President Donald Trump’s firm enforcement of immigration laws is delivering economic gains for American workers, particularly in blue-collar sectors. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent highlighted a 2% increase in real wages for hourly workers during the first five months of Trump’s second term—marking the strongest wage growth in six decades.
Bessent attributed the surge to Trump’s “America First” policies, which have limited the inflow of legal and illegal migrants. The tighter labor market has prompted major employers to raise wages, including a March agreement by a large meatpacking firm to boost pay for 26,000 workers.
These higher wages not only stimulate economic growth through increased spending but also empower young couples to start families, laying the foundation for long-term prosperity without relying on mass immigration.
While Trump rarely draws a direct connection between migration policy and wages, he recently stated that illegal migrants are “robbing good paying jobs and benefits from hardworking American citizens.” Business leaders have long admitted that mass migration holds down wages, often framing this wage suppression as a benefit for reducing inflation.
A June 16 report from The Conference Board—a group representing top corporate executives—acknowledged that immigration “helped ease inflationary pressures from wages” in low-skill positions. The report warned that mass deportations could lead to labor shortages in industries such as agriculture, construction, and food services, which heavily depend on non-citizen labor.
In response to rising wages and labor shortages, businesses are now reconsidering older strategies, including investing in labor-saving technology and boosting technical education for American youth. These long-term solutions would improve productivity while supporting higher wages.
Still, corporate leaders continue lobbying for expanded immigration rather than addressing underlying issues like low workforce participation or the growing number of Americans claiming disability benefits. Steven Camarota, director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies, criticized business groups for ignoring the civic and cultural incentives needed to restore workforce participation, particularly among young men.
Camarota noted that companies will only begin to adapt—by raising wages and investing in workers—once they accept that mass immigration is no longer a viable solution. Until then, he said, they will focus on eliminating barriers like educational requirements or licensing rules, rather than facing the larger labor force challenges head-on.
