A study by the Brookings Institution found that increased activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2025 was linked to declines in employment in several U.S. cities. In areas where ICE arrests rose most sharply, employment fell 0.4% below what was expected both immediately after detentions and for up to a year afterward. The nonpartisan think tank reported that each arrest in such cities was associated with four lost jobs. Marcela Escobari, the lead author of the report and a former special assistant to the White House National Security Council during the Biden administration, told CBS News that the employment effects were not limited to immigrants but also impacted American workers. White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis rejected claims that ICE enforcement contributed to job losses in cities with high arrest rates. She argued that the surge in illegal immigration under the Biden administration threatened the nation’s long-term fiscal stability, drove up inflation, and suppressed wages for American workers. She also highlighted the Trump administration’s efforts to create jobs for U.S. citizens and enforce immigration laws more strictly. Border security has remained a top priority during the second Trump administration. According to a White House statement, stronger immigration enforcement protects American workers, reduces pressure on local communities, and reinforces the nation’s right to control its borders. In 2025, the Trump administration intensified its immigration crackdown, deploying thousands of federal agents to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in January to investigate alleged fraud, which led to mass protests and the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal officers. In July, ICE detentions reached a monthly record high for Mr. Trump’s second term, with the agency taking into custody more than 46,000 individuals facing deportation due to alleged immigration violations, such as entering the U.S. illegally or overstaying their visas, according to CBS News. Escobari explained that increased ICE arrests in U.S. cities last year caused job losses in three main ways. First, some workers avoided going to work out of fear of encountering ICE agents, leading to disruptions for businesses. This forced some companies to reduce operating hours, delay expansion, freeze hiring, or even lay off staff or shut down. She cited the construction industry as an example, noting that projects stalled when immigrant workers stopped showing up or were arrested. Companies still had to pay debts, and many closed entirely, resulting in job losses for American workers in roles like project managers and equipment operators. In addition to labor disruptions, rising ICE arrests reduced employment by decreasing consumer demand and spending, which hurt local businesses. Escobari noted that ICE operations created widespread fear, causing people to avoid going out and spending money, which led to business closures. Other research has also shown negative economic impacts from increased ICE enforcement. A 2026 study from the Wharton School found that economic activity and consumer spending dropped last year in metro areas where ICE conducted raids. The effects were strongest near raid sites, lasted over time, and were broad, affecting workplaces and consumer-facing stores across various industries, with no significant shift to online shopping. A 2026 analysis by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute also found that customer visits to businesses in Los Angeles County fell by as much as 11% in the weeks following ICE enforcement operations in the region.