The True Cost of Illegal Immigration
Advocates for illegal aliens like to pretend that illegal immigration doesn't affect the economy or job market in any negative ways. If you listen to them, they will go on about what terrific workers illegal aliens are, how we need their labor, and my favorite, how they do the jobs "American don't want". If you're one of the people who drank the Kool Aid, I would encourage you to read the article linked below. It will definitely open your eyes.
In the article, reporters from the Providence Journal carefully reviewed the details of all the cleaning contracts awarded by the State of Rhode Island, and the companies who bid. Their research shows that Falcon Maintenance Company was often the lowest because their salaries were half of what other companies were paying their janitors, and they didn't pay workers compensation or FICA. They also claimed that they were only making a $100 profit per year on some jobs. This fact alone should have caught the attention of someone who works for the State.
Now, let's think about this for a moment. Falcon received state contracts, which means other companies did not. They received these contracts by paying low wages and evading taxes. Many of their employees are illegal aliens who accepted working under these conditions because they had few other options. Now, let's pretend that there were no illegal aliens to hire. That would mean that in order to find employees, they would have to pay the going rate (along with FICA and worker's compensation). That would mean that honest companies would have been able to have a fair shot at winning a contract and providing a livelihood for their employees. Unfortunately, they lose contracts, they may have had to let employees go, who will then be left with fewer options in the job market.
I'm glad the owner of Falcon Maintenance agreed to plead guilty, but I'm not thrilled with the possible sentence: $3,000 per illegal worker and up to 6 months in jail. I would like to see business owners face substantially more jail time and larger fines. By using illegal labor, business owners are gaining an unfair advantage that harms honest business owners and their legal workers. In order to fight illegal immigration, we must not only deport illegal aliens, we must impose tough sentences on the employers who hire them.
http://www.projo.com/news/content/FALCON_CONTRACTS_10-17-08_SABV9BG_v16.3c6f24f.html
In the article, reporters from the Providence Journal carefully reviewed the details of all the cleaning contracts awarded by the State of Rhode Island, and the companies who bid. Their research shows that Falcon Maintenance Company was often the lowest because their salaries were half of what other companies were paying their janitors, and they didn't pay workers compensation or FICA. They also claimed that they were only making a $100 profit per year on some jobs. This fact alone should have caught the attention of someone who works for the State.
Now, let's think about this for a moment. Falcon received state contracts, which means other companies did not. They received these contracts by paying low wages and evading taxes. Many of their employees are illegal aliens who accepted working under these conditions because they had few other options. Now, let's pretend that there were no illegal aliens to hire. That would mean that in order to find employees, they would have to pay the going rate (along with FICA and worker's compensation). That would mean that honest companies would have been able to have a fair shot at winning a contract and providing a livelihood for their employees. Unfortunately, they lose contracts, they may have had to let employees go, who will then be left with fewer options in the job market.
I'm glad the owner of Falcon Maintenance agreed to plead guilty, but I'm not thrilled with the possible sentence: $3,000 per illegal worker and up to 6 months in jail. I would like to see business owners face substantially more jail time and larger fines. By using illegal labor, business owners are gaining an unfair advantage that harms honest business owners and their legal workers. In order to fight illegal immigration, we must not only deport illegal aliens, we must impose tough sentences on the employers who hire them.
http://www.projo.com/news/content/FALCON_CONTRACTS_10-17-08_SABV9BG_v16.3c6f24f.html
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