Black American Leadership Alliance Issues Open Letter to Congressman Paul Ryan Opposing Immigration Amnesty

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Aug 06, 2013, 01:33 ET

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, August 6th the Black American Leadership Alliance (BALA) issued an open letter to Congressman Paul Ryan, Republican Chairman of the House Budget Committee. The letter, signed by members of the Black American Leadership Alliance expresses the organization's concern over the possible path immigration reform may take in the House. The open letter outlined the disastrous effects that passage of an amnesty bill or any similar House bill granting amnesty to illegal immigrants would have on the availability of jobs for black Americans and other low skilled laborers.

The letter calls upon the Congressman to protect black labor by opposing amnesty and halting all efforts to double legal immigration levels. Recently issued statistics indicate that African American unemployment is over 12%, nearly double the national average. By legalizing and providing work authorization to nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants, passage of an amnesty or any similar plan would only exacerbate the plight of lower income Americans of all ethnic backgrounds.

A number of studies have emerged which indicate that black workers will suffer the greatest harm if any far-reaching amnesty bill becomes law. "We are asking Congressman Ryan to oppose the passage of an amnesty bill for illegal immigrants, because of the dramatic effect it will have on the availability of employment for African American workers," said Frank Morris, Alliance leader and former Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. "Increasing immigration levels through amnesty and new visa programs, particularly at the low skilled level, will flood the labor market with millions more people, leading to higher unemployment, more poverty, and a lower standard of living for many in the black community."

SOURCE Black American Leadership Alliance