A flurry of new reports just crossed our radar that show—in fact they measure—the negative economic impacts of mass arrests of immigrants. Numerous studies using a range of methodologies all show that mass arrests of immigrants shrink the economy.
On January 23, 2025, just three days into the second Trump Administration, IRI and the New York-based Fiscal Policy Institute put out a report predicting serious economic consequences to the Trump Administration’s mass deportation agenda in New York, from job loss and decline in tax revenue to disruptions in restaurants, construction, farming and the care economy. IRI then put out parallel reports with local partners in other states.
So, we can’t say we are surprised by the findings. But as the numbers come in, the results are as bad as predicted.
Economic impacts are hardly the main problem with mass arrests. But they are important to document, since a key claim being made by the Trump Administration is that arresting and deporting workers will “create” jobs. Instead what study after study shows is that arresting workers shrinks the economy, with collateral damage to U.S.-born workers as well as direct harm to immigrants.
In addition to economic damage, we can also measure impacts on children and schools and health and more. A fundamental sense of what it means to be American is at stake, as are increasingly appalling humanitarian abuses.
With so many reports coming out we created a page on our web site to put links to a range of studies all in one place. If you are interested in this issue, bookmark the page—we will keep adding to it as new reports come out. And, if you know of a something we should add to the list, please send it to us.
Check out the growing list here.
By Anthony Capote and David Dyssegaard Kallick