When it comes to skills, immigrants have the right stuff

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As the Trump administration launches its nationwide immigration crackdown, questions persist about its impact on the American labor market. High-skilled workers are often viewed as more essential, but the low-skilled workers most affected by mass deportations also play critical roles in various U.S. employment sectors. While they may not drive innovation directly, low-skilled workers perform essential tasks in service, agriculture and construction, among other industries.

Watch the video above as Straight Arrow News contributor Ruben Navarrette shares personal reflections on his life and the lives of others as over-educated “skilled” workers. He argues that the roles of “low-skilled” workers must not be overlooked, and contends that, in some cases, it’s the over-educated, highly-skilled workers that can harm American society.

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The following is an excerpt from the above video:

The same goes for people who are thought to be “skilled.” Some of the most skilled people I’ve ever seen aren’t software engineers or computer programmers. They’re farm workers. These essential workers can clear a row of lettuce or asparagus at lightning speed. I’ve seen, with my own eyes, avocado pickers gently pluck the fruit off branches, leaning backward because avocado trees are planted on a slope, all while standing on ladders 12 feet off the ground. Come on, let’s see a Harvard graduate do that! Here’s one Harvard graduate who wouldn’t last 30 minutes in the fields where, from the 1920s to the 1960s, my hard working grandparents were considered rock stars.

This all comes to mind when I hear people claim that the U.S. immigration system admits the wrong people. “We need to bring in high skilled immigrants,” they say, “you know, smart people with Ph.Ds.” Bring us more of those. This crowd wants to make getting into America like getting into the Ivy League. Sure, good plan. What could possibly go wrong with that approach?