A recent surge in immigration into the U.S. is predicted to significantly impact the job prospects of Black Americans, as foreign-born workers have gained over 1.2 million jobs while native-born Americans lost 1.3 million jobs over the past year. Roy Beck, a conservative immigration expert, highlights this issue in his new book, “Back of the Hiring Line: A 200-Year History of Immigration Surges, Employer Bias, and Depression of Black Wealth.” Beck argues that high levels of immigration historically lead to reduced incomes and increased racial disparity for Black Americans.
Concerns are raised about racial discrimination in hiring practices, with Black Americans often being hired last. Despite the impact on job opportunities for all Americans, especially for Black Americans, national leaders have not spoken out on the issue, with some attributing this silence to political alliances. However, Beck believes that change is on the horizon, as local Black leaders are starting to voice their concerns more prominently.
Beck emphasizes the need for stricter control over immigration to protect American workers’ job opportunities and tackle racial discrimination in hiring. As these issues gain local attention, he believes that national leaders will eventually have to address the concerns of local communities.