New Research: Cutting Immigration Does Not Help US Workers
There's a claim you've probably heard many times: immigrants take jobs from American workers. Politicians repeat it. People share it on social media. It feels simple and easy to believe.
But new research says it's just not true.
A study highlighted by Forbes on February 22, 2026 found that cutting immigration does not help US workers. And for millions of immigrants living in America right now, that finding matters a lot.
What Did the Research Actually Find?
The research looked at what happens to American workers when immigration goes down. The simple assumption was that fewer immigrants would mean more jobs and higher pay for people born in the US.
But that's not what the data showed.
When immigration decreases, businesses have fewer workers to fill open positions. That leads to slower growth, higher prices, and sometimes even job losses — because companies can't expand when they don't have enough staff. The economy doesn't work like a pie where immigrants eat your slice. It actually grows bigger when more people participate.
Economists have studied this for decades, and the findings keep pointing in the same direction: immigrants and native-born workers mostly do different jobs, not the same ones. So they don't directly compete the way many people assume.
Why Do So Many People Believe Immigrants Hurt American Workers?
It's a fair question. If the research is so clear, why does this idea keep spreading?
Part of it is that economic research is complicated and dry. A news headline saying "immigrants take jobs" spreads fast. A study with charts and data spreads slowly.
Another reason is that when people feel economic stress — when wages feel low, when housing is expensive — it's easy to look for someone to blame. Immigrants are visible and easy to point to, even when the real causes are automation, corporate decisions, or policy failures that have nothing to do with immigration.
But the numbers don't lie. Reducing immigration has not been shown to raise wages or employment for American workers in a meaningful, lasting way.
What Does This Mean for Immigrants Living in the US Right Now?
If you're an immigrant — whether you have a green card, a work visa, a pending asylum case, or another immigration status — this research is actually good news in a difficult time.
Right now, the political climate around immigration is very tense. Enforcement is stricter. People are scared. Many immigrants are afraid to go to work, take their kids to school, or even go to the grocery store.
But this research is a reminder of something important: immigrants are not a burden on the US economy. They are a major part of what makes it work.
Immigrants start businesses, pay taxes, fill critical jobs in healthcare, agriculture, construction, and technology. They create demand for goods and services, which creates more jobs. This is not a political opinion — it's what the economic data shows, consistently, across many studies.
If you have an asylum application (a formal request for protection because you fear persecution in your home country) pending right now, you may be eligible for a work permit after 180 days. You can use the free AsyClock calculator to check your 180-day asylum clock eligibility and find out if you're close to being able to apply for work authorization.
How Does Immigration Reduction Actually Affect the Economy?
Let's break this down with a real example. Imagine a small town where 50 immigrant workers process food at a local plant. If those workers are removed through deportation or policy changes, the plant doesn't suddenly hire 50 American workers at higher wages.
More likely, the plant reduces production. Some American managers and supervisors lose their jobs too. Local businesses that served those workers — restaurants, grocery stores, landlords — see less money coming in. The whole town gets a little poorer.
This pattern has played out in real communities across the US when immigration enforcement has surged. Studies of these situations consistently find economic harm, not gains, for the native-born population.
So when you hear someone say "send them back and wages will go up," the research says: that's not how it works in practice.
Should Immigrants Be Worried About Their Jobs Right Now?
Honestly? The situation is stressful. Immigration enforcement has increased in 2025 and 2026. Policies are changing quickly. There is real fear in many immigrant communities.
But here are some things worth knowing:
- You still have legal rights in the US, regardless of your immigration status.
- If you have a pending asylum case, you may qualify for a work permit (Employment Authorization Document, or EAD) after 180 days of your case being pending.
- Employers who are following the law cannot discriminate against workers based on national origin or immigration status in most cases.
- Economic research supports your value and contribution to the US economy, even when politics does not.
If you're waiting on an asylum case and wondering whether you can legally work, track your timeline at AsyClock — the free asylum clock calculator built specifically for asylum seekers waiting to apply for work authorization.
What Should You Do Now?
Here are three practical steps you can take right now:
- Know your rights. No matter your immigration status, you have constitutional rights in the US. You have the right to remain silent. You don't have to open your door to immigration officers without a signed warrant. Find a local immigrant legal aid organization if you need help.
- Track your work permit eligibility. If you have a pending asylum application, you may be able to apply for an EAD (Employment Authorization Document — a card that lets you legally work in the US) after 180 days. Use the free AsyClock calculator to see exactly where you are in that 180-day window.
- Share accurate information. When you hear the claim that immigrants hurt American workers, you now have research to point to. Share the Forbes article with your community. Facts matter, and sharing them helps everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does reducing immigration help American workers find jobs?
Research consistently shows that reducing immigration does not significantly help American workers find jobs or earn higher wages. When immigrant workers are removed from the economy, businesses often shrink rather than replace them with higher-paid American workers, which can actually cause job losses across the community.
Do immigrants take jobs away from American-born workers?
Studies show that immigrants and native-born workers usually fill different types of jobs and skills levels, so they are not directly competing in most cases. Immigrants often take roles that complement what American workers do, which can actually create more jobs overall rather than reducing them.
Can immigrants legally work while waiting for asylum?
Yes, asylum seekers can apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) — a work permit — after their asylum application has been pending for 180 days. You can track your 180-day asylum clock using the free tool at AsyClock to know when you're eligible to apply.
What happens to the economy when immigration decreases?
When immigration decreases, businesses face labor shortages, production slows, and local economies can shrink — especially in industries like agriculture, healthcare, and construction that rely heavily on immigrant workers. Research shows that these effects often harm native-born workers too, rather than helping them.
What rights do immigrants have in the United States?
All people in the US — regardless of immigration status — have basic constitutional rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to due process. Immigrants with pending asylum cases, work visas, or green cards also have specific legal protections, and it's important to contact a qualified immigration attorney or legal aid organization to understand your specific situation.
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