Former President Donald Trump reiterated his unfounded assertion on Saturday that undocumented migrants are entering the country illegally and displacing Black Americans from their jobs. Speaking at a rally in Gastonia, North Carolina, Trump claimed that migrants were taking away jobs from African Americans who had been employed for decades.
Trump's remarks continued on Fox News, where he alleged that Black individuals who had been working diligently for years were being terminated and replaced by undocumented immigrants. This narrative has been a recurring theme in Trump's rhetoric, as he has consistently argued that unauthorized migrants are responsible for the high unemployment rates among Black and Hispanic Americans.
Contrary to Trump's claims, the Black or African American unemployment rate actually decreased to 5.7% in September. This figure is only slightly higher than the lowest rate during Trump's presidency, which stood at 5.3% in 2019. Moreover, the September 2021 rate is lower than the pre-pandemic level of 6.1% recorded in February 2020, also under Trump's administration.
It is important to note that Trump's assertions regarding migrants taking jobs from Black Americans lack factual basis and do not align with the current economic data. The narrative perpetuated by Trump serves to stoke unfounded fears and divisions rather than accurately reflecting the realities of the labor market.
