The Center for Immigration Studies hosted a panel discussion on the effects of the federal government’s immigration policies on Black Americans. The panelists explored historical and recent trends, focusing on the wage and employment impacts on Black communities.
The July 11, 10 a.m. Eastern event featured representatives of Black America for Immigration Reform, a non-profit founded by Black American leaders advocating for immigration reforms that serve the interests of Black men and women.
Roy Beck, author of Back of the Hiring Line: A 200-year History of Immigration Surges, Employer Bias and Depression of Black Wealth, also joined the panel, exploring how government policies and actions that have enabled employers to depress Black wages and to avoid hiring African Americans.
The participants reflected on the views of leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, and A. Philip Randolph, who believed that mass immigration harmed their community. The panel considered whether restricting immigration today would tighten the labor market and provide more opportunities for Black American workers.