On Monday, I asked the AI assistant ChatGPT to summarize what major U.S. research institutions have found about the long-term economic and social impact of deporting law-abiding undocumented immigrants. Its summary, drawing on publicly available studies from the American Immigration Council, the Penn Wharton Budget Model, ITEP (Tax Contributions of Undocumented Immigrants, 2022), the Brookings Institution, and Arizona State University, noted that “findings consistently show significant negative economic, fiscal, and social consequences.” [1]
“Findings consistently show significant negative economic, fiscal, and social consequences.” [1]
1. Economic Growth
“Mass deportations would shrink U.S. GDP by 4–7%, or roughly $1.1 to $1.7 trillion annually.” [1][2]
“Mass deportations would shrink U.S. GDP by 4–7%, or roughly $1.1 to $1.7 trillion annually.” [1][2]
2. Labor Markets
“Critical industries -- agriculture, construction, hospitality, food processing, and elder care -- would face immediate labor shortages, driving up costs and disrupting supply chains.” [3][4]
3. Fiscal Costs
“Undocumented immigrants contribute $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes (2022). Deportations would reduce tax revenues while enforcement and detention costs would rise sharply.” [5][6]
3. Social Insurance
“Removing millions of payroll tax contributors would undermine Social Security and Medicare solvency, worsening long-term fiscal pressures.” [7]
3. Fiscal Costs
“Undocumented immigrants contribute $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes (2022). Deportations would reduce tax revenues while enforcement and detention costs would rise sharply.” [5][6]
3. Social Insurance
“Removing millions of payroll tax contributors would undermine Social Security and Medicare solvency, worsening long-term fiscal pressures.” [7]
5. Family and Children
“Deportations separate families, increase child poverty, and reduce children’s future educational attainment and earnings.” [8][9]
6. Community Impact
“Local economies would experience lower consumer spending, falling property values, and weakened civic participation.” [10]
7. Administrative Costs
“The cost of mass enforcement, detention, and transportation is enormous -- tens of billions annually -- with diplomatic and humanitarian fallout to follow.” [11]
8. Demographic Impact
“Removing millions of working-age adults would accelerate U.S. population aging, reduce workforce growth, and undermine America’s long-term economic vitality.” [12]
“Deportations separate families, increase child poverty, and reduce children’s future educational attainment and earnings.” [8][9]
6. Community Impact
“Local economies would experience lower consumer spending, falling property values, and weakened civic participation.” [10]
7. Administrative Costs
“The cost of mass enforcement, detention, and transportation is enormous -- tens of billions annually -- with diplomatic and humanitarian fallout to follow.” [11]
8. Demographic Impact
“Removing millions of working-age adults would accelerate U.S. population aging, reduce workforce growth, and undermine America’s long-term economic vitality.” [12]
“Deporting law-abiding undocumented immigrants is not a low-cost policy option. It would reduce GDP, increase consumer prices, shrink the tax base, weaken social insurance, destabilize families and communities, and impose heavy enforcement costs. Evidence indicates that large-scale removals would create broad, lasting harm to the U.S. economy and society.” [1]
NEBRASKA SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES
Contact your U.S. Senators and House Representatives today.
DEMAND HUMANE, ECONOMICALLY SOUND IMMIGRATION POLICY.
SENATOR DEB FISCHER
448 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-6551
fischer.senate.gov
CONGRESSMAN ADRIAN SMITH
502 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6435
adriansmith.house.gov
448 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-6551
fischer.senate.gov
CONGRESSMAN ADRIAN SMITH
502 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6435
adriansmith.house.gov
SENATOR PETE RICKETTS
139 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-4224
ricketts.senate.gov
139 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-4224
ricketts.senate.gov
CONGRESSMAN DON BACON
2104 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-4155
bacon.house.gov
2104 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-4155
bacon.house.gov
CONGRESSMAN MIKE FLOOD
343 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-4806
flood.house.gov
343 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-4806
flood.house.gov
Tell Congress: America needs solutions that strengthen, not shrink, our economy.
SOURCES:
[1] ChatGPT summary citing major studies (2025).
[2] American Immigration Council – Economic Contributions of Immigrants.
[3] Penn Wharton Budget Model – Macroeconomic Impact of Immigration Policy Changes.
[4] Brookings Institution – Labor Market Effects of Immigration.
[5] Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), Tax Contributions of Undocumented Immigrants (2022).
[6] U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Enforcement and Removal Operations Annual Report.
[2] American Immigration Council – Economic Contributions of Immigrants.
[3] Penn Wharton Budget Model – Macroeconomic Impact of Immigration Policy Changes.
[4] Brookings Institution – Labor Market Effects of Immigration.
[5] Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), Tax Contributions of Undocumented Immigrants (2022).
[6] U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Enforcement and Removal Operations Annual Report.
[7] Social Security Administration – Actuarial Analysis of Workforce Contributions.
[8] Arizona State University – Family and Child Impacts of Deportation.
[9] Urban Institute – Children of Immigrants and Long-Term Outcomes.
[10] National League of Cities – Local Economic Effects of Immigration Policy.
[11] Migration Policy Institute – Cost Analysis of Large-Scale Deportation Efforts.
[12] Congressional Budget Office – Demographic and Fiscal Implications of Immigration.
[8] Arizona State University – Family and Child Impacts of Deportation.
[9] Urban Institute – Children of Immigrants and Long-Term Outcomes.
[10] National League of Cities – Local Economic Effects of Immigration Policy.
[11] Migration Policy Institute – Cost Analysis of Large-Scale Deportation Efforts.
[12] Congressional Budget Office – Demographic and Fiscal Implications of Immigration.