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As someone who's worked with undocumented...

Posted by Racer on April 23, 2006, at 20:58:34

In reply to Re: Immigration » Dinah, posted by Bobby on April 21, 2006, at 17:35:36

I've spent a lot of time in places that historically have hired undocumented aliens -- stables. When I was a kid, the INS would sweep through fairly regularly and deport the guys working at the barn -- who would usually be back in a few weeks. As laws have changed, how it works out changed, too. Now most of them use fraudulent Social Security Numbers, which they seem to share around, as far as I can make out. One guy will use a number, then when he moves on, he'll give the card to someone else.

It's a tough question, and I am glad I don't have to answer it.

I do know that the work involved is not something it would be easy to find Americans to do. Who wants to clean a stall for $10 per hour? Especially when there are SO many of them? Who would reliably show up and clean stalls every day? And most barns actually provide housing for the guys working there, which is rarely up to the standards most Americans are looking for. (Although I have seen some mighty nice little cottages being built around here now at some new barns.) And barns are generally doing well to break even, so it's not like wages can go up very far.

So, when I look at the guys who've worked at the barns where I've been, they work hard, they are reliable (mostly), and they're necessary. And usually illegal. (Employment laws here, though, have changed: if they're not being paid entirely under the table, they have to have an SSN, so most do have one -- just, not their own...)

Maybe the answer is temporary work visas? Good maybe three years at a time?

I don't know. As I said, I'm really glad I don't have to work it out myself...


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