Immigrants Fuel U.S. Economy, Studies Show

Majority of immigrants arrested in recent ICE raids did not have violent criminal records, experts say.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Multiple independent studies have shown that the majority of immigrants arrested during recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement surges did not have violent criminal records. Broader research consistently finds that immigrants, regardless of legal status, are significantly less likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens. Experts say immigrants overwhelmingly come to work, support their families, and build stable lives, often filling jobs that employers struggle to staff domestically.

Why it matters

The economic consequences of reduced immigration are well documented, with the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reporting that declines in net migration slow labor-force growth, reduce GDP growth, dampen consumer demand, and weaken housing construction. Policies that rely on sweeping raids rather than evidence-based enforcement risk imposing long-term economic and social costs on communities.

The details

Multiple independent studies have shown that the majority of immigrants arrested during recent ICE enforcement surges did not have violent criminal records. Broader research consistently finds that among men ages 18 to 39, about 1.6% of immigrants are incarcerated, compared with 3.3% of native-born men in that age range. Immigrants often fill jobs that employers struggle to staff domestically, providing labor that might otherwise be unavailable.

  • In a recent letter, it was suggested that ICE actions target only violent criminals.

The players

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal law enforcement agency that enforces immigration laws in the United States.

Milton Friedman

A Nobel Prize-winning economist who observed that immigrants often fill jobs that employers struggle to staff domestically.

Jamshid Damooei

An economist at California Lutheran University who has detailed the substantial contributions immigrants make to California's economy.

Representative Julia Brownley

A U.S. Representative who has called attention to the broader consequences of immigration enforcement actions and urged a more rational and humane approach.

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What they’re saying

“Immigrants overwhelmingly come to work, support their families and build stable lives. As Nobel Prize–winning economist Milton Friedman observed, immigrants often fill jobs that employers struggle to staff domestically, providing labor that might otherwise be unavailable.”

— John Griffin, Thousand Oaks resident (toacorn.com)

The takeaway

This case highlights the economic benefits that immigrants provide to the U.S. economy, challenging the narrative that immigration enforcement actions primarily target violent criminals. Policymakers should consider the long-term economic and social costs of overly aggressive immigration policies that disrupt the labor force and communities.