Contributor: Ice attacks are cruel, but so are built on an economy of undocumented labor
Even as Californians protest President Trump’s ice and homeland security personnel employed crude oil and often brutal deportation strategies, we failed on how our country and the country make the immigrant communities we want to protect.
In the past, especially in the last century, the U.S. economy and California grew rapidly, loosely controlled immigration met key needs, and over time, many immigrants brought many immigrants into an increasingly diverse middle class. But now the newcomer is stuck. Immigration accounts for nearly a quarter of new findings by researchers at the University of Southern California and University of California The American population living in povertyup from 14% thirty years ago.
Immigration poverty rates have fluctuated, but have been rising in recent years, especially since the pandemic. In 2024, 22.4% and 28.4% of all immigrants (including undocumented) were poor, the highest rate since 2008.
Similarly, the welfare dependence of immigrants is more obvious than that of local births. Analysis of 2023 census data It shows that 54% of households are made by naturalized citizens, legal residents and undocumented households using one or more welfare programs with 39% of households in the United States.
In California, the overall situation is only slightly better. Report for 2023 The California Institute of Public Policy has set the poverty rate for all foreign-born residents at 17.6%, while the poverty rate for birth here is 11.5%. However, for unauthorized immigration, the speed is even higher than the national figure: 29.6%. Notify that undocumented families A separate USC studymedian household income in Los Angeles is always the lowest – $46,500, compared to $75,000 in all Angelenos in 2024.
Severe statistics reflect the decline since the 1980s Blue–Collar industry In California, upward mobility has traditionally been provided for immigrants. The unionization of the heavy immigration hospitality industry has helped some families, but these benefits may lead to less work as employers want to control costs, which may be automated by automating certain services. Immigration itself, especially mass immigration, Downward pressure In many jobs, new immigrants fill – for example, agriculture or construction.
The lack of supportive work has pushed California toward what Texas historian and author Michael Lind described as “low wage/high welfare model.”
The financial implication is very serious. The president has signed an execution order to deny federal funds to sanctuary cities that will increase the city and state budgets for policing, education, and many other services affected by immigration. These commands have Getting into trouble in courtalthough Trump will definitely try again. Meanwhile, the president signed a law on July 4 to increase border enforcement funds, but also reduces such as non-citizen health services, even for those who are legal.
This will cause special troubles in the dark blue state. California’s current budget shortage forces Trump to “resist” leader Gavin Newsom to retreat Health care For undocumented, this also occurs in other hotbeds of progress, such as Washington, Illinois, and Minnesota.
The simple fact is that the low-wage/high welfare economy that relies on illegal immigrants is unsustainable. Economic reality shows that we need a common sense policy to limit new immigrants and focus on allowing current immigrants, especially those deeply embedded in our community and those with useful skills, to enjoy the success of previous generations.
What would a common sense policy look like? It will ensure the borders the Trump administration is already doing and move immigration priorities away from family gatherings and more to attract those who can contribute to an increasingly complex economy. Deportation should prioritize convicted criminals and members of criminal gangs whose presence is almost unpopular with most immigrants.
Law-abiding immigrants here who are not authorized should receive tickets or have the opportunity to register for legal status based on clean records, tax payments and stable employment. In addition, we need to consider a new Bracero program that allows guests to legally come to the United States without family in the mid-20th century. Even President Trump has been forced to admit that it is difficult to replace the low-wage immigrant labor force in some departments.
This immigration reform has evaded Congress for decades, but the clear assessment shows that it is just welcome to welcome newcomers willing to pay off for most immigrants or California. A large amount of undocumented labor is the opposite of what is needed to cultivate a strong and sustainable economy. If you are protesting be opposed to Ice attacks and immigration slams, you should protest too for Reshape our immigration based on economic fundamentals. We all should use the prospect of a better life.
Joel Kotkin is a presidential researcher in urban futures at Chapman University and a senior fellow at the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, an opinion writer.
