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How Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown is making America weaker | The Economist
4/10TL;DR
The Trump administration has sharply shifted immigration policy from border deterrence to mass interior enforcement and tighter legal entry rules, with growing effects on deportations, universities, employers and the labor force.
KEY POINTS
Interior arrests surge as border crossings fall
After a period when illegal crossings at the southern border had dominated the debate, enforcement has moved deep into the country. Department of Homeland Security figures indicate roughly 50,000 arrests in July alone, a record monthly total, even as the border itself has become far quieter. The current campaign is focused less on newly arrived migrants and more on people who have lived in the United States for years.
Deportations increasingly target non-criminal migrants
The administration says it has deported about 1 million people, though outside verification remains limited. What is clearer is that many of those arrested and removed do not have criminal records, marking a contrast with the better-known deportation drive under Barack Obama. Removals have included transfers to countries such as Liberia and South Sudan, underscoring the breadth of the effort.
Temporary protections are being revoked
A major escalation has come through ending or narrowing Temporary Protected Status and similar protections for national groups previously deemed unsafe to return home, including Haitians and Afghans. Many affected migrants have been in the United States for decades. The legal power to revoke such status exists, but the practical effect is that longtime residents who were previously authorized to stay can suddenly become deportable.
Policy shift favors administrative ease
Interior enforcement against undocumented migrants who entered long ago is costly and difficult because authorities often do not know their identities or whereabouts. Estimates put the cost of removing someone from the country at roughly $17,000 per person. By contrast, migrants under protected programs are already registered, making them much easier to locate once their status is canceled.
Asylum crackdown has nearly halted border inflows
The administration has effectively reduced irregular migration across the southern border to near zero by broadly refusing asylum claims. Supporters see that as a major policy success and the fulfillment of a core campaign pledge. Critics argue the decline has been accompanied by a redirection of pressure onto families and workers already established in the country.
Legal migration is also being squeezed
The tightening extends well beyond unauthorized migration. Through slower processing, narrower eligibility standards and new administrative burdens, the government has made it harder for foreigners to study and work in the United States even through legal channels. Polling has not shown the same broad public demand for cutting legal immigration that exists for tougher border control.
Student and work visas show steep declines
Brookings Institution estimates show a 29% decline in student visa issuance last year. For skilled workers, H-1B applications have become far more expensive, with costs described at more than $100,000 in some cases. New rules for students, including pressure to finish degrees faster than typical U.S. students and to secure employment within 30 days of graduation, create strong deterrents for top applicants.
Economic effects are already emerging
The labor force has shrunk by about 1 million people since January, a striking reversal after years of expansion. In the short term, employers face labor shortages, including in sectors that rely on steady inflows of workers. Longer term, economists warn that fewer foreign students and skilled migrants could constrict the future supply of talent that has long benefited American universities, innovation and growth.
Visa restrictions are drawing legal and political scrutiny
The administration has also tried to halt or restrict immigrant visa processing for dozens of countries, a move challenged in court. A recent ruling found one such policy illegal, prompting a pause while officials look for alternatives. Critics say these measures signal hostility toward broad national and ethnic categories, damaging America’s image as an open destination for ambitious students, workers and families.
CONCLUSION
The administration’s immigration agenda now reaches far beyond the border, reshaping who can stay, who can enter and who may choose not to come at all. The immediate result is tougher enforcement, but the longer-term stakes include labor supply, university competitiveness and the country’s global appeal.
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