Key Takeaways:
– Political and business leaders in Nevada are seemingly unprepared for Trump’s planned mass deportation of approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants.
– Deportation costs could reach up to $315 billion and strain the infrastructure, with ICE currently able to accommodate only 41,000 individuals.
– Nevada’s economy could face severe consequences, with the loss of labour in fields like construction, hospitality, and agriculture.
– Households with mixed immigration status, which constitute 9% of Nevada’s total, face additional economic hardships and potential family separations.
– Despite Trump’s emphasis on improving the economy, his mass deportation plan could potentially devitalize several industry sectors.
As the time for President-elect Donald Trump to step into office approaches, a significant dilemma shadows Nevada. It comes in the form of Trump’s resolute promise to deport at least 11 million undocumented immigrants, including about 189,000 residing in Nevada. Amid all this, key industry leaders and political figures in the state appear alarmingly unresponsive. This inaction could potentially lead to both an economic downfall and a significant human toll.
The Potential Economic Fallout
According to the American Immigration Council (AIC), the cost of a one-time deportation operation could reach a staggering $315 billion. This figure excludes the estimated expense of $167.8 billion for detaining immigrants. The organization also highlighted the potential long-term costs of maintaining such an operation, arguing that the cost of removing over 13 million people in a short time frame would be incalculable because a singular operation of this magnitude is not practically feasible.
Even assuming that 20% of the undocumented population self-deports, AIC predicts that the cost of this multi-year endeavor could be around $88 billion per year, accumulating to over $968 billion in a decade. This cost could have a significant impact on the federal government’s budget, considering that undocumented immigrants contribute around $46.8 billion annually in federal income tax.
Impact on the Local Economy and Workforce
Nevada may face severe employment shortages as the state’s undocumented workers, who constitute 9% of the state’s employed workforce, face deportation. The loss of workers would be especially damaging for sectors such as construction, hospitality, and agriculture.
The University of New Hampshire’s Carsey School of Public Policy analysis elucidates that mass deportation negatively affects businesses. Without their usual workforce, businesses might resort to machines, decrease operations, which can result in layoffs, position elimination, and wage reduction. Consequently, the U.S.’s gross domestic product could shrink by 4.2 to 6.8% due to mass deportation.
Apart from these economic implications, mass deportation could also fracture families and communities. AIC estimates indicate that about 5.1 million U.S.-born children living in mixed-status families are at risk. In Nevada particularly, 9% of households are of mixed immigration status, the highest proportion in the nation.
The Road to Deportation
Of the four-step deportation process, the government first needs to identify, locate, and apprehend undocumented people. Next, it should be decided whether the individual should be released on bond, paroled, or detained. The third step involves the court determining if the immigrant qualifies for relief or deportation. Finally, the individual is repatriated to their home country or another country.
Conclusion
While it remains to be seen how the deportation plans will unwind, the potential implications are impossible to ignore. As Trump’s reign begins, Nevada and the rest of the country face a tumultuous path ahead. Amid this uncertainty, a unified and proactive response from state authorities is more critical than ever.