Trump is Wrong on Immigration

This letter to the editor, by Cheri Evjen, appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on September 19, 2024.

Donald Trump famously told his White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham: “It doesn’t matter what you say, Stephanie. Say it enough and people will believe you.” Accordingly, Mr. Trump has used inflammatory language and outright lies to shape immigration as an issue in the 2024 election.

Undocumented immigrants are not taking “our jobs.” The truth is that jobs filled by immigrants, especially in agriculture or construction, are not being taken from anyone. Medium and large-scale dairy operations in Wisconsin have repeatedly said that when they post jobs, the only people who apply and stay to do the work are immigrants.

Undocumented immigrants make America’s economy better, not worse. In 2018 they had $217.7 in spending power and added $1.6 trillion to America’s GDP. According to the Center for Economic Progress, Trump’s removal plan would create severe labor shortages, causing prices for goods and services to skyrocket. The federal government would lose $6 billion in tax revenue while state and local governments would lose $11.47 billion. Over $12 billion in Social Security contributions, money that undocumented workers will never collect, will disappear.

Undocumented immigrants are not responsible for increased crime. America’s undocumented immigrant population tripled from 1999-2013, yet violent crimes fell by 48%.  Studies show that immigrants are 33% less likely to be incarcerated than citizens born in the U. S.  That number jumps to 47% in Texas. We had a bipartisan agreement on sensible immigration reform. Pressure from Trump killed the bill because he wanted to use immigration as a campaign issue. Mr. Trump is wrong on immigration, just as he is wrong on tariffs, the environment, education, and a host of other issues. America needs to elect Kamala Harris, who will work to solve problems, rather than play politics.