A View of Post-Mass Deportation America

By Norman Franklin

Norman Franklin

It’s not going to be pretty. We will face inconveniences, and privileges traditionally taken for granted will be appreciated, valued, and ultimately missed.

The price of eggs will rise. Housing costs will stretch beyond the reach of the lower rungs of the middle class, making homeownership an impossible dream for many low-wealth Americans.

There will be labor shortages, crop losses, and many small farms will be forced out of the market. Rural communities, largely agrarian, will experience economic decline, job losses, and reduced services. The domino effect will be in motion.

Diminished agricultural output will lead to supply chain disruptions. Certain foods will become scarce, while demand and prices will increase. Without immigrant workers to plant, cultivate, and harvest crops, farmers will face significant crop losses—particularly in labor-intensive areas like fruits and vegetables. A fruit smoothie or an egg omelet may become an occasional treat, not an everyday choice.

A shift toward greater reliance on imports could also raise costs for consumers. Tariffs on imports, along with changes in transportation and trade policies, will contribute to higher prices.

America without immigrant labor will suffer contractions in agriculture and housing construction, with a ripple effect throughout the economy.

However, America is resilient and will take measures to counter these economic contractions. The decrease in production, leading to a decline in agricultural exports, will create a trade imbalance and put America at a competitive disadvantage in global markets. Pressures from this imbalance may push agriculture toward greater technological investment. Automation and robotics could fill the gap in some agricultural fields.

Yet, this is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and the transition will be costly. Small farms, without the financial resources, may not afford mechanization or competitive domestic wages. The family farm may fold, and depending on location, the land could be sold to real estate developers. This sale would pass the economic distress of mass deportation to an industry already struggling with labor shortages and increased material costs.

Immigrant labor makes a significant contribution to the housing construction industry. These workers play a critical role in roofing, drywall, and framing— labor-intensive, skilled, and in-demand positions. Undocumented immigrants represent a substantial portion of the construction workforce, with 50% of roofers being immigrants, and drywall labor similarly dominated by this group.

Once mass deportation sweeps through, delays in construction, reductions in housing inventory, and higher building costs will follow.

The federal government could lower interest rates to address housing shortages. However, with reduced inventory, this would create a seller’s market, which could benefit homeowners and real estate professionals—but not consumers.

Economics is complex. The emotional fervor for mass deportation of immigrants is a “cut off your nose to spite your face” approach. It pursues unsustainable political and emotional goals, with inevitable self-inflicted harm to the economy, society, and consumers.

Fear-driven emotions do not allow room for critical thinking. Short-term solutions to the immigration issue through mass deportation fail to consider the long-term fallout on the economy, consumers, and the small family farms of America.