Immigration issues make work harder to find, some say

[peejay 327]

Immigration issues make work harder to find, some say

By JENALIA MORENO

2007 Houston Chronicle

An increase in enforcement and uncertainty over immigration reform appear to be making it more difficult for Houston's illegal immigrants to find work, according to some workers and immigration attorneys.

"Work is scarce," said Pablito, a 47-year-old Mexican who was looking for work on Thursday at an East End day labor center. "Lately, the bosses are afraid to give us work."

Pablito, who refused to give his last name, said he's had trouble finding a job as politicians debate immigration reform and authorities crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants like him.

Lawyers who consult with businesses on immigration matters also have noticed the difficulty among illegal immigrants in finding work.

"We do sense that employers are more and more concerned, especially in the last six to nine months," said Elaine Morley, immigration attorney and chief executive officer of Houston-based Lookout Services, which sells companies software to electronically verify an applicant's employment eligibility.

Employers are worried because the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has stepped up its raids across the country, issuing hefty fines and imprisoning company executives, said Jacob Monty, an immigration attorney with Monty Partners, a Houston-based law firm.

"Even if the reform doesn't happen soon, we're seeing increased enforcement by ICE," he said.

Since September, his firm has been hired by more than 100 U.S. companies to conduct mock investigations at job sites to ensure employers have not hired illegal immigrants.

Monty employs five teams of retired immigration officers to review a company's stack of I-9s, the forms that verify a worker's identity and eligibility to work. The agents point out violations so employers can resolve the discrepancies.

"We give them a list of the potential fines that would have incurred if this had been a real audit," Monty said. "It really brings home the point."

Monty said he would like to see the immigration reform bill pending in the Senate pass so that his clients will get clarity on what they can and cannot do.

A Greater Houston Partnership study done within the last year found that about 250,000 unauthorized immigrants work in the Houston area, making up nearly 10 percent of the work force and contributing $27.3 billion to the area's gross regional product.

The bill, in addition to increased funding for border security, would require illegal immigrants like Pablito to pay fines and return to his home in Zacatecas, Mexico, before he could qualify for a temporary work visa.

Pablito said he might consider applying for the visa.

But he said it's hard to earn enough money to pay the $250 he owes for his June rent, so paying a $1,000 fine to apply and then paying for other fees is "for the rich."

Illegal immigrant Enrique Santana, 49, said he dislikes the idea of having to return home first to get a visa because his wife and three children also are undocumented and live here.

"I think it's bad because we will leave the family unprotected," said Santana, as he took a break from English classes he takes after his construction job. It's a job he fears losing as rumors swirl among his immigrant co-workers that his company will take a second look at their identifications and Social Security cards.

"There's fear among everyone that Immigration could come," Santana said.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headli...iz/4856203.html

Too bad these crooked businesses highlighted in red put these billions into their own pockets and let the local taxpayer pick up the tab for social services consumed by Enrique and his illegal family of 4. Not to mention the $$$ Enrique sends out of the local economy and back to Mexico in remittences. What a joke on the American people.

[metta 0]

Of late, I am seeing noticeable changes in the make up of work crew in places like Wendy's where not long ago, almost the entire staff was made up of latinos, now being replaced by Blacks and the landscaping crew in my neighborhood also reflected a similar change.

Edited June 2, 2007 by metta

[slim 1,533]

So, this guy wouldn't give his last name???

I wonder why?

[peejay 327]

So, this guy wouldn't give his last name???

I wonder why?

I wonder why too...considering that he has none other than the President of the United States fighting for him in his corner and a good chunk of Congress. Too bad the American people can't seem to garner so much support from our officials elected to look out for our interests.

What does this guy have to worry about? Hundreds of his amigos hang out on the street openly hawking illegal work daily in Houston and ICE is nowhere to be seen. They aren't too afraid to openly protest and wave the flags of the countries they illegally immigrated from either. Where are all these shadows they are hiding in?

Maybe Bush and Congress should drop by occassionally to say "hola" to their favorite constituents. They wouldn't be here illegally if it wasn't for all the help and support they get from Bush and Congress.

Edited June 2, 2007 by peejay

[JoeMama 0]

Of late, I am seeing noticeable changes in the make up of work crew in places like Wendy's where not long ago, almost the entire staff was made up of latinos, now being replaced by Blacks and the landscaping crew in my neighborhood also reflected a similar change.

Where I live here in California, I see more and more older people working fast-food places. As far as the landscaping goes here, it's still dominated by the Mexicans. The change in your neighborhood, is it good or bad in your opinion?

[pedroh 21]

where im working right now.. people are scared too, cuz supposedly they're gonna fire 900 employees, latinos with fake papers... man that plant's gonna suffer... but the law is the law..

[homesick_american 1]

where im working right now.. people are scared too, cuz supposedly they're gonna fire 900 employees, latinos with fake papers... man that plant's gonna suffer... but the law is the law..

You're right; the law is the law, and they shouldn't have hired illegals in the first place.

No sympathy.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I don't know. To me this looks like a good play put before the American people in an effort to lull us into the comfort that the government is cracking down on illegal labor and their employers. That's the perceived missing piece to hammer the amnesty through. It's just part of paving the road. I ain't buying it.

[peejay 327]

I don't know. To me this looks like a good play put before the American people in an effort to lull us into the comfort that the government is cracking down on illegal labor and their employers. That's the perceived missing piece to hammer the amnesty through. It's just part of paving the road. I ain't buying it.

That's the Houston Chronicle's claim to fame. They are well known as cheerleaders for illegal aliens and the crooks that hire them. There are plenty of "hard luck" stories about "immigrants" (aka: illegal aliens) to get the tissues out to dry the tears. Also plenty of propoganda stories about the economy collapsing without the steady stream of cheap illegal aliens to keep it going. Their pro-illegal alien editorials are famous for their pandering.

And, of course, they have a sister publication "en Español". Need I say more?

That is the Houston's only major print newspaper still in business. They are grasping at straws to survive.

[pedroh 21]

where im working right now.. people are scared too, cuz supposedly they're gonna fire 900 employees, latinos with fake papers... man that plant's gonna suffer... but the law is the law..

You're right; the law is the law, and they shouldn't have hired illegals in the first place.

No sympathy.

actually they have a pretty fancy software that is linked to DHS, so they know if the SS# or Green card is legit, there's no 4-5 day background check, it shows immediatly if the papers are real or fake.. now thething is that if that legit ID is exactly theirs... so, that company did everything by the book..

Edited June 3, 2007 by pedroh

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

where im working right now.. people are scared too, cuz supposedly they're gonna fire 900 employees, latinos with fake papers... man that plant's gonna suffer... but the law is the law..

You're right; the law is the law, and they shouldn't have hired illegals in the first place.

No sympathy.

actually they have a pretty fancy software that is linked to DHS, so they know if the SS# or Green card is legit, there's no 4-5 day background check, it shows immediatly if the papers are real or fake.. now the thing is that if that legit ID is exactly theirs... so, that company did everything by the book..

So all the folks that are about to let go cause they're illegal (was it 900?) have legal twin brothers or sisters whose legit ID they've used? Or do they have legit ID's of some sort w/o pictures? I ain't buying this story.

[pedroh 21]

where im working right now.. people are scared too, cuz supposedly they're gonna fire 900 employees, latinos with fake papers... man that plant's gonna suffer... but the law is the law..

You're right; the law is the law, and they shouldn't have hired illegals in the first place.

No sympathy.

actually they have a pretty fancy software that is linked to DHS, so they know if the SS# or Green card is legit, there's no 4-5 day background check, it shows immediatly if the papers are real or fake.. now the thing is that if that legit ID is exactly theirs... so, that company did everything by the book..

So all the folks that are about to let go cause they're illegal (was it 900?) have legal twin brothers or sisters whose legit ID they've used? Or do they have legit ID's of some sort w/o pictures? I ain't buying this story.

no no, i'm not saying they are legal here, of course htey are illegals who bought the papers from some hobo or something (actually there's a puerto rican mafia in NY who does that, buys id's from hobos on the street and re-sells them)..

the thing is, the system will say if the number 123-45-0000 from John Perez does not really exist in the system, but if some dude got an ID from john doe and put his picture there, and the number is real, it won't tell if it's stolen or not, just that it's real..

[Fandango 1,440]

Oooh 'pablito' is considering whether or not to apply for a visa.

We wait with bated breath, Pablito....bated breath.

[Ban Hammer 14,269]

Oooh 'pablito' is considering whether or not to apply for a visa.

We wait with bated breath, Pablito....bated breath.

maybe he'll show up on vj

[homesick_american 1]

where im working right now.. people are scared too, cuz supposedly they're gonna fire 900 employees, latinos with fake papers... man that plant's gonna suffer... but the law is the law..

You're right; the law is the law, and they shouldn't have hired illegals in the first place.

No sympathy.

actually they have a pretty fancy software that is linked to DHS, so they know if the SS# or Green card is legit, there's no 4-5 day background check, it shows immediatly if the papers are real or fake.. now thething is that if that legit ID is exactly theirs... so, that company did everything by the book..

So I guess someone's been stealing IDs.

#### those illegal fence jumpers. #### them hard. :angry: :angry: :angry: