The Economist Ponders: Could It Be That Enforcing Our Immigration Laws Has Actually Increased Americans' Wages?

Answer: Yes, of course it has.

The Economist -- which is liberal on all matters except trade and immigration, on which it is radical libertarian/transnationalist -- can't avoid noting that there seems to be some connection before flitting back to their preferred answer that We Need to Build Bridges Not Walls.

Immigration to America is down. Wages are up. 

Are the two related?

It's raining.

I'm wet.

Are the two related?

This is The Economist, folks. The Economist wants to know if supply and demand are related in some fashion.

In both 2018 and 2019 nominal wages rose by more than 3%, the fastest growth since before the recession a decade ago. Americans at the bottom of the labour market are doing especially well. In the past year the wages of those without a high-school diploma have risen by nearly 10%. Intriguingly, this has come as America has turned considerably less friendly to immigrants, who are assumed by many to steal jobs from natives and lower the wages of less-educated folk. The two phenomena may be connected--but only for a while.

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