The Trump administration’s renewed crackdown on illegal immigration appears to be reshaping the U.S. labor market, with an estimated 773,000 to 1 million undocumented workers leaving the workforce since March.
According to The New York Post, the administration has implemented a dual-pronged strategy aimed at reducing the unauthorised population in the country — one that combines strict enforcement with incentives encouraging voluntary departure.
This approach comes amid a flurry of immigration-related executive orders, issued at a pace nearly six times faster than during the first months of Trump’s previous term. The policies fulfill major campaign promises focused on securing borders and removing undocumented migrants, particularly those with criminal records.
The two-part plan involves ramped-up arrests and deportations on one side, while the other leverages fear of legal consequences to promote self-deportation.
Tools such as registration programs, financial incentives, and the “CBP Home” app — which enables migrants to inform authorities of their intent to leave — are being used to support this effort.
The result, as The Washington Post notes, is a considerable exodus of foreign-born laborers. The newspaper reported, “a million foreign-born workers have exited the workforce since March,” characterising the shift as “a sign of the weakening labour supply.”
However, this trend has had an upside for many remaining workers. The Washington Post also stated, “Average hourly wages accelerated, rising by 0.4 per cent over the month, to $36.24 in May, as earnings continue to beat inflation in a boost to workers' spending power.”
By targeting businesses that employ undocumented workers and tightening enforcement at multiple levels, the administration is aiming to reduce reliance on expensive deportation operations. The strategy, echoing past “self-deportation” efforts, seeks to use legal pressure and reduced opportunities to encourage voluntary exits.