WASHINGTON, D.C.—Former President Donald Trump’s assertion that illegal immigrants are “taking black jobs” earned him backlash online, but he may have been right.
Despite criticism from Democrats and media outlets, his claim is supported by a critical government report.
During last week’s debate, Trump claimed that under President Joe Biden, up to “20 million people” were allowed into the U.S. and are “taking black jobs and they’re taking Hispanic jobs.”
Democrats condemned his phrasing, calling it racist and dehumanizing.
However, according to a government report cited by Trump, the influx of migrants has indeed affected job opportunities for black Americans. The report noted that approximately 10 million Americans have stopped looking for work, a figure similar to estimates of illegal immigrants currently employed in the U.S.
Critics argued against Trump’s statement, pointing out that immigrants contribute to economic growth by generating demand for goods and services. They cited data showing a decline in black workers’ presence in lower-wage sectors like leisure, hospitality and retail.
Yet a House panel heard testimony last year suggesting there are some nine million illegal immigrants in the workforce. Meanwhile, the number of U.S. natives who have given up on seeking employment has risen by 10 million since 2000.
The Biden administration has highlighted positive employment figures for black Americans, but critics point out that unemployment rates only account for those actively seeking work, excluding those who have dropped out of the workforce.
A presentation from the Center for Immigration Studies to the House workforce committee highlighted a significant decline in labor force participation among native-born Americans, particularly those with lower education levels. It noted that many of these individuals are no longer competing for jobs traditionally filled by immigrants, leading to concerns about an underclass reliant on welfare and prone to crime.
The report also detailed competition between Americans, legal immigrants, and illegal immigrants in sectors such as carpentry, roofing, painting, and cooking.
A 2008 report from the United States Commission on Civil Rights examined the impact of illegal immigration on the wages and job opportunities of black workers. It concluded that illegal immigration has increased the supply of low-skilled, low-wage labor, affecting employment rates and wages for black males with high school diplomas or less.
During the debate, both Trump and Biden addressed issues related to black unemployment, with Biden promising measures to reduce costs for “black childcare” and tackle housing discrimination.
