Study Reveals Potential Loss of 15 Million Workers by 2035 Due to Trump's Immigration Policies

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(The Hill) — A new analysis published Friday indicates that President Trump’s immigration strategies could lead to a significant reduction in the U.S. labor force, potentially shrinking it by 15 million individuals over the next ten years.

The National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) highlighted that the administration’s stance on both illegal and legal immigration might result in a workforce decrease of 6.8 million by 2028, expanding to 15.7 million by 2035. This reduction could slow economic growth by nearly one-third, adversely impacting U.S. living standards, according to the report evaluating the White House’s deportation measures.

The think tank’s findings predict that these immigration policies could notably increase the federal debt by $1.74 trillion and diminish the gross domestic product (GDP) by $12.1 trillion over the next decade.

Prosecutors allege individual attempted to ‘avoid legal consequences through deportation’ by surrendering.

Researchers pointed out that the decrease in legal immigration stems from various policy changes, including the suspension and reduction of refugee admissions, the 2025 travel ban, the termination of Temporary Protected Status and humanitarian parole programs, and restrictions on international students working post-graduation through Optional Practical Training and STEM OPT. Additionally, anticipated regulatory changes, such as a public charge rule, are expected to further limit legal immigration.

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.