UAW President Dismisses Immigration Concerns

United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain has downplayed worries regarding mass immigration, particularly the influx of illegal immigrants at the southern border, asserting that they are not "invading our nation." His comments reflect a significant shift in the stance of labor unions on immigration policy, which has evolved since the mid-1990s. By 2006, the foreign-born population constituted 12.1% of the U.S. population and nearly 15% of the labor force, while union membership continued to decline, falling to just 12% of the employed nonagricultural workforce. Experts have noted that while mass immigration is not the sole reason for the decrease in union membership, it plays a crucial role. In 2006, it was estimated that around 12 million illegal immigrants were in the U.S., with approximately 7.4 million working illegally. Research indicates a correlation between lower foreign-born populations and higher union membership, suggesting that as immigration levels rise, union participation tends to fall. Since the 1965 policy changes that renewed mass immigration, the foreign-born population has surged by 231%, while union membership has decreased by 10%. Economic libertarians argue that high immigration levels undermine labor unions' bargaining power, as immigrants typically show less interest in unionization and contribute to workforce diversity, which can weaken worker solidarity. As the foreign-born population is projected to exceed 82 million by 2040, the implications for labor unions and their membership remain a pressing concern in the ongoing debate over immigration policy in the United States.