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To the Editor:

I wanted to offer some questions I had after reading the paper. I just moved into my first apartment here the other day, so consider me a fresh set of eyes.

So, the mayor discusses 3 issues that don’t fit together, policy-wise. He discusses creating jobs (and economic development) for residents of Somerville, creating more affordable housing, and supporting illegal immigrants politically.

Here’s where I’m confused: the front page article emphasizes jobs like construction, which is low-skill, high-wage. If Somerville successfully executes ‘sanctuary city’ policies, then low-skill illegal immigrants will be competing with US citizens for these construction and other low-skill jobs, adding to what this week’s paper presents as a current oversupply of labor.

In addition, because low-skill illegal immigrants are very likely poorer than the average Somerville resident, they will disproportionately make use of new affordable housing, further enlarging local demand for scarce affordable housing.

If US citizens in Somerville lack jobs and affordable housing, doesn’t it make sense to make sure they are economically secure before inviting non-citizen illegals to compete for these same resources and opportunities? Otherwise, illegal immigrants benefit at the expense of US citizens who may be in similarly difficult economic circumstances. I think this dynamic is what motivates the Trump administration’s executive order.

That is not to ignore the difficulties that some illegal immigrants face which motivates them to come to places like Somerville. Rather, my question is about the mayor’s priorities because making illegal immigrants a top priority is–in two concrete policy areas, by the laws of economics–to deprioritize the needs of the legal residents of Somerville (including legal immigrants).

Sincerely,

Alexander Marks-Katz
Somerville