The long-held notion that immigration enforcement has no impact on American workers' wallets is being challenged by new data. As border apprehensions have declined, labor markets have tightened, leading to increased wages and reduced housing costs.
A former Treasury and Labor official, now a principal with Navigators Global, argues that immigration enforcement is not anti-market, but rather a correction to market distortions caused by underenforcement.
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, construction wages have grown at 3.1% annually since 2020, while housing prices have begun to ease as demand shifts.
Critics of immigration enforcement argue that the economic gains are outweighed by costs, including higher food and construction prices. However, the author contends that these costs are often overlooked and that the benefits of enforcement are being felt by American workers.
The debate over immigration will continue, but the evidence suggests that when labor markets tighten, prices and wages respond, regardless of ideology.
