Often in discussions around immigration, the lack of jobs for native residents is brought up. However, often left out is the labor shortage some small towns face, as the populations age and birth rates decline. Trump suspended the U.S. Refugee program (except Afrikaners) at the beginning of this last term, and towns that once depended on the program for workers. One such town is Twin Falls, Idaho, which has accepted refugees since the 90s, and citizens express being the better for it. In the wake of these cuts, the town faces a labor shortage. The head of economic development for the town said that the population was important for the town's prosperity. In 2016, far-right groups in the town alleged that teenage girls had been raped at knifepoint by a Syrian Refugee. This was proven false, but the story was used as a lightning rod for anti-immigrant policy. It remains to be seen how this kind of policy will lead to a decline in economic activity long-term.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/us/politics/twin-falls-idaho-afrikaners-trump.html
This is indeed an often overlooked aspect of immigration's effect on the economy. Although some allege that immigration takes job opportunities from native residents, it can also boost the economy. I remember that at the 2025 Economic Outlook Conference, Dr. Bill Lafayette spoke about immigration as it relates to the Columbus area. Our domestic and international immigration has been declining, but the metropolitan growth has been sustained. It will be interesting to see how this shifts in the coming quarters, especially as ICE interference has increased.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting aspect of immigration and its effect on small economies. I am curious to see how the political conversation around immigration has a further effect on the overall economy.
ReplyDeleteThis is a strong example of how immigration debates often overlook the real economic needs of local communities. Population growth through refugee is a key solution to labor shortages driven by aging populations and declining birth rates.
ReplyDeleteThis showcases a different side of the immigration debate that doesn’t always get attention. Some small towns actually rely on refugee programs to fill labor gaps and support local economies. Fear and misinformation can shape policy in ways that have real economic consequences. I wonder what the long-term impact of these cuts ends up being?
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