I run a construction biz down south and the open border is killing me and has been for about 15 years. I can’t compete with 25 guys living in one house, but to get to the question. Once a week now I get beat out of a $5000.00 job that they do for $2200.00 which would barely be my costs.
We pay taxes for border security and we are receiving the middle finger instead. Can a class action lawsuit be brought against the goverment for get this “not doing thier job, or more like racketeering charge they do with organized crime” lol. (I know it’s a long shot the way politicians cover thier azzes). There should be some room in there for negligence with ppl, cops being killed & business being damaged by illegal aliens. Arizona finally put thier national guard on the border and we are footing that bill also but it is worth it hopefully.
This is not a debate on whether illegal immigration is wrong because it is, but about how to solve it.
For one thing, it is just as illegal to employ an “undocumented foreign national” as it is to cross the border illegally, so your potential employer has to share the blame.
For another thing, you can’t blame the border for the fact that your competitors cut costs to that degree. If you were willing to share a house with 25 guys, and eat what they eat, and go without the insurance they go without, perhaps you could cut your costs to their level. Their frugality and their illegality are two separate issues. I’m not saying you should do that, of course.
As far as how to solve it: I take it you aren’t talking about immigration in general, but specifically Mexican immigration to the U.S. for economic reasons. A lot of that will have to be internal changes in Mexican society, about which we can do nothing. In my opinion, step one would be to make it easier to get a work visa for the U.S. Right now, both illegal and employer are functioning in a black market economy, with no taxes and no regulations. If we try to attack that aspect, rather than the immigration itself, at least the competition will be fairer.
Oh, and just for fun, have a look at history for a minute — once upon a time, a whole bunch of Americans started immigrating into parts of Mexico. Just sayin’.
I don’t think that’s entirely true. US trade policy is one of the things that strongly impact Mexican society. For example, the free trade agreement we put into place with Mexico over ten years ago, which eliminated Mexican tariffs on cheap US agricultural products, is one of the reasons that so many Mexican farmers have seen their incomes drop and have joined the illegal-immigrant workforce in the US.
As far as short-term practical solutions go, though, I agree with you that the best strategy is probably increased enforcement against those who illegally employ illegal immigrants. The vast majority of illegal immigrants come over the border for work, and if they can’t get work, they’ll stop coming. Or if we make it easier to get legal work visas, as you suggest, they’ll come legally and be easier to document.
Of course, that will also mean lower profits and higher prices in the businesses that currently depend on ultra-low-wage illegal immigrants. That’s the trade-off.
And, of course, there is the question of if they are operating according to building code, if they are, in fact, hiring illegals, and if they are following appropriate OSHA safety standards. God above knows there are enough regulatory agencies. If they are cutting corners as you say, then how can they survive inspections?
You are correct it is illegal to employ illegal aliens but if you dont enforce it then it’s just another crime that is ignored. I am looking for some advice here from a lawyer with some experience on this becuase I am fed up with paying for something that I am not receiving.
E-Sabbath, I don’t recall saying anything about them cutting corners but I do know that the cost savings comes from the labor. These are good ppl and some do good work and I am not knocking them, if I was in thier position I would most likely do the same thing but they are lowering my standard of living drastically and it’s bs not to mention that I dont want to be buying an armored car in the near future to go to the grocery store like in mexico city. I dont care for that lifestyle with flies all over my food to be perfectly honest with you. Been there seen it with my own eyes.
Lawyer here. You don’t have a case. You can’t sue the government for not doing its job to your satisfaction. In fact, generally speaking, you can’t sue the government at all – that’s called “sovereign immunity.” It has been waived by statute in some respects, e.g., the Federal Tort Claims Act and analogous state statutes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_immunity#In_the_United_States But never with respect to the kind of government inaction you’re complaining about. That can be addressed only at the ballot box.
My point. Different times. Mexican immigrants cannot “filibuster” the Southwest the way the Yanks did back then. The established non-Mexican population is too large.
Gotcha. You are just saying the **theft ** of Texas by the USA doesn’t apply to today.
**Theft ** is my word, I don’t even disagree with it, but it is what I feel the US did. I actually will go the step further and wish we had grabbed al of Mexico way back then.
I think both the USA and Mexicans would have been better off if todays Mexico was instead several additional US states for the last 100 years or so.
Just for clarification — I was referring to what was then Mexico. But I certainly do not think that Mexico will (or should) re-annex the Southwest. I’m just amused by the irony that we complain about illegal immigration in a region that is American largely because of an American immigrant presence.
It’s something of a false parallel, though, because of the enormous changes in the region itself, the two countries that have been sovereign over it, the intervening centuries, and the process of immigrating to another country. But if you ignore the complications, it’s kind of funny.
Of course the problem is that the incoming workers are illegal. If they had legal rights, they could bring action in court to be paid as Americans are.
I am assuming that believe your competitors are able to undercut you by employing illegal immigrants and thus reduce their costs. If so, why the issue of sueing the government. If you are correct then they are able to undercut you by following illegal and unethical business practices.
You would report them if you believed they cut their costs by scamming out of inspections or using shoddy materials wouldn’t you? Report them for this.
Thanks for the ecucation, I figured as much about sueing but funny how you pay money for a service and you dont get it and cant do anything about it because voting is a joke. It is either crook A or crook B.
It seems lots of you folks aren’t from around here because you just don’t get it with all due respect. The reason they are underbidding me is because of the labor costs, another words they will work all day until dark, on weekends and holidays for half of what an american will do it for. No overtime no nothing. This puts a serious hurting on a man with a family and kids trying to pay the bills not to mention trying to save any $.
Well, that’s kind of the idea of a capatalist society. They’re willing to do the work you do for cheaper, so they’re going to get chosen. Understandably you’re pissed off, but that’s how things work even if the opposing workers aren’t illegal immigrants.
I think his point is they are working illegally low wage. You know as in less than Minimum wage and not following OSHA standards.
That is unfair trade for taxpayer.
To compete he will have to break the law and also higher illegals.
He wants and expects his governments to keep the playing field relatively level.
Yes, that’s the read I had on it as well. So once again, if Taxpayer is aware of illegal activity then there exists a ready-made responce. It’s illegal. Report it.