Everyone’s heard this by now either as a joke or in complete sincerity: if the federal government began cracking down on illegal immigration, Americans might not be able to eat tacos anymore.
Now, that’s not the only insane mental leap the sign this man is holding takes. In addition to suggesting that America’s dietary options are at risk by securing the borders, the sign suggests that unemployment is unrelated to immigration — when it is.
Illegal immigration is unpopular with low-skilled native-born American laborers for the same reason many lower-class Southerners were actually frustrated with the institution of slavery during the Civil War. After all, it’s hard to compete with someone who is being forced to work for free on the labor market.
Obviously, illegal immigration affects the labor market a little bit differently, but the principle is the same. When scores of undocumented individuals are flooding into the country willing to work for less, this essentially prices out low-skilled Americans from the job pool.
This is precisely why Trump’s message connected so well with low-income Americans.
~ Facts Not Memes
