Vanderbilt University Professor Charges Black Leadership With Ignoring Illegal Immigration and Its Harm to African Americans

Carol Swain, professor at the Vanderbilt University law school, is calling for black leaders to take a stronger stand against illegal immigration. In a new book entitled Debating Immigration, which she edited and to which she made contributions, Professor Swain asserts that African Americans are losing more jobs to illegal immigrants than are other ethnic groups. The influx of illegal immigrants, according to Swain, damages low-income African Americans’ ability to secure jobs and also to attain quality housing, education, and health care.

Swain writes that the Congressional Black Caucus has virtually ignored the issue of illegal immigration. She notes that many African-American representatives in Congress have a large number of Hispanic constituents and do not want to stir up political opposition in their districts.