Henderson: Immigration’s Effect on Native-Born Minorities Is Complicated

Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, appeared before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement this week to testify on how political rhetoric oversimplifies the complicated economic effects that immigration has on native-born minorities, introducing unnecessary tensions into communities that share many common interests and could work together on many fronts.

“Some advocates for more restrictive immigration policies have chosen to over-state the problem as a way of garnering greater public support for their positions, even though many economists believe that comprehensive immigration reform is the best way to end the massive exploitation of undocumented and the incidental job displacement it may cause,” Henderson said.

Henderson said that the effects of immigration on any one group are difficult to measure, and identified several of many factors contributing to high African-American unemployment rates, including employment discrimination, education, access to health care and housing, and criminal justice policies. He called on government to address these concerns equally, because a singular focus on any one issue will create a distorted view of the larger problem. “At most, immigration is one small factor in a very complicated problem on African-American unemployment,” he said.

Henderson emphasized that African Americans and immigrant communities face similar challenges. He also argued it was hypocritical for immigration reduction advocates to blame African-American unemployment on immigration, while at the same time supporting cuts in programs, such as Head Start and Pell Grants, that can help African Americans and others get ahead.

The Leadership Conference and the civil rights community have long supported comprehensive immigration reform legislation that provides a path to citizenship for undocumented workers, reduces family visa backlogs, ramps up enforcement while respecting civil rights and liberties, and protects the rights of workers regardless of immigration status.