The Cuban-American congresswoman, María Elvira Salazar, asked the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, on Tuesday how the massive loss of thousands of workers due to immigration raids is impacting the U.S. economy.
"We are losing thousands of workers in construction, hospitality, and agriculture due to recent immigration measures. The impact on our economy is already being felt, and these industries cannot function without them," wrote the congresswoman on X alongside a video of her speech.
“Today, I raised this concern with the president of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, during the hearing of the Financial Services Committee. He agreed: economic growth is slowing down, and that is one of the reasons,” he added.
In the video, which lasts just over two minutes, María Elvira expressed her support for the arrest and deportation of illegal immigrants with criminal records, but she questioned the potential impact that a massive loss of workers could have on the nation's economy.
"We agree with what President Trump is doing. What the Administration is doing, deporting illegal criminals. We don't want people who have committed any kind of crime, especially if they are illegal,” he began by saying.
"But we are losing thousands and thousands of workers, what the leadership of ICE has called 'collateral damage,' and most of those workers are employed in three main sectors: construction, hospitality, and agriculture," he added.
Next, the Republican lawmaker emphasized that even the president himself acknowledged in a post that he understands that “those hands are necessary.”
When directly asked about the effects of these "removals," Jerome Powell responded in a balanced manner that "immigration is another area"; he stated that he is not in charge of and should not comment on that topic, but he admitted that certainly the current immigration policies have reduced the growth of the workforce in the U.S.
"It is not our concern to have an opinion on immigration policy," he reiterated; however, he also acknowledged that “economic growth will slow down” and noted that "it is already doing so this year."
Farmers without hands, hotels without staff, and empty restaurants
Southern Florida, where the Hispanic community supports significant sectors of the economy, is already showing the concrete consequences of stricter immigration policies.
In areas like Homestead, a prime agricultural community in Miami-Dade County, business activity has plummeted.
ICE raids and the official narrative that indiscriminately criminalizes all immigrants are undermining the very foundation of the local economy.
The mass deportation policy affects not only the undocumented, but also the companies that depend on them and entire communities.
Immigrants prefer to stay in their homes, and many businesses are reporting losses in their operations.
But the damage doesn’t stop at businesses. Immigrants make up to 50% of the workforce in industries such as agriculture, construction, health care, and manufacturing, and their contribution to public coffers amounts to more than $80 billion in annual taxes.
In its absence, the Gross Domestic Product could fall by as much as 4.2%, according to calculations by the business coalition, a figure that completely contradicts any narrative of economic strengthening under Trump-era immigration policy.
The strategy of mass deportations is creating a vicious cycle: workers disappear, businesses close or scale back operations, demand shrinks, and investment stagnates.
Meanwhile, the White House insists on a tough stance: any undocumented immigrant, regardless of their history, should be considered "a criminal."
Frequently Asked Questions about the Impact of Immigration Measures on the U.S. Economy.
How do recent immigration measures affect the economy of the United States?
Migratory measures have caused a massive loss of workers in key sectors such as construction, hospitality, and agriculture, negatively impacting the U.S. economy. According to María Elvira Salazar, these industries cannot operate without these workers, and the tightening of immigration policies is eroding the economic foundation of communities like that of South Florida.
What did Jerome Powell think about the impact of immigration policies on economic growth?
Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, indicated that current immigration policies have reduced workforce growth in the U.S. However, he emphasized that the Federal Reserve does not have a stance on immigration policies, but acknowledged that economic growth is slowing down partly due to these measures.
What does María Elvira Salazar propose to address the immigration situation in the U.S.?
María Elvira Salazar has proposed the "Dignity Act", a bipartisan initiative that offers a path to legalization for immigrants with no criminal record who have resided and worked in the U.S. for at least five years. The proposal aims to prevent mass deportations and provide stability to those who contribute significantly to the country's economy.
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