Trump’s Deportation Plan Could Mean a Pay Raise for U.S. Workers

What Happened

A recent New York Times report revealed that President Trump's ongoing mass deportation could drive a significant increase in the wages of U.S. workers — particularly those in the construction industry.

Builders interviewed in the piece acknowledged that removing illegals from the labor force would raise costs. However, some conservative economists have argued that's precisely the point: restoring a labor market that rewards legal American workers.

One builder interviewed, Nathan Anderson, estimated his labor costs could jump by $116,000 on a single project. While some developers see that as a crisis, others look at it as a long-overdue correction.

The article went on to cite data that suggested wages for a construction job could rise as much as 17%. This would mark a shift representing the first meaningful wage growth for blue-collar workers in several years.

Why It Matters

The U.S. economy has quietly leaned more and more on low-wage, often undocumented labor, for decades, especially in trades, agriculture, and service work. While the businesses benefited and consumers got cheaper products, working-class Americans paid the price. They experienced stagnant wages, fewer job opportunities, and downward pressure in fields that had once provided a solid middle-class income.

Trump's deportation plans have put the spotlight back on the American worker. By removing illegal immigrants from the workforce, the market is forced to respond. This likely means employers will raise wages, a response many argue should have happened a long time ago.

Trump's plan isn't about demonizing immigrants — illegal or otherwise — it's about restoring fairness. A labor market inundated with illegal workers will always drive down wages for legal workers, particularly in physically demanding jobs where margins are already tight. Removing that artificial suppression could finally let the market reward effort as opposed to just cutting costs.

How It Affects Readers

For Americans in the trades — or trying to break into them — this is a rare moment where immigration policy could have a direct effect on your paychecks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for construction workers was $36.55 in 2024. Without competition from illegal labor, that could rise significantly.

Some critics might say this will drive up housing and construction costs. While that is true, it’s just what happens when labor is paid fairly. You either pay workers what they’re worth, or you rely on a shadow economy to keep prices low. Trump’s proposal forces the country to decide: support American labor or keep subsidizing cheap work through broken borders.

And while there’s concern about rising consumer costs, the bigger effect could be a stronger, more self-sufficient workforce — not one undercut by unlawful hiring practices. It may also force industries to invest in training and retaining legal workers instead of depending on a revolving door of underpaid labor.

 Trump’s deportation plan is more than campaign rhetoric. The plan is a test of what kind of labor market America wants. For decades, the system has favored employers at the expense of legal, working-class Americans.

Now, with enforcement back on the table, the balance may finally shift. And for many blue-collar workers, it's long overdue.