Blacks Speak Out on Immigration
Not too many African-American leaders have raised thier voices in the ongoing immigration debate. Now, a number of academics, policymakers and scholars are speaking up for citizenship rights for immigrants. Below is a snapshot of what they have to say. Do you agree with them?
Steven Pitts
Dr. Steven Pitts, an economist with the Center for Labor Research and Education at the University of 
California-Berkeley, believes the immigration issue assumes that immigrant workers and Black workers are equal. That’s not true, he says. The assumption is that low-wage immigrant workers reduce job opportunities for African Americans is often not supported by the facts, he adds. “We need to disconnect Black job problems and immigration,” he says.“Not all Black folks are native born and not all immigrants are non black and a lot of times in discussion we suggest that.”
Alan Jenkins
Alan Jenkins, who heads the Opportunity Agenda,says it would benefit the African-American community to support comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship and human rights, 
because African Americans and immigrants have a shared interest in stepping up civil rights and employment opportunities. Jenkins supports the idea of the two groups demanding fair practices, treatment and wages. “African-American organizations and leadership have pushed our country to fulfill its promise of opportunity for all…, [and] it has meant something, that it was for the Black community, but not only for the Black community, opportunity for all, meaning opportunity for everyone,” he said.“Does immigration help Black folks, or does it hurt Black folks? And in my own view [that’s] the wrong question to ask. The real question is: “How can African Americans [and] immigrants rise together.”
HOW CAN I DO TO KEPT MY FIANCEE IN UNITED STATES I LOVE MY FIANCEE SHE IS A GRADUATE STUDENT FROM HIGH SHOOL NOW SHE JUST GOT DIPLOMA AS A NURSE ,SHE PASS THE BOARD PLEASE HELP TO FIND THE SOLUTION IF I MARRIED HER SHE WILL BE DEPORTED HEPL HELP PLEASE
MY COMMENT IS IF AN IMMIGRANTS HAVE A HUSBANDS OR WIFE THEY SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO STAY IN UNITED STATES BECAUSE THEY HAVE KIDS INVOLVES
THANKS
Rights for all American citizens is great. When immigrant become citizens,they will be able to get fair wages and benefits. Those who came here illegally will have to await their turn and apply for citizenship.
I disagree,too often the majority believes that illegal immigation has no impact on us,afro-americans. This is not true,as a college educated person I feel that those with less education or those new college graduates will have to compete with persons who are bilingual(spanish). There is a belief amongst many people that illegals will work harder for less and not create problems on the jobs in jeopardy of their imigration status.So for those of you who are at thje higher income ladder,STO[P SELLING US SHORT.
ANGRY BLACK MAN………BEING SOLD AGAIN BY BLACK PEOPLE
I for one will say that the immigrants do not have the previlege as a U.S. citizen. How can you come over another country and espect to change it’s policy and beliefs? I’m sorry but it does not work that way. Not with me and not with this country! I was listening too 7.50am WSB Michel Salvage. And he was discussing that the Hispanic wanted to have the same previlege to attend our colleges and to top that off they want the right to vote and not to mention they think our laws should apply to them. I mean whats next, president maybe they would want to run for the white house,I don’t think so.When is this going to end? We need to get this handled we have other and bigger problems to take care of like saving this country from being a 3rd world counrty!!!
NO I DON’T AGREE WITH THEM. ALL THE IMMIGRANTS NEED TO DO THE RIGTH THING AND GO THRU THE PROPER CHANNEL. TO BECOME A US CITZEN.NOT SNEAK OVER HERE AND GET EVERYTHING THAT SOME AMERICAN CAN’T GET.LIKE GOVERMENT HELP. AND THEY NEED TO LEARN TO SPEAKE ENGLISH.I SEE SO MANY OF THEY THAT CAN’T SPEAK ENGILSH THAT THERE CHILDREN HAVE TO DO IT FOR THEM. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THEY NEED EMERGENCY HELP AND CAN’T TELL WHAT WRONG.THIS IS THE U.S.THE LAUNAGE IS ENGLISH ,WE SHOUDN’T HAVE TO LEARN A NEW LAUANGE TO ADAPE TO THE CHANGES OF THE U.S. UNLESS WE WON’T TOO
I’m sorry the law is the law period. do what my mothers parents did first become legal,LEARNED THE LANGUAGE,LOVE THIS COUNTRY.By the way race shouldnt be a question why ask how this effects our community. The last I heard our community starts and ends with all borders north, south, east and west. This shouldnt be a discussion build the fence.
I know that I might fall in the midst of the ideas that others have however, when I have spoken to my friends illegal and legal a like, we come to terms that great minds think alike. I have studied the spanish language many years, and have found that African American are in the dark about many issues. The first being, illegal vs. legal immigrants. The second being, 12 million illegal immagrants are here now. And the third being, the latino population alone has affected education, healthcare, and social services in the Black community.And finally, most immigrants feel they have paid their taxes.
The notion that illegal immagrant’s children are classififed as citizens once they are born in the US, have given the young latino voting power. The reason I aim to point latinos out, is becuase they are the majority when it comes to illegal immagration. Latino children have gone to school with you and I, and face the idea that their parents can be deported after spending decades on US soil. We can not assume that after limiting Black procreation levels ( by way of abortion, religion, and presonal trama), that (we) African Americans have more of a say (politically) on how latinos path to legalization, here in the US, should go. What I can say though, is that we can not compare illegal immigration to slavery. Stop it, and stop it now. Slaves were forced to come to the United States, AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WERE NOT!!!! We can not limit a black person’s wages due to illegal activity (illegal immigration). Nor can we justify the lack of education in the Black community. I urge all to study their language ( Spanish, Korean, German, French, and Italian) as they have studied English (yours). And then can we target major issues that effect the Black community and the Latino community.
The 12 million are here now, do we face the notion of deporting all 12 million now, of course not, this will take more money that we (the US)do not have. Some communities lack healthcare, others educational supplies and teachers, and others lack adequate law enforcement to support FBI, CIA, and Boarder control. iT IS TIME TO SUPPRT THE NOTION THAT IF YOU POSSESS A HOME , CAR, EMPLOYMENT,OR MAKE FRAUDULENT CLAIMS AS AN ILLEGAL CITIzEN YOU WILL BE FINED. AS AN AFRICAN - AMERICAN WOMAN, IF I MAKE AN ILLEGAL MOVE ON THE ROAD I CAN GET A TICKET. Therefore, no one is free of the law. These fines in turn, can partly pay for the deficeit that the U.S.have, property value will increase, and illegal immigration will decrease.
Once we target these issues, we can see that the wages for all increase, home ownership increases and the local, state, and federal government, will have the pertinent dollars it needs to move forward.
In closing we find that many illegal immigrants feel that they have paid thier fees /taxes to live in the United States. What we must remind them of is that every American pays taxes, and it is a fine or deportation that will allow them to resume their stay in the United States. This must be the part of reform and United States law. Love you all from the area of Watts , CA>
hello…. i can sympathize with you as a Latina woman and a west Indian fiance they want to deport him with no mercy can u help please
I am disgusted that the majority of our community isn’t being heard. In a scence that our so called black leaders either lost their back bone or deceived us all along. I personally couldn’t disagree more with what these men had to say. It’s plain and simple come legal or face the law. What community do you think these migrants move into? They move into the poor and middle class. Now you tell me how many of them folks in Washington live in the poor or middle class areas. What I’m saying is aparently neither these men nor Washington have a clue or really just don’t care. We need our Black leaders too focus back on our needs and issues. We need change, but we need our community leaders not to fold or “go along with,” but hold his/her ground. We as a community need to also do our part too, stand a be accounted for come election time. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
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Illegals are taking more then they give. and now they want to be a citizen just because they snuck in here? hmm so if someone snuck in your house would you take care of them? They are doing jobs our people can be doing. It took hundreds of years for our people to be considered full citizens and now they want what our people paid for ? no no NOO! go back to their countries and get in line. our schools are crowded with these non english speaking people that my kids cant get the attention they need because the teachers take up so much time helping the other illegals out. Its not fair. Its hurting America, our taxes and african-Americans mostly.
I agree with you all on this one. The hispanics are overcrowding schools in a major way. The parents are straight illegal with non american or falsified documents enrolling their children (who are non english speaking). We have 50% of the students traveling back and forth to Mexico weeks at a time falling further behind in school. The parents use the school enrollment forms to get Welfare!! Most Hispanics do not even want to speak English — EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW HOW!! They are purposely creating a GAP between themselves and other races. They come to America and get housing, food stamps, job assistance, free lunch,& free education at our expense. AND how do they continue to get loans to build up their own Hispanic Stores and businesses in neighborhoods that they have overwhelmed. Their is a Huge Hispanic Movement with successful organizations that teach the illegals where to move, what companies to work for, and how to get there….that is why they move to cities in large numbers. Between 2005 and present the Hispancs have decided to overwhelm North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi! They have the phrase and organization called ” LA RAZA” meaning THE RACE… and they mean to take over neighborhoods, business, and government. They have no plans to conform, cooperate, or become apart of America’s Melting pod…They plan to rule it….and that is exactly what they are doing. Take a good look on the website for Hispanics they are more ORGANIZED than you think.
Too Bad WE Blacks can not get it together…WE do not even have Organizations that tell us truly how to support Us, Build Our Communities, and where to go for Fair Employment Opportunities. I am Pro Black although I love all people… I wish WE would be stronger.
Mitchell you are so right on target, we are going to wake up one day and be on the social bottom level and it will be our fault. Hispanics use our history as their own so they can say we are being abused but they come here illegaly and move into communities and try to take over, if they are in small munbers they are good, if they are in large numbers they want to take ove the community, its just like that in prisons they band together to take land and area. They make it where you cannot go though their area. Black people wake up these people are not our friends, they want what we have and more. Obama is not going to help us, Hilary and Mcalin either. If our leaders do not get us together we are finished. I am afraided