
Mass deportations don’t lead to more jobs for Americans. Why does the myth persist?
From Make Me Smart by Marketplace
April 23, 2026 · 14 min · Episode 1557
About this episode
Chloe East discusses the impact of restrictive immigration policies on the U.S. labor market during the Trump administration.
The labor force participation rate in the U.S. has fallen to the lowest level it’s been since 1977 (aside from the during the height of the pandemic). One reason for the decline? President Trump’s immigration crackdown. University of Colorado Boulder economist Chloe East joins Kimberly to break down the unexpected ways restrictive immigration policies affect the labor market, and trends she’s paying attention to during this second Trump administration.
People in this episode
Host: Kimberly
Guest: Chloe East
Topics covered
- immigration policy
- labor market
- economic impact
- Trump administration
- employment trends
Keywords
- mass deportations
- labor force participation
- immigration crackdown
- economic trends
- employment
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Colorado Boulder
Places: U.S.
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