Federal crackdown on illegal workers could cripple building, farming industries

[Apollo8138]

Since slipping across the Mexican border and making his way to Lake Worth, Ramiro has tried his hand at dry walling and yard work, and even spent a few months stooped over pepper plants as a harvester. But whatever the task at hand, there has been one constant during his 18 months of employment: His bosses have never asked to see identification.

"They never ask us for papers, in any job," said Ramiro, who asked to be identified by his first name only because of his illegal status. "Even if you give them a false document, they put you to work."

Conservative legislators are seeking to address this legal blind spot with tough new sanctions on employers who hire undocumented workers. But labor and industry groups worry that an undisciplined crackdown could jeopardize key sectors that depend on the immigrant work force.

A bill passed in the House of Representatives on Friday night drastically increases the penalties for employers found to have undocumented workers on their payrolls. The most sweeping provision of the bill would require that all employers in the country, more than 7 million, confirm the authenticity of employees' Social Security numbers against a national database of legitimate numbers or face stiff new fines of as much as $25,000 per violation.

While a Senate version of the bill likely will take a softer approach when it is considered in February, including a temporary worker plan, analysts characterized the House bill as an opening salvo, and Florida employers were quick to take note.

Flying low, and largely uncomplaining, about 8 million illegal immigrants currently work in the United States under employers who either neglect to verify their workers' immigration status or unquestioningly accept false documents. While the congressional debate focuses mainly on the Southwest, the impact of reform would be significant in Florida, home to an estimated 850,000 illegal immigrants, the third-largest number behind California and New York.

The workers do much of the heavy lifting in Florida's construction industry and pick much of the produce in Florida fields.

"Without some way to temporarily legalize that work force, this could have a devastating effect rather quickly," said Walter Kates, director of labor relations for the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association in Maitland.

While exact numbers are impossible to come by, Kates estimated up to 90 percent of the farm workers in some parts of Florida are here illegally, and he warned that prices would surge on everything from tomatoes to grapefruit to celery stalks if employers were cut off from that labor pool.

Those supporting tougher employer sanctions say it's high time employers were brought to task. Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants are deported every year, they say, while only a smattering of companies feels the heat. Supporters also hope to eliminate the "jobs magnet" that brings more than 500,000 immigrants scrambling across U.S. borders without documents every year.

Current law states that employers cannot knowingly hire illegal immigrants, but it stops short of enforcing the kinds of document checks that would put employers in the know. A pilot program run by the Department of Homeland Security helps employers to identify false documents, such as Social Security cards, but the checks are voluntary and rely on a database with a wide margin of error.

Not all workers tell the Social Security Administration when they get married and change their name, for example, which might prompt an alert. Other parts of the House bill called for tighter border security and extended federal immigration enforcement authority to local police.

"We think a lot of workers, including U.S. citizens, would lose their jobs, and that this would really disrupt the workplace," said Michelle Waslin, a spokeswoman for the National Council of La Raza civil rights group, which lobbied against the bill. "Employers would be fearful of hiring anyone who looks or sounds foreign."

Outside the agriculture sector, experts said, landscaping contractors, nurseries and restaurants could be hit with higher labor costs as they compete for a smaller group of potential employees. Representatives of the construction industry said they were already facing labor shortages after Florida was battered by several home-wrecking hurricanes this season, and fluctuations in the work force could easily push construction costs higher. That, in turn, could translate into higher prices for homes.

Edie Ousley, a spokeswoman for the Florida Home Builders Association, said the state's construction industry has 14,000 vacancies for roofers, electricians and other workers. She said the association is in favor of bolstering border security, but she referred to the employer verification push as "an aggressive mandate on employers in an unworkable time frame."

Other employers said they would support immigration reform that included a temporary worker program in line with a vague proposal by President Bush. The plan would bring more immigrants to the United States legally, collect taxes from them and track their crossings. Critics charge the plan amounts to a blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Greg Schell, managing attorney for the Migrant Farmworker Justice Project in Lake Worth, said regardless of what happens in coming weeks and months, employer sanctions signal an important shift in sentiment toward enforcement-heavy policies.

"This is not a good time to be an immigrant," he said. But, he added, "This is disastrous for employers. If the engine is deprived of fuel, the car grinds to a halt." :rolleyes:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...home-headlines

[Piggy]

There are prisons just full of able bodied people waiting to work. If they let those guys work under supervision, maybe they might learn something and be a little more useful to society.

[HeyCJ]

Hmm...let me see...paying a higher price for a tomato picked by an American Citizen or paying higher taxes to support the medical, educational, and infrastructure costs of illegals and their families (here and in Mexico)? Tough choice. :rolleyes:

I totally agree with holding employers responsible as well. Having been a contractor...I know what it's like to compete with employers out to make a buck at any cost.

It isn't just the wage that makes the difference. Though that's a big part of it. Remember, the employer who pays "under the table" doesn't contribute his portion of F.I.C.A., nor does have to maintain workmens comp, or pay the business taxes as such. And there are no subcontractor requirements (maintaing G.L Insurance) on illegals either. And that's just the beginning....

It's unethical. And where do you think the money saved (scammed) by the employers goes? Any guess?

Personally, I think illegals are far more detrimental to the American fabric than just the money issue. They're used as a crutch and a scapegoat and they are enabled for immediate gratification.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Send them back. Let them use their skills and energy back home, to build a strong country and change their government. We had too.

As for America...it'll balance out...and my guess is that there will be many American's appalled to find out how much they've been over charged by contractors and the IRS.

[cntryboy0531]

Oh well. I'd rather pay more for a product and rest assured a legal American was the person who built/produced/harvested it. My uncle is in construction and works hard. His job is threatened by undocumented workers who will work for half of what he does.

[MOCOP]

Just to throw it out there. The construction industry I'm not worried about, it will make the contractors pay a reasonable wage.

Agriculture on the other hand....We can speak noblely about being willing to pay greater prices for American picked tomatos and lettuce.But finding enough Americans to do what we used to call "stoop work" for any price is going to be a nightmare.

[HeyCJ]

Just to throw it out there. The construction industry I'm not worried about, it will make the contractors pay a reasonable wage.

Agriculture on the other hand....We can speak noblely about being willing to pay greater prices for American picked tomatos and lettuce.But finding enough Americans to do what we used to call "stoop work" for any price is going to be a nightmare.

Perhaps you're right, it may be difficult at first to find American's who are willing to do the "stoop work." Grant it, it can be back breaking. However, if the element of illegals are removed, then the agricultural industry and other industries will be left with a gap. From that gap comes creativity and self reliance. As the old adage goes...Necessity is the mother of invention.

[mobrien316]

I agree.

If (and this is a big "if") the supply of illegal immigrants willing to work for next to no pay and for no benefits were to dry up, there'd be an adjustment period and then we'd get over it.

How many billions are we spending each year in this country feeding, clothing, and providing health care for illegal immigrants who don't pay one cent in taxes? I'd be willing to pay more for a dozen red peppers in exchange for that.

[MOCOP]

We've tried it before in the 40's and early 50's. It was called Operation Wetback one of the largest roundups of illegals. Round em up send em back.

The result was the Bootstrap program that allowed Mexicans to come north during the growing and picking seasons. Just my gut feeling but thats where we'll end up again.

[HeyCJ]

We've tried it before in the 40's and early 50's. It was called Operation Wetback one of the largest roundups of illegals. Round em up send em back.

The result was the Bootstrap program that allowed Mexicans to come north during the growing and picking seasons. Just my gut feeling but thats where we'll end up again.

Thanks MOCOP. I was unaware of that. What a history lesson. While it does seem that history is repeating itself...Do you think that enough American's could stomach that kind of repatriation again? It seems to me, that as a whole, the US has become too reliant and enmeshed with illegal's that it would make it near impossible. :(

[MOCOP]

Thats the problem. The politicians who have picked this up as hot button issue now are the same ones who are going to be saying. OMG we have to help agribusiness 2 years down the road.

[HeyCJ]

Sometimes, as difficult as it is, a stand must be made AND kept. But I think the problem lies more in the lack of planning and foresight.

As I read this morning regarding the "wetback" situation, a chief complaint was that those coming up from Mexico and such were taking jobs away from those American's who were already doing the "stoop work."

Today, this problem has spilled over into other industries such as the construction industry, and it's bad. And it's taken a lot of jobs away from American's.

I think that penalizing companies for hiring illegal's (as Operation Wetback did), is only part of the solution. These employers are as much of the problem. However, today their political machine (lobbyists) have grown enormously and have a strong foot hold the in the halls of DC.

[MOCOP]

Don't get me wrong something needs to be done. I just don't trust politicians and the angles they work. I see a freakin agenda in everything they do.

IMO This agenda is a big round up deportation followed by an announcement of a Much needed guest worker program.

[HeyCJ]

Don't get me wrong something needs to be done. I just don't trust politicians and the angles they work. I see a freakin agenda in everything they do.

IMO This agenda is a big round up deportation followed by an announcement of a Much needed guest worker program.

I have my doubts about many of them as well, but everyone has an agenda.

On another note...there seems to be a strong and steady growth in the grass roots movement...to pick up where the politicians leave off or where they're to chicken to go.

[MOCOP]

Yeah there is a grass roots movement within a certain sector of society and the pol's are paying attention to it now. The thing is this. Once they are resecured in their offices and the lobbyists start byotchin. Well then money talks.

[HeyCJ]

Yes, history often repeats itself and politicians can be bought. But grass roots movements can also be successful...like the American Revolution for example.