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The parent isn't casting blame on immigrants whatsoever. They're saying the data might unfairly paint an outlook because it isn't capturing the rich story.
If anything, I think the parent is being super delicate in handling this subject and is being respectful and tolerant.
It's also worth pointing out that "reading" here seemingly does involve English specifically and not English and Spanish or whatever other language(s) overall.
A massive influx of immigrants who likely don't speak English natively, regardless their legality, is inevitably going to cause a drop in English literacy rates unless it's controlled for and I think it's a question worth asking because the methodology isn't immediately obvious.
There is no may in that statement. There is no citation of anything. We are not talking about literacy rates, the podcast is about how reading is being taught in schools.
GP is poisoning the discussion using immigrants as a cudgel, there is nothing delicate here. What does immigration have to do with the science of teaching reading?
ESL requires a vastly different treatment. Different educators, different materials. You have to adapt to the students' needs.