11 Sectors To Lose Out Due To Trump Crackdown On Kenyan Immigrants

A recent study by Brooks Law Firm analysed key U.S. industries to identify and rank the U.S. industries most vulnerable to labour disruption under potential Trump-era immigration enforcement policies.

The research compared them by key indicators, including the number of immigrant workers, estimated job change, and projected labour loss from the new immigration policies.

The data was collected from open reports by the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau, and the final score was calculated based on the projected impact.

Former US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman (centre) poses for a photo with Kenyan scholars under the US Education program in 2023. /US EMBASSY NAIROBI

The information industry will be the most affected by the latest Trump immigration laws, with an impact score of 17.9, reflecting a large portion of jobs influenced. While only 1.4 per cent of the total workforce in the information industry is immigrants, it is the second-fastest growing industry, and its growth can be slowed down by the new Trump policies.

Educational and health services rank second as the most to lose because of the latest Trump immigration laws, with a score of 14.9. The industry has the largest share of immigrant workers at 18.4 per cent, and up to 183,500 industry workers can leave the U.S.

The professional and business industry takes third place, getting an impact score of 12.8. The industry has the second-largest rate of immigrant workers, closely following educational and health services with 15.8 per cent. Because of the latest Trump laws, over 157,600 workers can leave the industry.

Public administration is fourth, scoring 11.8. This industry has the slowest growth rate in the ranking at 0.1 per cent, and recovery from worker loss can take a longer time than for other industries. Currently, 765,000 immigrant workers are employed in public administration.

Leisure and hospitality rank fifth on the list of industries that will lose the most from the latest Trump immigration laws, with an impact score of 10.5. Another industry with a large share of immigrant workers, the leisure and hospitality industry employs over 3 million people from other countries. If Trump's immigration laws come into effect, the industry can lose 101,700 workers.

Financial activities follow closely with sixth place and a score of 9.5. Right now, 5.4 per cent of the industry workers are immigrants, and over 53,800 of them are projected to leave the U.S., mainly affecting the financial industry. The industry growth for financial activities is similar to leisure and hospitality, with 0.4 per cent, and the loss of immigrant workers can take a long time to recover from.

Transportation and utilities hold the seventh spot, getting an immigrant loss impact score of 8.2. Over 2.1 million workers employed in transportation are immigrants, which amounts to 7.2 per cent, more than in the financial sector or public administration. The impact of Trump’s latest policies is projected to be the loss of 71,800 industry workers.

Other services are eighth, scoring 7.6. Currently, over 1.5 million immigrant workers are employed in the industry, with a huge potential impact from the new Trump immigration laws. Just as in the financial industry, immigrant workers amount to 5.4 per cent of the total industry workforce.

Wholesale and retail trade takes ninth place, getting an impact score of 4. While the score is four times lower than for the information industry, retail still employs 3 million immigrant workers. With the latest Trump policies, the industry can lose 101,700 workers who will leave the U.S. permanently.

Manufacturing ranks tenth, earning a score of 3.3. Similar to the retail and leisure industry, it employs over 3 million immigrant workers, making it vulnerable to the impact of the new policies. Coupled with a slow growth rate of 0.1 per cent, the projected loss of 105,700 workers can have a big effect on the industry as a whole.

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, mining, and construction close the ranking of the industries that will lose the most by the latest Trump immigration laws, with 11th place and a score of 2.4. The industry has a big share of immigrant workers of 12.8 per cent, the third-largest on the list. 

With 3.8 million immigrant workers in total, it can lose many workers, and 127,600 people from the industry are projected to leave the U.S. permanently.

Kenyan immigrants in the U.S. have been making significant strides, yet they face a mix of opportunities and challenges. As of 2021, approximately 94,623 Kenyan-born individuals resided in the U.S., with Texas, Washington, and California hosting the largest populations. A notable 58.3 per cent have become naturalised citizens, while the rest hold various legal statuses, including work permits and student visas.

However, not all is smooth sailing. Undocumented Kenyans grapple with the constant threat of deportation amid stringent immigration policies. Between 2020 and 2024, 128 Kenyans were deported, highlighting the precarious situation for those without legal status.