JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, has outlined a plan for mass deportation of illegal immigrants that he says will open up millions of jobs for American workers. In an interview with The New York Times, Vance argued that deporting undocumented immigrants would force businesses to hire Americans who have dropped out of the labor force.
During the interview, the reporter questioned how deportation would affect industries like construction, where many undocumented workers are employed. Vance was quick to respond, stating, “Back in the 1960s, when we had very low levels of illegal immigration, Americans built houses, and they will do so again.”
Vance emphasized that millions of Americans have left the workforce, particularly men in their prime working years. He believes that by deporting illegal workers, these Americans would be incentivized to re-enter the labor market. “You absolutely could re-engage folks into the American labor market,” Vance explained, pointing to the millions of men and women who are no longer seeking employment.
Vance also highlighted that the current unemployment rate doesn’t fully reflect the labor force. He pointed out that the labor force participation rate, which measures how many people are working or looking for work, is still lower than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. “The unemployment rate does not count labor-force participation dropouts,” he said.
He concluded by criticizing businesses for relying on cheap illegal labor. “Americans won’t do those jobs for below-the-table wages, but they will for fair wages,” Vance added, suggesting that mass deportation would lead to better-paying jobs for Americans.
