that create economic desperation and crime in the first place. Instead of addressing systemic inequality and broken social safety nets, some leaders find it easier to scapegoat immigrants, perpetuating myths that only serve to stoke fear and justify harsh immigration policies. In reality, undocumented immigrants are not fueling crime waves—they are building lives in a country that too often refuses to acknowledge their contributions.

Conclusion

Mass deportation is not a solution; it is a distraction; an elaborate ploy to shift blame away from those truly responsible for economic hardship. The corporations that lobby for deregulation and exploit cheap labor are the real beneficiaries, yet working-class Americans are encouraged to direct their anger at immigrants instead. This is by design. It keeps the labor force divided, ensuring that workers fight among themselves rather than uniting against the elite who continue to hoard wealth and power.  

The reality is stark: jobs are not being stolen; they are being deliberately outsourced to those who can be legally underpaid and stripped of basic protections. The same politicians who demonize undocumented immigrants are the ones who enable corporate greed, erode workers’ rights, and gut social safety nets. Mass deportation would not fix the economy—it would shatter it, plunging industries into chaos and leaving the working class, both immigrant and citizen alike, to suffer the consequences.  

Until labor protections apply to all workers, regardless of status, exploitation will remain the backbone of the economy. Until workers recognize that their true enemy is not the desperate immigrants but the upper class who manipulate them, economic injustice will persist. The question is not whether immigrants are to blame. It is whether the working class will ever notice the scam.