I can search for stats if necessary, but “illegal resident” does not equal “under-the-table employee.” Many people work in taxed jobs by presenting fake documents, or by working for employers who never ask them for documents to prove their legal status.
I’m a U.S. citizen, and I’ve worked for more than one small business that didn’t realize they were supposed to ask me for proof of my ability to be employed legallly in the U.S. I just told them I was born in the U.S., and I have no accent, so they took my word for it. Stupid, but true.
Many illegal workers do obtain fraudulent documents in order to obtain work. However, by claiming the max dependants, they can get away from paying any income tax anyway. Although they would still be stuck with paying payroll taxes, unless they are bold enough to try to get the EITC, in which case they would not even pay any payroll tax.
Also true. But a person working for cash also does not pay payroll taxes.
France used to rely essentially on ius soli, but during the 90’s the requirments for citizenship (and more generally for immigration) became more stringent. So, now a children born on french soil isn’t any more automatically a french citizen (I believe s/he must live a given number of year in France and must actually ask for citizenship when he reach adulthood, instead of becoming a citizen unwillingly). Supposedly, pregnant women from north africa used to cross the mediterranean sea in order to give birth in France. I doubt there was many people doing that, but having a child was certainly a way for illegal immigrants to get a right of residency, as parents of a french citizen.
OTOH, I believe that Germany has changed its laws, and that it’s now much easier for a person living in Germany and not of german descent to become a german citizen.
Hah, didn’t know that, clairobscur. Sounds like French and Dutch law are quite alike at this point. You’re right that Germany is busy changing the laws, but I thought that the change was halted at the last minute. But as I said, I didn’t bother to check the precise facts for other countries (gasp!).
Just a footnote about this. I talked to my sister today and she says any memory I have abour her being hassled about dual citizenship or being asked to choose one over the other is false. She is a dual citizen of the U.K. and the U.S. She did say that the laws in the U.K. have since changed so that birth in the U.K. no longer automatically bestows citizenship.