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Blacks and immigration

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The people at Pew have a new poll about African-American views on illegal and legal immigrration and even breaks it down by region, including Chicago.

In Chicago, where 80% of blacks say jobs are difficult to find, there is a widespread perception among African Americans that immigrant workers are damaging local job prospects. Fully 41% of African Americans say they or a family member have lost a job, or not gotten a job, because an employer hired an illegal immigrant instead. That is nearly double the number of blacks nationally who say this (22%), and almost triple the number of Chicago-area whites (15%) who say an immigrant worker has cost them or a family member a job.

Nearly half of Chicago-area African Americans (46%) favor decreasing the level of legal immigration into the U.S. This percentage is significantly greater than the fraction of blacks nationally expressing this opinion (34%). On most other immigration issues, however, blacks in Chicago have attitudes similar to those of blacks in the national public. For instance, fewer than half (45%) think that illegal immigrants should be required to return home, which mirrors the opinions of blacks nationally (47%), and is a bit lower than the percentage of Chicago-area whites (54%) who favor requiring all illegal immigrants to leave the country.

Meanwhile, the Tribune has a story on the issue’s impact on Republicans and Topinka expresses concerns about today’s planned protests.

Also Sunday, while Topinka said she supports the right of demonstrators to participate in a massive Chicago march promoting immigration reform on Monday, she worries that emotions are clouding the debate.

“I hope I won’t see a lot of foreign flags floating around or versions of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ that are not in English because it just highlights the emotionalism of what is a very complicated problem,” she said. “That just aggravates it, makes it worse, and ultimately keeps people from coming together to come up with an answer.”

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 1, 06 @ 8:48 am

Comments

  1. If the state doesn’t start reimbursing the Chicago politicians who are working in Springfield for their room and board and travel expenses, there are going to be more people in Chicago looking for jobs!

    Rumor has it that one of the “big-wigs” at CMS is refusing to drive down to the capitol city to do his job until he is reimbursed for his expenses!

    Comment by Deepthroat Monday, May 1, 06 @ 8:57 am

  2. There are splits on the issue within both parties and across party lines.Hopefully there will be a compromise that secures the border and addresses the immigrants here in a sensible way. But it looks like the protests in the streers are being driven by the left and may be counterproductive:

    http://backyardconservative.blogspot.com/2006/04/anthem-angst-and-more.html

    Comment by Backyard Conservative Monday, May 1, 06 @ 9:01 am

  3. Well, if you are black/white, whatever and in need of a job, today is the day to apply.

    Comment by Wumpus Monday, May 1, 06 @ 10:16 am

  4. Mr. Wumpus,

    That was called ’scabbing’ at one time. I think that it still is; ‘taking another’s job due to strike, walk-out, wage-leverage or whatever.

    Comment by Pat Hickey Monday, May 1, 06 @ 12:01 pm

  5. Check out this blog post

    Comment by Levois Monday, May 1, 06 @ 6:27 pm

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