The recent raids carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have reignited a national debate: are these operations an economic blow, as some argue, or a necessary step to restore the rule of law?
President Donald J. Trump’s administration has made it clear that the goal is not to punish the economy, but to rescue it from an unsustainable dependence: the mass employment of illegal immigrants in key sectors such as agriculture, food processing, construction, and services. And while alarm bells ring from business lobbies and progressive groups, the reality is that behind this supposed «fear and devastation» lies an economic structure that has operated outside the law for decades.
A Broken Economic Model
Those who accuse the president of “not understanding” the economy forget that Donald Trump, as a businessman, understood better than anyone the value of law, efficiency, and order in economic growth. The raids are not a political whim; they are a necessary response to an informal economy that has become parasitic, relying on the vulnerability of millions who cross our borders illegally and work for rock-bottom wages, often without basic benefits.
The narrative that “the economy cannot function without illegal immigrants” is not only troubling—it’s offensive. It’s an implicit admission that we have normalized exploitation and tax evasion as engines of growth. How can a sovereign nation sustain its economy on the constant breaking of its own laws?
Raids and Rule of Law: What the Media Doesn’t Tell You
Mainstream outlets have pushed dramatic images of so-called workers “ripped from their jobs,” without mentioning that in many cases, employers were already under investigation for labor violations, fraud, or tax evasion. These raids are not random: they are the result of in-depth investigations aimed not only at detaining those who are here illegally, but also at sending a clear message to those who exploit them.
The “devastation” some speak of has more to do with the loss of economic privilege built on illegality than with any real structural crisis. If certain industries cannot survive without breaking the law, then the problem is not the raids. The problem is the model itself.
The Alternative: Legality, Investment, and Citizenship
Opponents of these measures often repeat that “there aren’t enough Americans willing to do those jobs,” but they fail to talk about the conditions in which those jobs are offered. The truth is, many of these industries have stopped investing in innovation, automation, or better working conditions, because hiring illegal workers is cheaper. This model not only degrades labor—it stunts the growth of the American working class.
President Trump has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the legal immigration system, promoting a merit-based model rather than one built on unlawful entry. Why aren’t business leaders lobbying for legal guest worker visas? Why don’t they push for reforms that allow them to hire with guarantees instead of defending illegality as a solution?
An Economy Without Illegal Immigrants? Yes, It’s Possible
Contrary to critics’ claims, an economy without illegal immigration is not a utopia. It’s an achievable goal if we combine investment in technology, training for the domestic workforce, and immigration reform that rewards legality and genuine contribution to the country. What cannot continue is the double standard: demanding secure borders while profiting from their weakness.
Those sectors now complaining about the raids should ask themselves: what have they done for years to change this model? What investments have they made to stop depending on the underground labor market? It’s time businesses take responsibility and stop using fear as a shield.
Order Over Dependency
The raids are not the problem. They are the reflection of a system broken by economic actors who, for years, profited from government silence. With Trump back in the White House, that silence is over.
America cannot thrive on exceptions. We need a strong economy—but also one that is lawful, transparent, and sovereign. Fear wasn’t caused by the law. It was caused by the prolonged lie that this nation can only grow through illegality.
Today, the message from the White House is clear: «America First» also means putting our citizens, our laws, and our dignity above any economic model built in the shadows.
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