Are Trump anti-immigrant policies part of his plan to hasten the failure of Social Security?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

There's an argument to be made!

 

The outcome of Trump's anti-immigrant policies, if they're sustained, may be the same in helping to hasten the financial demise of U.S. Social Security and/or lead to major reductions in Social Security payouts to retirees who have earned them -- whether or not that's a conscious/deliberate part of Trump's policies.

 

A late 2024 report below by the right-leaning Bipartisan Policy Center:

 

The Effect of Immigration on Social Security’s Finances

"The primary Social Security trust fund is projected to be depleted by 2033 unless Congress acts. At that time, beneficiaries would face an automatic 21% reduction in benefits, threatening the financial security of millions of Americans. [emphasis added]

 

A steadily declining worker-to-beneficiary ratio—the number of workers paying into Social Security compared to the number of beneficiaries—poses a major financial headwind for the program. In the coming years, however, immigration is expected to be the major driver of U.S. population growth and could potentially narrow Social Security’s financing shortfall. [emphasis added]"

 

So how do immigrant workers help the Social Security system financially?

 

--Immigrants make up 19% of the U.S. labor force, but only 14.3% of the total population. This improves the worker-to-beneficiary ratio and helps strengthens Social Security’s payroll-tax base.

 

--Foreign-born workers pay into Social Security at the same rate as others, but have lesser expected Social Security benefits vs. native Americans because the foreign-born tend to have lower lifetime wages and have fewer years of work that counts toward their Social Security benefits.  There's also the trend of foreign-born immigrants to return to their native countries once they reach retirement ages, leaving them potentially unable to draw the Social Security benefits they earned.

 

Ya, but what about those pesky "illegals"?

 

The right-leaning BPC report concluded:

 

Unauthorized workers contribute taxes but are ineligible for benefits

"In 2022, unauthorized immigrants contributed $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes, typically by working under borrowed or fraudulent Social Security numbers. Unauthorized immigrants, however, are ineligible to claim Social Security benefits." [emphasis added]

 

Thus the report found -- immigration has significant relevance to Social Security's financial health and helps financially offset the continuing declines in U.S. birth rates that produce young people who are needed to financially support Social Security.

 

Full report:

https://bipartisanpolicy.org/explainer/immigration-social-security-solvency/

 

The Bipartisan Policy Center is a not-for-profit organization that ensures policymakers work across party lines to craft bipartisan solutions.

By bringing together Republicans and Democrats—and providing them with the space, policy insights, and evidence-based research they need to negotiate in good faith—we help turn legislators’ best ideas into passable, durable laws. Since 2007, the Bipartisan Policy Center has helped shepherd countless bills across the finish line.

 

So, next time those of you who are cheering Trump's anti-immigrant and deportation raids against both legal and illegal immigrants, you might well be helping imperil the future of your Social Security benefits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BLMFem]

It seems more like it was an attack on US agriculture. Then he TACO'ed, of course.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

11 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

It seems more like it was an attack on US agriculture. Then he TACO'ed, of course.

 

The targets of the ICE raids under Trump have hardly been limited or or even focused mainly on the agriculture sector.

 

He and his minions have been canceling foreign student visas for students at very prestigious U.S. universities, chasing down migrants working in restaurants and other service sector industries in cities...stopping people on the streets in cities because they "look" like they might be undocumented....

 

The recent raids in Los Angeles City and County haven't been about agriculture at all!  Rather, it's part of his plan to wage a politically-motivated attack against political "Blue" states, e.g., his political opposition.

 

 

 

[JAG]

11 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

The targets of the ICE raids under Trump have hardly been limited or or even focused mainly on the agriculture sector.

 

He and his minions have been canceling foreign student visas for students at very prestigious U.S. universities, chasing down migrants working in restaurants and other service sector industries in cities...stopping people on the streets in cities because they "look" like they might be undocumented....

 

The recent raids in Los Angeles City and County haven't been about agriculture at all!  Rather, it's part of his plan to wage a politically-motivated attack against political "Blue" states, e.g., his political opposition.

 

 

 

Leavened perhaps, with a dose of good old fashioned racism?

 

I actually don't think his planning or awareness of consequences extend anywhere near that far. Amongst the factors which underpin MAGA political philosophy is a deep rooted xenophobia and racism. This results in a confirmed if often illogical belief in American exceptionalism (white Americans of course), and nostalgic harping back to those halcyon days, before global trade, when America and Americans were self sufficient. They don't believe that they need other countries, and other peoples are responsible for "diluting their bloodlines".

 

We must also remember that Trumps business success has been built upon property, largely inherited and leveraged against, shall we say dubious banking practices, to produce cash to support his extravagant lifestyle! His other ventures: high end foods and drinks, commercial academia, airlines and notably casinos have all failed; he was rescued by "reality TV". He simply does not understand manufacturing, agriculture or most service industries; let alone international trade!

 

Consequences? What are they?  If anything minor inconveniences like not enough "Barbie Dolls".

 

 

[JAG]

11 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

The targets of the ICE raids under Trump have hardly been limited or or even focused mainly on the agriculture sector.

 

He and his minions have been canceling foreign student visas for students at very prestigious U.S. universities, chasing down migrants working in restaurants and other service sector industries in cities...stopping people on the streets in cities because they "look" like they might be undocumented....

 

The recent raids in Los Angeles City and County haven't been about agriculture at all!  Rather, it's part of his plan to wage a politically-motivated attack against political "Blue" states, e.g., his political opposition.

 

 

 

Leavened perhaps, with a dose of good old fashioned racism?

 

I actually don't think his planning or awareness of consequences extend anywhere near that far. Amongst the factors which underpin MAGA and Trump's political philosophy (they are pretty well indivisible) is a deep rooted xenophobia and racism. This results in a confirmed if often illogical belief in American exceptionalism (white Americans of course), and nostalgic harping back to those halcyon days, before global trade, when America and Americans were self sufficient. They don't believe that they need other countries, and other peoples are responsible for "diluting their bloodlines".

 

We must also remember that Trumps business success has been built upon property, largely inherited and leveraged against, shall we say dubious banking practices, to produce cash to support his extravagant lifestyle! His other ventures: high end foods and drinks, commercial academia, airlines and notably casinos have all failed; he was rescued by "reality TV". He simply does not understand manufacturing, agriculture or most service industries;  let alone international trade! Unlike previous Presidents, from either party, he makes no effort to learn about, be informed about or understand them. Everything is black or white, or perhaps red and blue?

 

He personally is able to continue enriching himself, either through the grifting enterprises which he continues to enthusiastically promote, or by soliciting contributions from others (foreign or domestic) who see opportunity in being associated with him. He is fortunate to be in apparent relatively good health (although perhaps not as remarkable as his doctors would have us believe, and therefore simply does not care about medical provision for others. Likewise social programmes, they merely soak up money which should be at the service of he and his supporters.

 

Consequences? What are they?  If anything minor inconveniences like not enough "Barbie Dolls".

 

Now some will say that I am a dyed in the wool opponent of Trump and MAGA. They are correct, I loathe the man and what he stands for, and what he is doing to America, it's society and, by extension the rest of the World. I have, I hope, gone some way to explaining why.

 

"Happy Birthday Mr President". So sad that the gorgeous Marilyn Munro was not there to sing it for you. I wonder why Taylor Swift did not do a cover version for you?

[newbee2022]

Plan? Who got a plan? 

[Yagoda]

12 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

There's an argument to be made!

No, there isnt. There is Trump deranged fantasy, but no argument.

[Hanaguma]

As usual, the OP conflates legal immigration and illegal. No surprise, happens all the time.

 

The President has no problem with legal immigration. Just look at the numbers from his first term- the number of people naturalizing to become US citizens was steady. And......most of them aren't white!  Ooooh, so there goes the whole "Bad Orange Man is racist!" shibboleth.  

 

Two things can happen at the same time. Illegals can be deported. AND immigration laws can be updated.  But there is no need to let people stay who broke the law. 

[annotator]

47 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

As usual, the OP conflates legal immigration and illegal. No surprise, happens all the time.

 

The President has no problem with legal immigration. Just look at the numbers from his first term- the number of people naturalizing to become US citizens was steady. And......most of them aren't white!  Ooooh, so there goes the whole "Bad Orange Man is racist!" shibboleth.  

 

Two things can happen at the same time. Illegals can be deported. AND immigration laws can be updated.  But there is no need to let people stay who broke the law. 

Then why is President Trump now letting millions of illegal workers stay in America?

[Hanaguma]

1 hour ago, annotator said:

Then why is President Trump now letting millions of illegal workers stay in America?

Is he? Funny then, I don't know the reason for the riots in LA and other places last week.

 

But seriously, it will take a while to catch and deport everyone. The ICE folks are concentrating on getting rid of scumbags first, which will take time and effort.  

[annotator]

32 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Is he? Funny then, I don't know the reason for the riots in LA and other places last week.

 

But seriously, it will take a while to catch and deport everyone. The ICE folks are concentrating on getting rid of scumbags first, which will take time and effort.  

What are you talking about? President Trump just announced that he's not going to go after illegals who are hotel workers, restaurant workers, and agricultural workers. That's millions of illegals. Orders have already been given to carry this out. These people are criminals. They have to go. As you said, "There is no need to let these people stay."

I'm just hoping this is a ruse like he did with the Israelis. Pretending to oppose them but secretly working with them.