The growing political power of African and Caribbean immigrants in the United States

Chidinma Irene Nwoye for Quartz reports on the growing political power of Black immigrants:

“When it comes to the polls, black African and Caribbean immigrants in the United States are becoming a force to reckon with owing to a fast-growing population.

Between 2010 and 2018, the number of African and Caribbean immigrants in the U.S. rose by 30% to 4.3 million people from 3.3 million, according to a recent report from the bipartisan research group, New American Economy. Their growth has consequently led to more eligible Black immigrant voters. Although the more than 2.3 million eligible black immigrant voters make up the smallest share of the immigrant electorate included in this Pew Research Center analysis, their numbers have grown to 10% in 2018 from 7% in 2000. Overall in 2020, one in 10 eligible US voters will be a naturalized citizen.

This growth spells potential for more political influence, but it’s not clear Black immigrants are aware of their potential political power even as some find themselves in the crosshairs of  two of the most fraught political topics of US politics in the Trump era: race and immigration.”

KJ