The New York Times concedes that mass immigration is “a core tenet of neoliberalism,” largely opposed by the nation’s working class, who are most impacted by the steady influx of foreign workers willing to accept lower wages.
“A core tenet of neoliberalism, once supported by both parties, is high immigration,” notes David Leonhardt of the Times in an article:
Along with the freer movement of goods and capital, neoliberalism calls for the freer movement of people … most voters, particularly working-class voters, feel differently. The high level of immigration during Biden’s presidency, much of it illegal, has become a political liability, and it nearly led to another piece of neopopulist legislation this year. [Emphasis added]
Thousands of migrants arrive in Ciudad Juarez by train from Chihuahua, intending to cross the Mexico-United States border in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on April 24, 2024. (Christian Torres/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Despite this populist resistance from working-class voters, President Joe Biden has increased the foreign-born population by 6.6 million — nearly two years of American births — since taking office in January 2021.
Last year, the Times similarly acknowledged that large influxes “of workers, including a recovery in immigration flows, have also deflated wage increases” for working-class Americans and “made it harder for people on the fringes of the labor market to secure stable jobs with decent pay.”
During Biden’s presidency, Heritage Foundation economist E.J. Antoni has studied the impact of mass immigration on wages and employment for native-born Americans. His research has demonstrated that while foreign workers have bounced back since the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of mostly working and lower-middle-class Americans have been sidelined in the labor market.
“Over the last 12 months, employment of native-born Americans has remained essentially flat, with all net employment growth going to foreign-born workers,” Antoni wrote earlier this month.
Over the last 12 months, employment of native-born Americans has been essentially flat, with all net employment growth going to foreign-born workers; it’s important to look at Y/Y changes w/ these categories b/c they’re not seasonally adjusted so the M/M change can be misleading: pic.twitter.com/ioNq0LcViW
— E.J. Antoni, Ph.D. (@RealEJAntoni) May 3, 2024
Additionally, mass immigration helps drive up housing costs — a setback for Americans looking to become first-time homeowners in highly competitive markets amid increasing demand.
Last year, the Times noted that rents and housing prices in Ontario, Canada, had recently spiked due to mass immigration, forcing native Canadians to compete for housing against an increasing number of immigrants.
