Re:Trump's NASA cuts would destroy decades of science and wi...
by ethbr1 on Friday June 13, 2025 @10:22AM
(#44268797)
The wage arguments are somewhat wishy washy, given the extreme concentration of illegal labor in low-skill, low-wage work. Agriculture, meat processing, construction.
Putting aside the moral qualms about underpaying someone for hard, physical work, it's hard to argue that the American economy (and the average American) loses more than it gains from cheaper labor.
Housing would be a clusterfuck without illegal immigration, so I'm also hesitant to draw that connection too boldly. Would stopping all illegal immigration ease prices? A bit. Would it fix an undersupplied housing market and overconsolidated rental market that's driving price inceases? No.
The effects you describe have higher order effects as well that can indeed have negative effects. Not saying republicans would give a crap about them, but they are undeniable. For wages developments and housing prices, topics that fundamentally influence basic needs very much in contrast to GDP growths, even if there are positive side effects as well.
I think compared to the EU these immigrants can only be a net positive because people are forced to ultimately care for themselves.