Mass Deportations Could Cost Orange County Over $258 Million, New Report Finds

As deportation efforts ramp up across the U.S., new research from a California-based nonprofit is shedding light on the economic toll these actions could have on Orange County. According to a study by the Harbor Institute for Immigrants and Economic Justice, the region could face over $258 million in economic losses if current deportation trends continue.

The report analyzed data obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, revealing that 228 individuals were transferred to ICE custody in 2024 under the Biden administration. Based on figures from the Immigration Policy Institute, the Harbor Institute calculated an average daily income of $171 per person, with a median detention period of 60 days—amounting to over $2.3 million in lost wages.

But the ripple effect goes far beyond lost income.

Using data from the Fiscal Policy Institute, the study estimates that every dollar earned by immigrants generates $1.60 in spending, putting the total economic impact of last year’s ICE transfers at over $3.7 million.

At Pico de Gallo Grill in Santa Ana, owner Berenice Cuellar says she’s already noticed a drop in business. “We see people not going out as often,” she told NBC. “We see it ourselves. We see it in the places we go shop and visit.”

With 15,742 pending deportation cases in the Santa Ana Immigration Court as of January 2025, the potential economic damage could surge even higher—up to $258 million in lost regional spending, according to the report.

Advocates say these numbers are a wake-up call. “We have so much to lose,” said Maidou, a lead researcher with the Harbor Institute. “This is about people unable to pay bills, businesses losing customers, and communities losing their workforce.”

As Orange County grapples with immigration policy on the ground, nonprofits and business leaders alike are urging policymakers to consider the full financial and human impact of mass deportations.

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