Donald Trump promises that during his second term, there will be unprecedented levels of deportations. He not only wants to remove people in the country illegally but change the legal status of many of those here so they can be deported, too. A business litigation lawyer is here to discuss: What impact could this have on your business?
No one knows for sure, but some estimates include about 11 million people residing in the US illegally, with about eight million of them working. Another two million immigrants have temporary legal status, according to the Pew Foundation, so they could work, too.
The most people ever deported in a recent administration is 6.9 million people under Bill Clinton’s second administration. Donald Trump’s first ministration was only about two million.
Most Businesses Can’t Accomplish Much Without Employees
Many business owners supported Donald Trump when he ran for President, though his pro-deportation views conflict with many of their business interests. A recent Wall Street Journal article examined what will happen to employers when hundreds of thousands of those working here legally can no longer do so.
Trump has stated he’ll end several programs offering as many as 3.3 million immigrants deportation protections and work authorization. Those who may be deported include those escaping wars in Afghanistan and Ukraine, plus those brought to the US illegally as children.
Many have temporary status (TPS). They have deportation protections and the ability to work in the US because the federal government has determined that their home nations are too dangerous for them to return. Many others came to the US through a program that rewards legal entry with work permits.
It’s estimated that during the Biden administration, roughly the following number of immigrants entered the US through these programs:
- 1.75 million through humanitarian parole
- 1.1 million of those who lived in countries covered by TPS
- 535,000 people were brought to the US as children and have enjoyed temporary protection since 2012
At this same time, Americans have fewer children entering the workforce and the country’s workforce ages. From 2023 to 2033, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the number of workers in the US from 16 to 24 years old will shrink by 9%, those 25 to 54 will increase by 5.5%, and those 55 and older will be more numerous by 7.3%.
Those whose status is at risk work across the country for businesses large and small. Some recently came to the US, while others have been here for a decade. Some of them own companies that employ others as our friends at Focus Law LA can share.
It’s Unknown What Will Happen Or When
Mass deportations could make business much more difficult for those now having difficulty finding workers. They may need to increase pay rates, move or expand where there’s a larger pool of applicants, or shrink their business.
It is unknown who will be first targeted by the second Trump administration, how many will be deported, and how quickly. Immigration law is a highly specialized area, and immigration officials can’t just grab people and put them on planes out of the country. However, legal aid organizations and private attorneys may be able to substantially delay, if not stop, portions of Trump’s future deportation drive.
The last time there was a significant effort to deport people from the US was in 1954. The focus was on Mexican immigrants, and after they were deported or voluntarily left, many later returned to the US.
If you have questions about immigration law and the status of your employees, contact your attorney.