I usually stay out of politics and religion on an internet site not devoted to them but since some may consider me an enabler I thought I would post a true story about my experiences:
I am a general contractor who has worked in this area for 24 years and has experienced the changes that have taken place in the labor pool in the construction industry. I don’t like having undocumented workers on my jobsites. None are on my payroll. Lately, in some of the semi-skilled trades (those that don’t require a license) that is about all that is available as the undocumented labor has forced the honest American workers, and honest legal aliens out of business.
The following is an example of the way it works in my neck of the woods: I contract with a nationally known company to furnish and install vinyl siding. They send out a crew. This crew is owned and managed by a legal alien who has seven crews with a mix of legal and mostly illegals that may or may not be replaced by other workers the next day. The nationally known company sends the owner of the siding company a IRS form 1099. That way they do not have to withhold taxes and Social Security. The legal alien boss sends each of his workers a 1099 so he doesn’t have to deduct taxes or Social Security. I asked one of the workers who could speak English one day about paying taxes. If the Postal Service or his employer hands him one, he throws his 1099 away. He said he didn’t pay taxes and was only mildly worried about getting caught. He could always skip back south and come back with a different name.
The honest guys can’t compete with this type of practice. That is why in recent years there are so few legals available to hire. The illegals, even if they are paid less, take home more money. This practice of abuse of 1099s is not new. It is only in recent years that it is to the level that something needs to be done.
There are other issues dealing with workers comp insurance, obtaining a drivers license, and ways to access our healthcare and social benefits but these are another topic.