Trump Repeats Claim That Undocumented Immigrants Are Taking Jobs from Black Americans in Debate

During Tuesday’s (Sept. 10) presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, former President Donald Trump once again claimed that undocumented immigrants are taking jobs that belong to African Americans and Hispanics. Trump made this statement while answering a question about the U.S. economy, quickly shifting the topic to immigration.

“They’re coming in and they’re taking jobs that are occupied right now by African Americans and Hispanics,” Trump said early in the debate. His comments sparked reactions on social media, with many criticizing his repeated use of this idea.

One person on X (formerly Twitter) commented, “Here he goes with the ‘Black jobs’ again,” while another said, “Now they’re ‘African American jobs’ instead of ‘Black jobs.’” Others joined in, mocking Trump’s change in wording.

When debate co-host David Muir of ABC’s World News Tonight asked directly about immigration, Trump defended his plan to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants, calling them “criminals” and “terrorists.” He blamed the Biden administration for allowing dangerous people into the country.

“They allowed criminals, millions of them, to come into our country,” Trump said. He even claimed that countries like Venezuela had reduced their crime rates by sending their criminals to the U.S., calling it “one of the greatest mistakes in history.”

Muir pushed back, reminding Trump that FBI data shows crime in the U.S. has actually gone down, not up. Vice President Kamala Harris responded by pointing out Trump’s own legal problems.

“It’s rich coming from someone who has been prosecuted for national security crimes, economic crimes, election interference, and found liable for sexual assault,” Harris said. She called for moving away from Trump’s “tired rhetoric” and focusing on real solutions.

Other topics during the debate included women’s rights, race, the war in Ukraine, healthcare, climate change, and foreign policy. As the election draws closer, the differences between Trump and Harris on these key issues remain clear. Both candidates are working hard to win over voters.