Apparently racist nativism has a fully funded Washington think tank. I don't usually read the Washington Times but this headline popped up on my Google News: Two-thirds of jobs go to immigrants during Obama’s four years
Often the concept of "immigrant" and the concept of "illegal immigrant" are conflated by activists who are opposed to illegal immigration. As an immigrant I find this annoying. I was surprised to find that this particular rabbit hole was a bit deeper - in this case focusing on "foreign born" versus "non-foreign born" people - irrespective of their citizenship. “It’s extraordinary that most of the employment growth in the last four years has gone to the foreign-born, but what’s even more extraordinary is the issue has not even come up during a presidential election that is so focused on jobs,” said Steven A. Camarota, the center’s research director, who wrote the report along with demographer Karen Zeigler.
The author of the article provides this zinger, which is inaccurate enough that were this a real news paper it would raise questions about journalistic integrity. He also said immigrants are quicker to jump into the rebounding job market while native-born Americans, who under federal law have more welfare options and access to unemployment benefits, are slower to find work.
The "He" referred to here is Cato Institute policy analyst Alex Nowrasteh. I'm interested to know whether he actually said something like this or if he is being misquoted. I suspect the later, but I'm not sure. Native-born Americans do not have more welfare options nor do they have better access to unemployment benefits than naturalized U.S. Citizens. We're all equal under the law, except when it comes to the office of the Presidency. I find it deeply troubling that a group which apparently advocates that some U.S. Citizens should be more equal than others receives funding and a credible reception in Washington as a serious organization. If Cato also subscribes to this nativist perspective that is much, much worse (but I doubt it - I think this is a misquote). |