Washington, D.C. (May 4, 2023) – As a think tank, the Center for Immigration Studies focuses on research and public education regarding America’s immigration policies. NumbersUSA, on the other hand, is a grassroots, citizen-action organization, which seeks to inform and mobilize voters to contact their representatives to share their opinions on immigration policy.
James Massa, the new CEO of NumbersUSA, joins us on this episode of
Parsing Immigration Policy to share his priorities and vision for the organization. He highlights NumbersUSA’s focus on legislation on Capitol Hill; one of its most important contributions to immigration reform efforts is its
congressional grade cards program, where all representatives and senators receive grades based on their voting and sponsorship history on immigration bills and amendments.
Massa plans for NumbersUSA to take a more active role on the state level, as well. Like the Center and others seeking better immigration enforcement, NumbersUSA has long made the case for mandatory E-Verify on the federal level. It is now organizing in multiple states, informing citizens and legislators about this free online tool offered by DHS that is vital to weakening the jobs magnet for illegal immigration.
Massa said the organization has also created a new initiative to engage with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), called
Back of the Hiring Line, inspired by the path-breaking book of that name by NumbersUSA’s founding president Roy Beck, which traces the detrimental impact of mass immigration on the employment and wealth of Black Americans.
A professional background in the high-tech industry has led Massa to explore ways to empower citizens to make their voices heard on the immigration issue, including an upcoming mobile app.
In his closing commentary, Mark Krikorian, host of the podcast and the Center’s Executive Director, draws listeners’ attention to the Center’s recent output, both in video and print, examining the scheduled May 11 lifting of the Title 42 pandemic expulsion orders, that have been used, albeit with decreasing frequency, by the Biden administration to maintain at least the appearance of some order at the border.
