Trump Focuses on Immigration Over Economy in Final Campaign Push

As the 2024 presidential election nears its final stretch, former President Donald Trump is making a high-stakes gamble by prioritizing migration over economic concerns. In the closing days of his campaign, Trump is doubling down on the topic of immigration, a move he believes helped secure his 2016 victory. The New York Times recently reported that Trump’s decision to focus on migration stems from his belief that it resonates more deeply with voters than economic issues.

During an October 15 rally, Trump emphasized the importance of migration, stating, “Migration beats out the economy. It’s not even close.” This statement signals a clear shift in Trump’s strategy, where immigration and border security are taking precedence over traditional economic messaging. His team believes that by addressing the nation’s border policies, they can indirectly highlight economic concerns tied to illegal immigration, such as wage suppression, higher housing costs, and strained public services.

Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, explained the reasoning behind this focus. “President Trump rightfully recognizes that Kamala Harris’s porous border is at the heart of so many issues,” Hughes said. “Whether it’s high housing prices, low wages, or overwhelmed hospitals and schools, an open border means taxpayer dollars are wasted on illegal immigrants, instead of benefiting citizens. President Trump’s closing message is all about putting Americans first and restoring prosperity.”

The Trump campaign argues that immigration policy and economic stability are interconnected. The Biden-Harris administration’s lax border policies have, in their view, led to a massive influx of migrants, putting downward pressure on wages and driving up the cost of living for Americans.

The Times pointed out that Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate in 2024, has not placed immigration at the forefront of her campaign. Despite promising to enhance border security in the past, Harris has focused more on economic recovery and social issues, leaving immigration relatively untouched. According to some predictions, her platform may result in the entry of up to 12.3 million migrants into the U.S. over the next four years.

Republican leaders, including Trump’s running mate JD Vance, argue that federal migration policies are economically detrimental to American citizens. They contend that the current administration’s approach benefits corporations and wealthy investors at the expense of middle- and working-class Americans.

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), a key figure in the GOP, echoed these concerns in a recent article for Compact Magazine. Reflecting on his personal experience as the child of Cuban immigrants, Rubio highlighted how immigration policies in the 1970s and 1980s allowed immigrants and U.S.-born citizens alike to thrive. He noted that it was possible for an average American family to live comfortably on a single income. However, he argued that today’s immigration policies have created a larger, low-skilled workforce, making it increasingly difficult for Americans to achieve economic security.

Rubio criticized Washington, D.C., for pushing policies that promote global trade and migration, which he says have undermined American workers. The percentage of prime-age men working or looking for work has plummeted to levels not seen since the Great Depression, a trend Rubio links to unchecked immigration.

According to Rubio and other critics of the Biden-Harris administration, immigration has a significant negative impact on the U.S. economy, particularly for low-skilled workers. By 2016, for example, the immigrant workforce had grown by roughly 25 percent, leading to wage suppression in certain industries. The Trump campaign has argued that this influx of low-wage labor undercuts job opportunities for native-born Americans and drives down wages, all while burdening public services such as hospitals, schools, and housing.

The Biden-Harris administration has reportedly admitted at least 6.5 million illegal migrants since taking office. This figure does not include the estimated 1.5 million “gotaways” — migrants who evade capture at the border. Critics argue that this uncontrolled migration is further exacerbating economic and social tensions, especially in states already struggling with issues like housing shortages and overstretched healthcare systems.

Despite the criticism from Trump and other Republicans, some influential voices in the financial world are offering a different perspective. Larry Fink, the founder of BlackRock, recently argued at a World Economic Forum event that countries with shrinking populations, such as China and Japan, could benefit economically. Fink suggested that countries with stricter immigration policies might spur technological innovation, particularly in robotics and artificial intelligence, which could drive economic growth even without an expanding population.

However, Fink added that countries with growing populations must address basic issues such as education and the rule of law to ensure long-term prosperity. In this context, he implied that countries accepting more immigrants will face greater economic challenges unless they have robust institutions in place to manage this growth.

Trump’s emphasis on immigration ties into a larger theme of extraction migration — a policy the federal government has reportedly followed since 1990. This strategy, critics argue, is designed to extract human capital from poorer countries, boosting the U.S. economy by providing cheap labor and government-aided consumers. However, Trump’s campaign contends that this approach enriches coastal elites at the expense of middle-class Americans.

The extraction migration policy, according to Trump’s team, is damaging the U.S. economy by driving up rents, pushing down wages, and weakening civic solidarity. Trump’s message is clear: by curbing immigration, the U.S. can restore economic prosperity and prioritize the needs of its citizens.

As the final days of the campaign unfold, Trump’s decision to center migration rather than the economy presents both a risk and an opportunity. Whether this focus will resonate with voters remains to be seen, but it underscores his belief that immigration remains one of the most pressing issues facing the nation today.