Wisconsin’s Democratic Governor Tony Evers has sparked outrage and ridicule after declaring that the state’s economy would “be gone” if former President Donald Trump were to move forward with his pledge to deport illegal immigrants.

The governor’s comments, delivered in blunt fashion, have quickly become a flashpoint in the broader debate over immigration, labor, and the political priorities of Democratic leaders.

“I believe that in Wisconsin, our ability to keep our undocumented people working like they are now at really high numbers in the state of Wisconsin, if he takes this to an improper end, our economy will be gone,” Evers said.

For critics, the governor’s remarks confirm what they see as the Democratic Party’s reliance on illegal immigration to prop up state economies, while dismissing the needs of American citizens and legal residents.

For supporters, Evers’ blunt statement underscores the importance of immigrant labor in industries such as agriculture, food processing, and construction. Either way, the governor’s words have placed him at the center of a heated national conversation.

Evers’ statement was quickly seized upon by Republicans and Trump allies, who mocked the idea that Wisconsin’s economy is dependent on people who are in the country illegally.

Conservative commentators blasted the governor for effectively admitting that without an undocumented workforce, Wisconsin could not survive economically.

“This is the Democratic playbook in a nutshell,” one GOP strategist said. “Instead of investing in American workers, instead of building pathways for legal employment, they openly admit they need to rely on illegal immigrants. And then they wonder why voters are furious.”

Social media lit up with mockery as clips of Evers’ comments circulated widely. Some critics sarcastically asked whether Wisconsin should replace its state motto with “We Depend on Illegal Immigrants,” while others suggested Evers had revealed more truth than he intended.

The controversy comes against the backdrop of Trump’s renewed focus on immigration as a defining issue. The former president has pledged to move forward with mass deportations if he returns to the White House, framing the effort as essential to restoring law and order at the border and protecting American jobs.

Trump and his allies argue that unchecked illegal immigration not only strains public resources but also undermines wages and job opportunities for American citizens. Deporting those who entered unlawfully, they claim, is a matter of fairness and national sovereignty.

By contrast, Democrats such as Evers warn that deportations would devastate industries heavily reliant on immigrant labor. Wisconsin’s dairy industry, for example, employs a significant number of undocumented workers. Food processing plants, construction firms, and other employers have also come to rely on this workforce.

But critics argue that Evers’ statement reveals misplaced priorities: rather than developing policies to train, employ, and support legal residents of Wisconsin, he appears to accept — even embrace — dependence on illegal immigration.

Wisconsin’s economy is diverse, with strengths in manufacturing, dairy, and agriculture. The dairy industry, in particular, has been a symbol of the state’s identity, leading Wisconsin to be dubbed “America’s Dairyland.”

It is no secret that immigrant labor has become a mainstay of the dairy workforce. Many farm owners have admitted they could not fill jobs without it. Yet by publicly stating that the state’s economy would “be gone” without illegal immigrants, Evers shifted from acknowledging reality to making what critics see as a shocking concession.

“Every state depends on workers,” one political observer noted. “But to say out loud that the economy collapses without undocumented labor? That’s a pretty striking admission from a sitting governor.”

Republicans wasted no time turning Evers’ statement into a political weapon. Conservative radio hosts ridiculed the governor for putting Wisconsin’s fortunes in the hands of illegal immigrants. Political cartoons mocked him as the “Governor of Undocumented Wisconsin.”

“Apparently Tony Evers thinks Wisconsin citizens are incapable of running their own state without foreign nationals who broke the law to be here,” one commentator wrote. “That’s not leadership. That’s surrender.”

Mockery also centered on the phrase “our economy will be gone,” with critics pointing out the absurdity of suggesting that a state of more than 5.8 million people would collapse overnight if deportations occurred.

Memes circulated with images of empty barns, vacant factories, and ghost towns, accompanied by captions such as “Tony’s Wisconsin Without Illegals.”

Democratic allies defended the governor, arguing that he was simply telling an uncomfortable truth. They pointed out that Wisconsin’s dairy farms, meatpacking plants, and construction sites have long relied on immigrant workers, many of whom lack legal status.

Removing them, they said, would create massive labor shortages and threaten the viability of key industries.

One Democratic lawmaker said, “The governor is being honest about what farmers and businesses already know. You can’t just snap your fingers and replace thousands of workers overnight. Deportations at the scale Trump proposes would cause real economic disruption.”

Still, even some Democrats acknowledged that Evers’ blunt phrasing was politically risky. By suggesting that Wisconsin’s economy would “be gone,” the governor handed Republicans an easy talking point that will likely resurface in campaign ads and debates.

Critics argue that Evers’ comments reflect a deeper truth about Democratic strategy: that the party has quietly accepted illegal immigration as an economic necessity while publicly framing it as a humanitarian issue.

By tying Wisconsin’s economy directly to undocumented labor, Evers made explicit what opponents say Democrats usually avoid admitting.

“This is why they resist deportations so fiercely,” one Trump ally argued. “They don’t want to lose the cheap labor that keeps certain industries afloat. And instead of building policies to support American workers, they double down on protecting illegal immigrants.”

The argument is politically potent, particularly in Midwestern states where working-class voters have long felt squeezed by stagnant wages and job insecurity. Republicans see Evers’ comments as ammunition to reinforce their message that Democrats prioritize noncitizens over American citizens.

The clash over Evers’ remarks fits into the larger national debate over immigration, which continues to polarize the country. Supporters of strict enforcement argue that allowing millions of undocumented immigrants to remain creates unfair competition, undermines rule of law, and burdens taxpayers.

Opponents warn that mass deportations would devastate industries, tear apart families, and create humanitarian crises.

Evers planted himself firmly in the latter camp, warning of economic catastrophe if deportations proceed. But by doing so, he invited the charge that Democrats are more concerned about protecting illegal immigrants than ensuring stability for American workers.

Trump and his allies have already begun highlighting Evers’ comments as evidence of Democratic weakness on immigration. Campaign operatives see Wisconsin as a battleground state where immigration could be a decisive issue.

The governor’s words, they believe, will reinforce the message that Democrats have abandoned working-class voters in favor of policies that prioritize illegal immigrants.

“Tony Evers just admitted what we’ve been saying all along,” one Trump supporter tweeted. “Democrats need illegal immigrants to keep their economies running. They don’t care about American workers.”

Expect the quote “our economy will be gone” to appear in campaign ads, social media posts, and stump speeches as Republicans hammer home their message.

Among Wisconsin voters, reactions have been mixed. Farmers who rely heavily on immigrant labor expressed support for the governor’s warning, noting that without these workers, their operations would be crippled.

But many residents bristled at the suggestion that the state’s prosperity depends on people who entered the country illegally.

“I work two jobs just to make ends meet,” one Wisconsin resident said. “To hear the governor say the whole economy depends on illegal immigrants is insulting. What about us? What about the people who are here legally, paying taxes, raising families?”

Such sentiments highlight the political danger for Evers and Democrats. By making undocumented labor the centerpiece of his argument, the governor risks alienating citizens who feel overlooked.

Governor Tony Evers’ claim that Wisconsin’s economy would “be gone” without illegal immigrants has sparked mockery, criticism, and controversy across the political spectrum.

While Democrats defend his remarks as an honest reflection of labor realities, Republicans see them as a gift — proof, they say, that Democrats prioritize undocumented workers over American citizens.

Whether Evers intended it or not, his words have revealed the depth of the immigration divide in American politics. To some, they are a sobering acknowledgment of economic dependence on immigrant labor. To others, they are an embarrassing admission of failed priorities.

As the 2026 and 2028 elections approach, the governor’s comment is unlikely to be forgotten. For his critics, “our economy will be gone” has already become a punchline — and a rallying cry.

Wisconsin Gov Tony Evers says that without hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens in his state, "our economy will be gone."

Having a smaller economy is fine. Get down to the natural level it should be at without govt benefits for illegals.

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— Wall Street Mav (@WallStreetMav) September 2, 2025