Why would an employer higher an illegal immigrant over a US Citizen?

Question

Could this be the REAL reason why? what do you think?

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/op-ed/navarrette/20070204-9999-lz1e4navarret.html

"We're told that employers hire illegal immigrants because they're willing to work for less than American workers. But it's more complicated. The issue is also how immigrants, illegal or not, approach the very institution of work. While many native-born Americans have come to consider labor a nuisance – especially if it is low-skilled, physical labor – immigrants have tended to see work as an opportunity to get ahead in America and fulfill the promise that brought them here.

I've heard from employers who say that, when they try to hire Americans, all they get are headaches and demands and complaints and demands and attitude and more demands. Once on the job, the employers say, many of these employees don't want to work; in fact, they spend their energy trying to find creative ways not to work and still get paid.

Answer 1

Because they pay them less..

Answer 2

The article makes some good points, but I would also add that the Americans know they have resources and legal protection if they get fired.

The illegal aliens know that their employer could call INS if the work is unsatisfactory, so they'd better do a good job or get deported.

Answer 3

I'm with you all the way  illegals work for  nothing they do the work that citizens will never do because is demeaning to them

the Undocumented clean the **** that Americans will never do= they work weather is 110 or below 0 they never tell you is to hot or is to cold the little money they make is to send home to the family= it is not true that they take some ones job they take jobs that the American born will never take because is beneath them

Answer 4

Yes, it happens all the time.

They need to be heavily fined when they do this and even jail time sounds like a good idea for this crime.

The only time that illegals work is when you are watching them directly.  Other than that they just sit there.

Answer 5

Sources? In reading this question it becomes very obvious that you are just pulling this c**p out out of your butt.

Employers save money on wages, benefits and when the illegal gets hurt they usually don't file workers comp.

It's a win win for the employer...but that is changing as more enforcement takes place.

Answer 6

Lol. Yeah right. Nice try but I'm not buying it. Employers are greedy (not always) and want to hire the cheapest labor they can. Employers have committed a lot of atrocities against laborers. Look back at history. Things haven't changed that much. There is a reason that laborers have rights and protections.

Answer 7

Seems realistic

The situation of the illegals is a good example of Capitalism.

Employers hire people who work more for less. Market laws, you know. The USA are the best example

Blame not the illegals, but the system

Answer 8

1.) they can pay sub-legal wages.

2.) they can violate every law regarding employees

3.) long hours with no OT

3.) no health insurance, no discrimination or sexual harrasment suites, no 401Ks, no lunch breaks, no holidays and no holiday pay, no vacation time.

4.) need I go further

Answer 9

employers want the cheapest easiest labor... I have heard illegals can make the same money as others, but employers don't have to worry about insurance, benefits, if they get sick, they can just fire them, they just have less right

They cost less in the end, but are disposable and usually won't complain about  conditions as they don't want to risk loosing the job or being deported.

in the end it boils down to money and convenience... i doubt Americans turn down the money... they probably don't hire them b/c they can't treat them as badly as they have more rights, they can also avoid taxes etc

Answer 10

Didn't you post this same post under a different name earlier?

You may have a point Americans need to start taking lower skilled jobs. That doesn't mean that we want Mexicans to cross our borders and do them for us.

Answer 11

Some employers will hire illegal immigrants over us citizens because yes they can get away with paying them less and they know they will work their butts off for that measly amount of money. Americans are too fricking lazy to work as hard as some immigrants, they would rather collect a welfare check than do backbreaking work like picking berries in the hot sun all day.

EDIT: The only way illegal immigrants can get welfare benefits is if they have false documents or if they get it in behalf of their children that are born in the US. The real drain on the taxpayer is Medical care since most Hospitals have to treat you, it is a huge problem in that area.

Some people say that illegal immigrants are competition for jobs that Americans could get, like I stated above, how many American's would ride a bus for two hours starting at 4 in the morning not even knowing for sure if there was going to be work that day, get out to the fields and work bent over for 12 hours, go home and do it all over the next day?

There are alot of Americans without jobs and can you honestly say they would do that work for what the pay is? I say no way, Americans don't have that type of work ethic.

Answer 12

Don't buy into employers' excuses.  There are people like that anywhere -- native-born, legal immigrant, illegal alien.  

But the reason employers hire illegals is money, pure and simple.  They pay cash under the table: no bookkeeper costs, no unemployment insurance, no disability insurance, no FICA to pay, no withholding or that endless pile of paperwork required of employers by federal/state/local govts.  And the illegal alien gets more take-home pay than a US citizen even tho the illegal gets paid 1/2 as much!

Answer 13

Why? Because they will work for less than minimum wage and the greedy people who hire them can treat them any way they want. The rich get richer and poor get poorer.

Answer 14

Well, Americans know their rights and if an employer is not handling business the correct way then I guess an American employer might be a pain to them. Therefore, they hire uneducated and illegal people that can't do a thing about the way they are treated. All comes down to corrupt owners and greed.

Answer 15

Yes! it's not because of the low wages they'll work for, it's because they know they can count on them showing up to work without complaining and demanding everything.

http://www.newswithviews.com/Blumenfeld/...

"The argument that there are no American citizens or legal immigrants who will do these jobs is false. What is true is that they will not do these jobs at the low wages that the illegals do them. Which means that without this illegal work force, we would have to pay much more to get these jobs done. Much more. Much of landscaping, for example, is mindless labor-intensive cleanup, maintenance, and planting work that the illegals are more than eager to do at the low wages they are being paid. We could indeed replace them, but at what extra cost?

It may seem heartless to take advantage of these immigrants. But they come here knowing that they will not be eligible for minimal wage, health coverage, and other benefits normally available to U.S. citizens and legal immigrants. And as long as they remain an illegal underground work force, they will continue to be exploited by unscrupulous employers. "

Answer 16

Good point, I don't think it is a question but a well though out stance on complicated issue.

Answer 17

The employers are most likely not compliant with State and Federal labor laws and an American would turn them in.

Answer 18

Immoral fatcats and rich people hire illegals because they can pay them cheap. They don't think it hurts anyone, and so the problem just grows and grows. "I'm only trying to save money,..it's no big deal..blah blah."

Answer 19

It's a mixed bag.  If an employer can get a laborer at lower cost and less hassle, but the risk is fines and penalties if caught, that is the risk the employer takes.

Frankly, I believe that most employers, if they could make the economics work out, would rather have it all come out properly in the end, but that the competitive economics drive them to tough decisions that sometimes include moving outside the law and hiring illegals, paying people under the table, and the like.  Business is all about money, remember?