Increased ICE enforcement in 2025 hurt local employment, analysis finds
Employment fell last year in U.S. cities where ICE arrests surged, according to the Brookings Institution.
Last year, employment in U.S. cities saw a decline when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in those areas surged, according to a Brookings Institution study. The research found that each ICE arrest led to four lost jobs on average. Lead author Marcela Escobari stated that employment fell not just among immigrants, but also among Americans in these cities.
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis disagreed, claiming that illegal immigration under President Biden contributed to record-high inflation and suppressed wages of American workers. The Trump administration ramped up immigration crackdowns in 2025, leading to increased ICE arrests. These arrests drove job losses in three ways: workers fearing encounters with ICE stopped reporting for work, causing labor disruptions and leading businesses to reduce operations or lay off staff; increased ICE arrests also reduced consumer demand, hurting local businesses; and research has found that increased ICE enforcement negatively impacts local economies, with economic activity and consumer spending dropping in metro areas where ICE conducted raids.
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