Listen up Trump: Mass deportations are costly and will hurt the US economy

Undocumented immigrants typically work in less desirable jobs that Americans might not want

President Donald Trump has pledged to deport several million undocumented immigrants and recently set a plan in motion targeting those with criminal records (of any kind).

While the ethical issues with mass deportations have received lots of attention, the economics haven’t been explored as comprehensively. And the costs of mass deportations will likely be significant.

These include the impact on economic growth and the labour force, which have received some coverage, but there are several other factors that ought to be considered, such as the debts and dependents left behind