In a recent study unveiled on Friday, it has been projected that President Trump’s immigration enforcement policies could lead to a significant reduction in the U.S. workforce, with a potential decrease of 15 million workers over the next ten years.

The National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) detailed in their report that the administration’s strategies concerning both illegal and legal immigration are set to reduce the anticipated number of workers in the United States by 6.8 million by 2028 and further to 15.7 million by 2035. This contraction in the workforce is expected to slow down the annual economic growth rate by nearly one-third, which could adversely impact the living standards in the U.S.

Furthermore, the NFAP’s analysis highlights that these immigration policies will significantly inflate the federal debt by an estimated $1.74 trillion and result in a $12.1 trillion reduction in gross domestic product (GDP) over the next decade.

The study emphasizes several key policy changes contributing to these projections. Among them are the suspension and reduction of refugee admissions, the travel ban implemented in 2025, the cessation of Temporary Protected Status and humanitarian parole programs, as well as restrictions on international students working under Optional Practical Training and STEM OPT after completing their studies. Additional changes include the anticipated public charge rule aimed at further restricting legal immigration.

Researchers noted that their analysis does not account for the potentially substantial economic impact of limiting U.S. companies’ access to high-skilled foreign nationals through regulatory and administrative measures, which could also hinder productivity growth.

The Hill reached out to the White House for comment.

The Trump administration has set a goal of removing at least 1 million immigrants in the country illegally per year. The Labor Department recently warned that the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts could drive up food prices due to a dwindling workforce in the agriculture industry. 

Taxpayer funds are currently being used to bolster border and immigration enforcement, including the White House’s $45 billion investment to increase Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention capacity.

The NFAP said as expenditures rise, so will the country’s debt. 

“Increasing the federal debt will reduce living standards in the United States by leading to higher levels of taxation, inflation and interest rates than without such debt,” researchers wrote.

“Labor force growth is a crucial part of the economic growth that advances a country’s living standards and facilitates the financing of existing debts and obligations. With the U.S.-born population aging and growing at a slower rate, immigrants have become an essential part of American labor force growth,” they added.