On Immigration Policy and the U.S. Economy
11 January 2026

On Immigration Policy and the U.S. Economy

CFR On the Record

About

Immigrants significantly benefit the U.S. economy by growing the labor force, filling essential jobs in sectors like services, construction, and tech. In this episode, panelists discuss the effects of recent refugee and immigration policy developments on the U.S. economy.


 


Background Reading:



    This article outlines the critical role immigrants have long played in boosting the U.S. economy and GDP.
    This article highlights how the second Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement, putting pressure on federal, state, and local agencies to meet the president’s deportation goals.

 


Host: Nelson W. Cunningham, Former President, McLarty Associates; Former Senior Advisor for Economic Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Former Special Advisor on Western Hemisphere Affairs; CFR Member


 


Guests: Steven A. Camarota, Director of Research, Center for Immigration Studies


 


Andrea R. Flores, Founder, America’s Promise


 


Pia Orrenius, Vice President and Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas


 


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