Crack down on Employers who Hire Illegals

[Gravitymaster 0]

I have been critical of the Obama Admin in the past for what I felt was it's lax attitude in dealing with illegal immigrants. I am very happy to see they are finally going after companies that hire illegals.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/15/news/economy/immigration_ice_audits/index.htm?section=money_smbusiness&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fmagazines_fsb+%28FSB+Magazine%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Credit where credit is due in this case. Perhaps as the economy worsens, Americans will be more willing to do some of the jobs they didn't want to do in the past. I am a bit disappointed they are not going after employers in the construction industry at this time. I think that represents a very large part of the problem.

[wmw999 2,541]

Americans have to be willing to pay the increased prices for goods made by other Americans. So far, they aren't; many can't afford to these days.

We expect an extremely high standard of living, and our "get it done without any direct pain" mentality (like the Iraq War was tried for awhile) doesn't help.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Gravitymaster 0]

If that's the result of enforcing the laws then so be it. I wouldn't condone someone robbing a bank in a poor neighborhood just because they threw half the money in the air as they made their escape.

[wmw999 2,541]

I agree with you. Of course, we both can afford it, too. Others can't. Many people vote with their wallets. Until the cost of illegal immigrant labor is greater than the cost of citizen and legal immigrant labor, people are going to want the illegal immigrant situation fixed at no cost to themselves.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

I agree with you. Of course, we both can afford it, too. Others can't. Many people vote with their wallets. Until the cost of illegal immigrant labor is greater than the cost of citizen and legal immigrant labor, people are going to want the illegal immigrant situation fixed at no cost to themselves.

Wendy P.

I think the true costs are often hidden. As an example, where I live, we used to have a lot of remodeling contractors who hired illegals. Because these illegals didn't have Social Security Accounts, they were paid daily with cash and no taxes taken out. Obviously, the workers aren't paying Federal Income taxes, nor are they paying payroll taxes, nor SS tax either.

Because these contractors operating expenses were much lower, they were also stealing business from licensed contractors who couldn't afford to compete with them because they have to pay a decent wage to get experienced people. They are also forced to lay-off tax paying workers and pay increasing unemployment insurance. So it's a double whammy for the local economy and tax base. When you add to that the fact that much of the money paid to the illegals leaves the local economy because they can't afford to live in the areas they work in and are often "bused-in" the problem begins to mushroom. That means less money spent at local grocery stores, restaurants etc. So, the true costs are actually much higher than it seems.

[Bolas 5]

The true costs are hidden. That's why we have the issue.

It's a combo of short term thinking and the fundamental flaw of accounting's inability to track indirect costs.

Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting
If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh.

[DiverMike 5]

Illegal workers are bad when they 'steal' jobs, but what about jobs that are below minimum wage? Do we make eveybody pay $5.00 a pound for tomatoes so the tomato pickers get paid minimum wage? The socially correct anwer is 'Yes', but good luck with that.

For the same reason I jump off a perfectly good diving board.

[Bolas 5]

Quote

Illegal workers are bad when they 'steal' jobs, but what about jobs that are below minimum wage? Do we make eveybody pay $5.00 a pound for tomatoes so the tomato pickers get paid minimum wage? The socially correct anwer is 'Yes', but good luck with that.

It's the hard task of convincing people that those "cheap" tomatoes they get are actually costing them $6 a pound once everything is factored in.

Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting
If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh.

[masterrig 1]

I've noticed a sharp increase in the price of groceries, meat, produce & etc. since fuel prices have greatly increased. As for illegal farm workers keeping food costs down, I can't agree with that. In the area where I live, there are several huge greenhouses where tomatoes are grown. All the help is brought in on a daily basis from Mexico in vans. These folks are paid minnimum wage, yet, the price of tomatoes keeps going up. This is due to the chemicals used, insecticides, the 'special' material the plants are grown in, shipping costs and etc. All those costs increase over time and in the end, it's the consumer who pays.


chuck

[DiverMike 5]

Do the folks brought in have social security numbers and do they pay all applicable payroll taxes? If they are paid in cash, they would have to be paid between 30-40% more by check to get the same take home pay and that would be added to the cost of the tomato.

For the same reason I jump off a perfectly good diving board.

[Gravitymaster 0]

I think those workers you are talking about are likely legal migrant workers. Companies hiring illegals generally don't like to file w-2 forms or ask too many questions etc. They are breaking the law and don't want to get caught by leaving a paper trail.

[idrankwhat 0]

Quote

I have been critical of the Obama Admin in the past for what I felt was it's lax attitude in dealing with illegal immigrants. I am very happy to see they are finally going after companies that hire illegals.

Actually he hasn't been lax. The "liberal" "news" media just thinks that other things, like Palin sightings and pecker tweets, are more important.
From a year ago:
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=128826285

[kallend 2,106]

Quote

Quote

I have been critical of the Obama Admin in the past for what I felt was it's lax attitude in dealing with illegal immigrants. I am very happy to see they are finally going after companies that hire illegals.

Actually he hasn't been lax. The "liberal" "news" media just thinks that other things, like Palin sightings and pecker tweets, are more important.
From a year ago:
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=128826285

Right:

www.care2.com/causes/human-rights/blog/70-increase-in-deportations-during-obama-administration/

Certainly much more aggressive against illegals than Bush.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[masterrig 1]

Yes, they do have all the 'proper' paperwork, are paid by check (try getting into the local bank at noon on the 15th. and 30th. of the month) taxes are taken out as well as Social Security.


Chuck

[mnealtx 0]

Quote

Certainly much more aggressive against illegals than Bush.

Misleading article - removals have increased every year since 2007.

Removals per ICE records:

2007: 291060
2008: 369221 (+26.8%)
2009: 389834 (+5.5%)
2010: 392862 (+0.7%)
2011 YTD: 243821 (4 months left)

4 months left for reporting - if they keep the YTD average they'll be at 93% of 2010 levels.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[masterrig 1]

I was attempting to point-out some of the causes for high prices for vegetables. With those growers paying cash to illegals, leaves things wide-open for the 'middle man' to make his profit. The way I see it, there are laws on the books (have been for decades) to penalize those hiring illegals. I feel strongly, these laws should be enforced. We have and will, pay top dollar regardless.


Chuck

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

Quote

Certainly much more aggressive against illegals than Bush.

Misleading article - removals have increased every year since 2007.

Removals per ICE records:

2007: 291060
2008: 369221 (+26.8%)
2009: 389834 (+5.5%)
2010: 392862 (+0.7%)
2011 YTD: 243821 (4 months left)

4 months left for reporting - if they keep the YTD average they'll be at 93% of 2010 levels.

I think the important thing to note is that something is being done. Obviously, the Bush Admin. got the ball rolling and Obama kept it going. It does take some time to get the proper infrastructure in place to deal with this problem such as hiring enough agents etc. to get the job done.

Again, props to Obama. He's doing the right thing on this issue.

[mnealtx 0]

Agreed.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[masterrig 1]

I have to agree. Someone is actually seeing to it that these laws are being enforced. Up till now, they've pretty much been either ignored or tippy-toed around.


Chuck

[idrankwhat 0]

Quote

I have to agree. Someone is actually seeing to it that these laws are being enforced. Up till now, they've pretty much been either ignored or tippy-toed around.


Chuck

So, "Obama did it first"?

I guess he owes beer.

[mnealtx 0]

ICE has a memo out on the 17th about prosecutorial discretion.

Among the factors that ICE states should positively affect clemency are length of time spent in the US, whether education is being pursued and if the suspect or an immediate family member is a veteran of the military.

So, they're going to go after the illegals being hired by construction companies, but give a pass to the ones that have been here long enough to get schooling or had a legal relative in the military?

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[masterrig 1]

Quote

Quote

I have to agree. Someone is actually seeing to it that these laws are being enforced. Up till now, they've pretty much been either ignored or tippy-toed around.


Chuck

So, "Obama did it first"?

I guess he owes beer.

CASE O' BEER!!!


Chuck

[masterrig 1]

I rad the pages you supplied and all I can say is... 'How weak' Not very strict and too much 'wiggle room'.


Chuck

[DanG 1]

They're going after the ones taking good jobs from American workers and are being more lenient to the ones contributing to the country either economically or through military service. What's wrong with that?

- Dan G

[mnealtx 0]

Quote

They're going after the ones taking good jobs from American workers and are being more lenient to the ones contributing to the country either economically or through military service. What's wrong with that?

Other than the fact that they're *still* illegals?

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706