U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Falsehoods on Immigration – Part 1

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has put up a website giving what it calls “10 Immigration Facts Everyone Can Agree To.” The so-called facts are both falsehoods and half-truths. As an example, here is their #1:

U.S. Chamber’s Myth: “Every job filled by an immigrant is a job that could be filled by an unemployed American.”

U.S. Chamber’s Fact: “Immigrants typically do not compete for jobs with native-born workers and immigrants create jobs as entrepreneurs, consumers, and taxpayers.”

FAIR’s Fact: There is no job in the U.S. that is done only by immigrants – legal or illegal. Therefore, there is no job being done by an illegal or legal foreign worker that could not be done by an unemployed legal U.S. worker. The legislation the U.S. Chamber is backing would concede jobs currently done by illegal workers to them as well as allow them to compete with native workers for higher-paying jobs. It would also hugely expand the number of new legal immigrant workers and guestworkers.

[ed note – the other 9 facts posted earlier will return as a series starting tomorrow.]
US Chamber of Commerce
Jack Martin: Jack, who joined FAIR’s National Board of Advisors in 2017, is a retired U.S. diplomat with consular experience. He has testified before the U.S. Congress, U.S. Civil Rights Commission, and U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform and has authored studies of immigration issues. His national and international print, TV, and talk radio experience is extensive (including in Spanish).