Elderly Americans may face a significant reduction in their social security benefits due to the economic fallout from the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies. A new report indicates that by 2034, retirees could lose an average of $2,152 annually, representing an 8.6% decrease in their retirement payments.
Economic Impact of Immigration Policies
The report, shared exclusively with the Guardian, highlights the broader economic consequences of the Trump administration's immigration campaign. The sudden exodus of 1.2 million foreign-born workers over the past two years has not only affected immigrant communities but has also led to rising food prices and a decline in housing permits for new homes.
Michael Ettlinger, one of the report’s authors, stated:
“"When the Trump administration says things, it’s not always data-driven. And we wanted to see what the data shows, and what other people have found the data shows."
The findings suggest that the economic repercussions of these policies are extensive and will have long-lasting effects.
Key Findings of the Report
The report, titled Economic Impacts of Trump Administration Immigration Policy, was commissioned by America’s Voice and conducted by Economic Insights and Research Consulting. Key points include:
- Food Prices: Food products heavily reliant on immigrant labor have seen sharper price increases since Trump’s return to office in January 2025. For example:
- Fresh whole milk: up 5.7%
- Canned vegetables: up 6.3%
- Apples: up 7.2%
- Construction Industry: The construction sector, which employs a significant number of foreign-born workers, has experienced a 10.9% increase in costs for new single-family homes since 2026. The issuance of housing permits has dropped by 10.6% nationwide since January 2025.
- Job Losses: By September 2025, native-born workers had lost an estimated 51,000 to 297,000 jobs due to changes in immigration policy. The labor force shrunk by approximately 919,000 people during the first 18 months of Trump’s second term.
