Mass deportations don’t lead to more jobs for Americans. Why does the myth persist?

This episode of Marketplace All-in-One examines the persistent myth that mass deportations lead to more job opportunities for U.S.-born workers, debunking it with economic research and real-world data. Host Kimberly Adams speaks with Chloe East, an associate professor of economics at the University of Colorado Boulder, who explains how immigration crackdowns—particularly under the second Trump administration—actually harm the labor market by reducing demand for U.S.-born workers. East highlights two key mechanisms: the disruption of supply chains in industries like construction, where immigrant laborers are essential, and the broader chilling effect on local economies when ICE activity increases, leading to reduced consumer spending and lower job demand. She also emphasizes the disproportionate impact on native-born women, especially those with young children, due to rising childcare costs and reduced availability of immigrant caregivers, forcing many to leave the workforce. Despite decades of consistent research showing the opposite, the myth persists, driven by political scapegoating of immigrants for economic challenges.