I usually do not get involved in political discussions but I think this is a great place to post this story - U.S. fast food caught in immigration crosshairs My favorite part - PROBLEMS WITH PAPERS Alejandro, 37, and co-worker Tanya, a 35-year-old mother of four, admit they are in the United States illegally and had to use false documents to get their jobs at Chipotle. "I believe that when you go to apply there, they know beforehand that you don't have papers," Tanya said by phone. "And after the six years I worked there, or the 10 years of some of my colleagues, they get rid of us without warning."
I believe Tanya when she says "I believe that when you go to apply there, they know beforehand that you don't have papers,". This is not a new or unique problem. The employer basically hires what amounts to slave labor. Why do they do this? Because they are nice? Oh no. They know these people fear being reported to ICE, so they will withstand labor abuse a citizen will not. In speaking with an ICE agent not long ago, he gave me information on a online verification website where false docs will be proven false instantly. Many employers conveniently DO NOT USE THIS SYSTEM. President Clinton had a "papers" computer verification system in place that worked very well, and his administration required employers to use. Once Bush came into office, he eradicated this system. I wonder why? Abner
I have observed (in the context of my work) that many of these folks not only pay taxes but because they are illegal they don't file returns, so they don't get refunds. They can be victimized by unscrupulous "tax preparers" and others who take advantage of their status. Whichever side of the debate you are on it's a hard life. Phillip
I'll also add that whenever they buy almost anything, they pay sales tax, and if they live somewhere, the money they pay is going either directly or indirectly to paying property taxes. The government is in a hard spot with this one... do they undertake massive deportations and make everyone mad, or do they stay loosey-goosey and make everyone mad? I'm not one for political debate, but I will say that however they are handling it right now is clearly not working.
Certainly there are instances where foreign workers are exploited (e.g. farming, resorts, etc), but slave labor at a Chipolte? I think not. At least at Chipolte she would start at minimum wage, which is what any US Citizen would get. She admits to using false documents for her I-9, and now she says, "They should have known beforehand." Would she have preferred never to have a job at all? She was let go after 10 years with no warning. Once again, same treatment as any US citizen would get. Should the company have checked her documentation more throughly? Possibly, but if you are that restaurant manager and a mother of four is asking you for a job, are you going to look her in the eye and say, "Go back to Mexico"?
The one thing I dislike about illegal immigration is that those individuals give all immigrants a bad name. My college roommate, who was here legally from Indonesia, had to go through all kinds of crap because it was always assumed that she was here illegally just because she was "foreign looking". -Matt
Every time the council finds a piece of fast-food litter, the price of that food should rise ten pence.
