It is pointless to draw conclusions from one research study, even if it happens to be interesting. Nevertheless, immigration opponents will surely use a recently published study headed by Andrew Sum and colleagues from the Center for the Study of Labor Market Issues at Northeastern University. Although Mr. Sum and his co-authors highlight several times the positive effects immigrants have on the job market, the data gathered in the report has the potential of becoming a dangerous weapon in the hands of those who not only oppose amnesty measures but even limited legalization of undocumented workers.

The study, based on figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows that in the period between 2001 and May 2004, more than 2 million new immigrants were able to find work. In the same period, about 1.3 million either native born or well established immigrant workers lost their jobs.

A majority of those who were able to find work were young men, 70 percent of them were younger than 35 and one fourth were younger than 25.

It may not come as a surprise that a substantial part of this group, 56 percent, are Mexicans and Central Americans while Asians comprise 21 percent and white and black immigrants respectively make up 18 and 5 percent.

Who was negatively affected in the labor force by this?

Two groups emerge as the bearers of most of the impact: first, uneducated young Americans and second, immigrants who have lived in this country for a considerable amount of time. The effect on better educated members of the middle class was not as noticeable although still felt to a certain degree.

Certainly the relatively high employment among recent immigrants is explained by the fact that many take jobs without high pay and certainly without health and other benefits. Many segments of the American economy such as meat processing and agriculture, could not have survived and grown without the help of new immigrants.

However, and this is a crucial point, even in the manufacturing field, which did not employ many immigrants in the past, in the last three years their numbers have significantly increased to the tune of 320,000 people, while at the same time the manufacturing field has cut 2.7 million positions and lowered wages for those still employed.

This report by the Center for the Study of Labor Market Issues requires serious examination, and whether we like it or not, on the surface, the report plays against mass immigration and immigration reform. If the employment situation does not change in the near future, enemies of immigration reform in Congress will have strong arguments to convince whoever is in the White House then, Republican George W. Bush or Democrat John Kerry.