In a striking divergence from Vice President Kamala Harris’s current pro-immigration stance, her father, economist Donald Harris, warned against mass immigration decades ago. In a 1988 economic treatise co-authored with fellow economists, he raised concerns that a large influx of low-skilled labor posed a “serious problem” for African Americans competing in the job market.
Titled Black Economic Progress: An Agenda for the 1990s, the book argues that policies encouraging mass immigration of low-skilled workers threaten the economic stability of marginalized groups, particularly Black Americans. Harris, now 86 and an emeritus professor at Stanford University, warned that the U.S. job market was becoming increasingly hostile toward low-skilled workers due to shifts in international trade and modifications in immigration law.
“Trends in international trade have moved against U.S. workers,” he wrote, adding that the surge of low-skilled labor driven by changing immigration laws “compete[s] with native-born youths and low-skilled adult workers for low-skilled jobs.”
Harris’s position highlights an ideological gap between his perspective and that of his daughter, who advocates a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Kamala Harris has taken a progressive stance on immigration throughout her political career, most recently through her role as Vice President. Shortly after taking office in 2021, the Biden-Harris administration introduced the U.S. Citizenship Act, which aimed to grant legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Critics argue that such policies ignore the economic impact on Black Americans, who, according to Donald Harris, remain disproportionately affected by competition for low-wage jobs.
Black GOP political consultant Shermichael Singleton echoed Donald Harris’s concerns in an interview with the New York Post, saying, “The influx of illegal immigrants and thus low-skilled labor advocated by Harris and other Democrats exacerbates inequalities by driving down wages and creating competition among those already marginalized, particularly Black Americans.” Singleton argued that focusing on the economic welfare of native-born citizens—especially those facing historical injustices—should be a priority.
Vice President Harris’s immigration stance has drawn criticism not only from political consultants like Singleton but also from various state officials. Republican-led states, spearheaded by Texas, recently filed a lawsuit challenging a policy known as “parole in place,” which enables undocumented immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens to stay in the country and apply for green cards. The lawsuit argues that the policy undermines Congressional authority and incentivizes illegal immigration for “political purposes,” while sidestepping legislative oversight.
The lawsuit claims that the program creates a de facto path to citizenship without due legislative process, harming state resources and creating a burden on taxpayers. The program, which began this month, allows the spouses of U.S. citizens who meet specific conditions—such as having lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years and having no criminal record—to apply for legal residence. The administration has pledged to defend the policy, calling the Republican response a “political attack” on solutions to the immigration crisis.
Donald Harris’s critique of immigration policy is not new within progressive circles. In fact, other prominent left-wing figures, including Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, have also voiced concerns over mass immigration’s impact on workers. During a 2015 interview, Sanders remarked that “open borders” would impoverish American workers, calling the notion a “Koch brothers proposal” that would drive down wages and undercut labor standards. The alignment of Harris’s 1988 views with those of Sanders underscores a once-popular position among left-leaning economists, who argued that large-scale immigration could be economically detrimental to marginalized workers in the U.S.
However, the Biden-Harris administration’s policies represent a more recent shift within the Democratic Party, moving toward an immigration stance that favors pathways to citizenship and increased inclusivity for undocumented workers. The administration’s approach to immigration reform, marked by policies like the U.S. Citizenship Act and “parole in place,” faces mounting scrutiny from those who argue that such policies are both economically harmful and politically motivated.
Further criticism comes from former Border Patrol Union chief Brandon Judd, who commented on Harris’s performance since being tasked by President Biden with addressing the root causes of immigration. Judd, who recently retired, stated that Harris “fell short” of expectations and ignored policies he claims would have effectively curbed illegal immigration. “We gave her the policies she needed to implement,” Judd said in an interview with Fox News, expressing disappointment that the administration has not done more to address the influx at the border.
As the 2024 election approaches, Harris’s immigration stance remains a focal point for critics who contend that the current administration has failed to address concerns related to the labor market, border security, and immigration reform. These critics argue that the Biden-Harris policies disproportionately impact Black Americans and other historically marginalized groups, who now face intensified job competition and wage suppression in certain industries.
The immigration debate surrounding Vice President Harris’s policies adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing discussions about economic inequality and immigration reform within the Democratic Party. While her administration pushes for pathways to citizenship and more inclusive immigration policies, figures like her father, Donald Harris, and others who have historically championed left-wing economics, continue to warn that the economic impacts on marginalized workers could be severe. This ideological divergence reflects a broader shift within the party, leaving some to question how progressive immigration policies align with goals of economic equity and protection for America’s most vulnerable workers.
In the end, Vice President Harris’s immigration stance not only sets her apart from her father’s past economic perspectives but also highlights the evolving nature of Democratic policy. As immigration continues to be a central issue in the 2024 election, the complex interplay between economic impact, social justice, and political strategy remains at the forefront, with both supporters and critics closely scrutinizing the Biden-Harris administration’s record on immigration.
