This decrease in immigrant labor is linked to a decline in the overall immigrant population, which hit a record high of 14 million in 2023, and is largely attributed to increased immigration enforcement policies under President Donald Trump.

Preliminary data from the Census Bureau, analyzed by Pew Research Center, shows that over 1.2 million immigrants, including both legal and undocumented residents, have exited the U.S. labor force from January through July 2025, mainly due to intensified immigration enforcement.

The decline in immigrant workers is causing labor shortages in critical industries like agriculture, construction, and healthcare, leading to crops going to waste, delays in harvesting, and reduced employment.

This trend of over 1.2 million immigrants leaving the labor force is affecting both legal residents and undocumented immigrants, highlighting a significant shift in the workforce.

The economic and social impacts of reduced immigrant labor are substantial, affecting various key sectors of the U.S. economy.

Experts suggest that the decline in immigrant employment results from a combination of voluntary departures, deportations, underreporting, and other technical issues, but the overall trend indicates a genuine net migration outflow.

On a personal level, individuals like California farmworker Lidia fear deportation and separation from their families, illustrating the human toll of these immigration policies.