Trump Immigration Policies Face Scrutiny Amid Rising Unemployment

Immigration policies implemented by Donald Trump to prioritize American workers are facing scrutiny as native-born unemployment rises and wage growth stalls across most industries. Data from the United States Census Bureau shows a historic decline in net international migration, which fell from 2.7 million in 2024 to an estimated 321,000 by mid-2026.

While the White House maintains the strategy is successful, spokesman Kush Desai claims real wages in key sectors are growing. However, data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicates a synchronized decline in wage growth across most industries since 2022, with only public administration and construction serving as exceptions.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's, notes that while foreign-born unemployment has dropped due to a shrinking labor force, native-born workers are unwilling to fill arduous, low-paying roles in trucking and construction. Zandi warns that these labor shifts, combined with tariffs and conflict in Iran, may create a stagflationary shock.