POV: The Employer of Undocumented Immigrants
Monique Chartier
Ceasing the exploitation of human beings is one of the reasons that so many of us support the enforcement of our immigration laws, particularly those pertaining to employment. [Note to Congress: Comprehensive immigration reform is not needed. The only problem with our existing immigration laws is that they are insufficiently enforced. This matter only requires a little oversight, not the revamping of perfectly good laws. Thank you.]
Commenter Greg reminds us, for example, that ICE might find it worth their while to visit Ira Green Incorporated in Providence. And the latest word out of Packaging Concepts Ltd, where Leonardo Cos was terribly injured, is that a second shift has been activated so as to boost production (ahead of a possible ICE raid?). But only "temporary" workers - employees brought in by the temporary employment agency Central 2000 - can sign up for this additional shift. It is an open secret at that company that most of the temporary workers there are undocumented immigrants. This stipulation can only be a cost-saving measure; "temporary" workers at Packaging Concepts must be paid less than documented ones. By the way, especially in light of Mr. Cos' injury on the job, isn't the parent company of Packaging Concepts, Abbott Industries, just a squidge nervous that one of its subsidiaries employs undocumented immigrants?
In today's Valley Breeze, former Rhode Island Attorney General Arlene Violet gets into the mind of the person who hires undocumented immigrants, allegedly including but not limited to the owners and managers of Ira Green Inc. and Packaging Concepts.
There is an employer in Rhode Island who has hired illegal immigrants. He pays them less than minimum wage since it is still more than they would make in Central America.
He has them where he wants them. They can't complain about poor housing, working conditions or long hours since he can threaten them with sending the authorities to their home and deporting them and their entire families. In fact, he thinks he's a hell of a fella for hiring them here in the Ocean State where they are getting more than they'd make back home, and more benefits.
"You have it good," he reminds his employees periodically. "If you're sick, go to the emergency room for care. It's for free. If you think you can't subsist on my wages which I pay you, apply for welfare in the name of your children. The state will give you money, housing, food stamps, free daycare and other benefits. See, isn't this a better situation than what you had in your native land? Stop complaining about my treatment of you. You should be grateful."
The employer hears a knock on his office door. A black Rhode Island citizen is there to apply for a job. "Beat it!" he's told. "Why should I hire you? You'll cost me more. There's no reason why I should pony up minimum wage for your salary. You're a drop-out and you are not worth it to me when I can make a killing in profits by doing what I'm doing now." The black man leaves dejected. He's one of tens of thousands of black men and women who can't get minimum wage jobs because he's been replaced by cheaper labor, albeit illegal labor.
The employer takes out his cigar and chuckles. "I've got it made," he thinks. "The bleeding hearts who complain that hiring illegals creates an apartheid situation where the illegals are more like slaves are now on the run because of the newest salvos."
He picks up the week's newspapers and contentedly grins. The governor is being lambasted. The lieutenant governor is busting the governor's chops by saying he's divisive by his attempt to uphold the law. "She'll run for governor in the future," he muses, "so I'll be safe hiring these greenhorns for quite a while."
The employer laughs out loud. "I even have the church on my side!" he says as he leafs through another edition of The Providence Journal. "Maybe I'll get to heaven, after all! He reads Bishop Tobin's and Rabbi Alan Flam's castigation of the governor. "That'll shut Carcieri up," he gloats. "Look at all the clergy who are ganging up on the governor. Ha! Maybe I'll even get a citizen of the year award," he hoots out loud again.
"Now here's the piece de resistance," he concludes. The columnists in the Journal like Charles Bakst and Bob Kerr are killing the governor, too. "That'll keep me safe. I can do what I want. They will continue to put the heat on the Pooh-Bahs and prevent any raids here. Maybe I won't have to fix up this dump where they work, after all." He sighs about the further profits he'll make.
He puts down the paper and decides to head for lunch. As he passes through his factory, he notes what good workers the illegals are. They've been working since 7 a.m. without a break. At 1 p.m. they'll have 15 minutes off for lunch. Then they'll work until 5 p.m. with no overtime, of course. For 50 bucks a day they are a bargain. Who needs pushy black Rhode Islanders who want a minimum wage? Smiling, he heads out to his swanky club to meet other entrepreneurs like himself.
"Ceasing the exploitation of human beings is one of the reasons that so many of us support the enforcement of our immigration laws, particularly those pertaining to employment."
Bull. C'mon Monique, who are you kidding? All other forms of exploitation like regressive taxation, marginalization in the political process, refusal to allow the right to unionize -- all those are OK with folks, but THIS kind of exploitation is where you draw the line.
Sell it to somebody else
I don't think she was trying to sell anything to communists like you, Duck boy.
Would anybody like to bet that some of these employers of illegal immigrants are big supporters and contributors to Carcieri's campaigns, lured by his pro-business agenda?
It's much better politics to come after the illegal immigrants who have no one to speak for them. Going after the corporate chieftains who employ them...who has the nads to do THAT?
Nice little narrative....but why do I care? More reform is needed at the state level - employers should have to check and prove that their workers are here legally. Renters should have to prove that they are here legally. People enrolling their students in school should have to prove that they are here legally. People wanting services at hospitals should have to prove that they are here legally. Can't prove it? Get out. You won't have to turn too many away, folks. Once word gets out that the free lunch is over they'll leave on their own.
(Some career counseling for you, Pat: don't go into the mind-reading business. You're terrible at it.)
I wouldn't have thought it was such a big deal, Rhody, to hold companies acocuntable for their hiring practices. But clearly, both the Clinton and the Bush administrations suffered from the condition you describe, leaving states to deal with the issue until the feds pick up their enforcement efforts again.
>>All other forms of exploitation like regressive taxation, marginalization in the political process, refusal to allow the right to unionize
Must be talking about Cuba or Venezuela. Here in the U.S. we have a progressive tax code; voting and have had the "right" to unionize since at least FDR's days.
Arlene's commentary is spot on. Just fantastic! The ugly hypocrisy of liberalism is exposed for all to see on this illegal alien issue. The liberals weep for the illegals as the illegals economically screw over the very underclass these same liberals have been immorally and fraudulently 'championing' through their decades long promotion of dependency and generational poverty.
Liberals are immoral to the core. Btw have any Democrats bothered to inform poor Joe Almeida that he's a complete sellout to his own community? When's the last time Charlie Bakst or Bob Kerr wrote a scathing column about the pride and joy of their Democratic party, the abhorant public education system filled with the very people Kerr and Bakst claim to care so much about. Libs like Kerr and Bakst NEVER confront the abject failures of their own ideology as they cry their phony tears and peddle their phony concern about the actual victims of that ideology.
No other way to look at it.
Liberals are truly evil and without soul.
rhody,
Where does business send their political contributions in this state? They contribute to those who control the game. Democrats! Ask Bob Walsh how many and who showed to Speaker Bill Murphy's fundraiser in West Warwick. rhody can you come with just one topic on this board you can speak to without your lame and tired talking points? Oh I forgot you're union. Thinking for yourself is not an option. Nevermind! lol
Justin or Monique,
Don't know if you heard Helen Glover this morning but she's in possession of a Cicilline/Carcieri pen pal session and read both letters on the air. Wondering if you can get a copy of the text of each letter and put it on this blog. Very very interesting stuff. Cicilline writes the governor in late March whining about the Executive order yet doesn't cite a single specific objection to any one of them. Then he whines on about George Bush and the lack of immigration reform. Carcieri fires back just this week that Cicilline should be writing Reed Outhouse Patches and Langevin to motivate them to do something with their do nothing Congress and then drops a Byron Zepeta murdered Mr. Robinson in your city B-O-M-B in the letter. Was great stuff!! Haven't seen where anyone else has copies of these letters. Helen obviously has some nice connects in the gov's office. You might see if Helen will share it with you. Think the people of the state of Rhode Island would find these letters very enlightening with regard to the authors.
Timmy, Timmy, Timmy...what are we going to do with you?
You still labor under the delusion that I am a state worker. I'm not (and I'm no fan of Bill Murphy, either). Trust me, mmmkay?
And any argument with even a scintilla of difference from yours is just lame talking points, in your esteemed opinion.
You'll have to ask somebody to kiss your ring, friend.
One thing illegal aliens don't lack is people to speaak for them:David Cicilline,Bishop Tobin,Rabbi Flam,Rev Hix and other assorted Protestants;Revs.Nogueras and Rivera(racist);Reps.Segal,Diaz,Handy;Almeida;
Slater;Ajello;Sens.Perry,Pichardo,
Levesque;Karen Lee Ziner;Bakst;Nee;Crowley;Jerzyk;Lucie Burdick;Kate Brewster;Rachel Miller;Karen Malcolm;Rick Martinez;Steven Brown;Miguel Sanchez-Hartwein and Dean Esserman to name a few.
"You have it good," he reminds his employees periodically. "If you're sick, go to the emergency room for care. It's for free. If you think you can't subsist on my wages which I pay you, apply for welfare in the name of your children. The state will give you money, housing, food stamps, free daycare and other benefits. See, isn't this a better situation than what you had in your native land? Stop complaining about my treatment of you. You should be grateful." signed, Walmart.
Crowley wants to be George Nee when he grows up
rhody....rhody....rhody ...what are we going to do with you? When have I ever said you were/are/will be a state worker? Never have! Know many a mindless union wank in the private sector. You've also made it quite clear your big issue with Murphy is his opposition to homosexual marriage. Much more a personal issue than a good government one.
David,
Let's make a deal. Shutdown any company employing illegals fine them $10,000 per illegal and don't allow them to re-open until all new hires are verified citizens. Then we deport all illegal aliens from this nation. A-L-L of them. You on board with this idea David?? Sounds good to me! Do know the anti-American liberal hypocrites would object. They want the employers slapped and slapped hard but they don't want to do anything with the illegals other than plug them into our social service system. Slap the employers hard and deport all illegals who don't belong here to begin with. Let them enter this country the legal way and abiding by our laws. Sounds fair doesn't it? You on board David?
Joe,
What a line-up eh? lol
One question for the Bishop and Lou Dobbs favorite Rabbi 'Fram'. If these illegals (40,000 - 100,000 strong here in RI) were Muslin would they be advocating for these 'children of God'? Think not!
Great letter to the editor in today's Projo. Let's tax the religious institutions to pay for their 'illegal' advocacy.
Re: Duckboy-methinks he's got a mega duck crush on the governor. Seriously! Duckboy obsesses over Mr. Carcieri all the time. 24/7! Quite creepy really! lol Do suppose we should be grateful. It's keeping Duckboy occupied {snip}.
Ah Walmart. The Great Spectre. And who was formerly on the board and on the record talking about how great a company it is?
Everyone's favorite enabler-in-chief, Hillary Clinton of course.
Gay marriage is only one issue, Timmah. Murphy is the living embodiment of the lawyer-corporate-lobbyist-consultant complex that has shot our budget to hell. Gordon Fox is gay, but he's part of that same hypocrisy.
(And as a private sector union member, Timmah, don't blame me for taking money out of your pocket. I'm not getting a state pench - I do a 401K like you probably do, and state workers should be doing).
And which religious institutions do we tax? Just the ones we disagree with? Until that's applied to ALL religions (not just the ones with active and well-paid Smith Hill lobbyists), that's a non-starter.
Until that's applied to ALL religions, that's a non-starter.
I'm all for it!
Bussiness, wants them for cheap labor.
Democrats, wants them for votes.
The church, wants them for donations.
Both idiots running for President, want to protect them.
So nothing will be done about this illigal problem, until somthing major happens, like an attack from the southern border.
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"Ceasing the exploitation of human beings is one of the reasons that so many of us support the enforcement of our immigration laws, particularly those pertaining to employment."
Bull. C'mon Monique, who are you kidding? All other forms of exploitation like regressive taxation, marginalization in the political process, refusal to allow the right to unionize -- all those are OK with folks, but THIS kind of exploitation is where you draw the line.
Sell it to somebody else
Posted by: Pat Crowley at April 10, 2008 12:57 PMI don't think she was trying to sell anything to communists like you, Duck boy.
Posted by: Greg at April 10, 2008 1:18 PMWould anybody like to bet that some of these employers of illegal immigrants are big supporters and contributors to Carcieri's campaigns, lured by his pro-business agenda?
Posted by: rhody at April 10, 2008 1:26 PMIt's much better politics to come after the illegal immigrants who have no one to speak for them. Going after the corporate chieftains who employ them...who has the nads to do THAT?
Nice little narrative....but why do I care? More reform is needed at the state level - employers should have to check and prove that their workers are here legally. Renters should have to prove that they are here legally. People enrolling their students in school should have to prove that they are here legally. People wanting services at hospitals should have to prove that they are here legally. Can't prove it? Get out. You won't have to turn too many away, folks. Once word gets out that the free lunch is over they'll leave on their own.
Posted by: The Chorus at April 10, 2008 2:02 PM(Some career counseling for you, Pat: don't go into the mind-reading business. You're terrible at it.)
I wouldn't have thought it was such a big deal, Rhody, to hold companies acocuntable for their hiring practices. But clearly, both the Clinton and the Bush administrations suffered from the condition you describe, leaving states to deal with the issue until the feds pick up their enforcement efforts again.
Posted by: Monique at April 10, 2008 2:06 PM>>All other forms of exploitation like regressive taxation, marginalization in the political process, refusal to allow the right to unionize
Must be talking about Cuba or Venezuela. Here in the U.S. we have a progressive tax code; voting and have had the "right" to unionize since at least FDR's days.
Posted by: Ragin' Rhode Islander at April 10, 2008 2:15 PMArlene's commentary is spot on. Just fantastic! The ugly hypocrisy of liberalism is exposed for all to see on this illegal alien issue. The liberals weep for the illegals as the illegals economically screw over the very underclass these same liberals have been immorally and fraudulently 'championing' through their decades long promotion of dependency and generational poverty.
Liberals are immoral to the core. Btw have any Democrats bothered to inform poor Joe Almeida that he's a complete sellout to his own community? When's the last time Charlie Bakst or Bob Kerr wrote a scathing column about the pride and joy of their Democratic party, the abhorant public education system filled with the very people Kerr and Bakst claim to care so much about. Libs like Kerr and Bakst NEVER confront the abject failures of their own ideology as they cry their phony tears and peddle their phony concern about the actual victims of that ideology.
No other way to look at it.
Liberals are truly evil and without soul.
rhody,
Where does business send their political contributions in this state? They contribute to those who control the game. Democrats! Ask Bob Walsh how many and who showed to Speaker Bill Murphy's fundraiser in West Warwick. rhody can you come with just one topic on this board you can speak to without your lame and tired talking points? Oh I forgot you're union. Thinking for yourself is not an option. Nevermind! lol
Posted by: Tim at April 10, 2008 5:28 PMJustin or Monique,
Don't know if you heard Helen Glover this morning but she's in possession of a Cicilline/Carcieri pen pal session and read both letters on the air. Wondering if you can get a copy of the text of each letter and put it on this blog. Very very interesting stuff. Cicilline writes the governor in late March whining about the Executive order yet doesn't cite a single specific objection to any one of them. Then he whines on about George Bush and the lack of immigration reform. Carcieri fires back just this week that Cicilline should be writing Reed Outhouse Patches and Langevin to motivate them to do something with their do nothing Congress and then drops a Byron Zepeta murdered Mr. Robinson in your city B-O-M-B in the letter. Was great stuff!! Haven't seen where anyone else has copies of these letters. Helen obviously has some nice connects in the gov's office. You might see if Helen will share it with you. Think the people of the state of Rhode Island would find these letters very enlightening with regard to the authors.
Posted by: Tim at April 10, 2008 5:59 PMTimmy, Timmy, Timmy...what are we going to do with you?
Posted by: rhody at April 10, 2008 9:28 PMYou still labor under the delusion that I am a state worker. I'm not (and I'm no fan of Bill Murphy, either). Trust me, mmmkay?
And any argument with even a scintilla of difference from yours is just lame talking points, in your esteemed opinion.
You'll have to ask somebody to kiss your ring, friend.
One thing illegal aliens don't lack is people to speaak for them:David Cicilline,Bishop Tobin,Rabbi Flam,Rev Hix and other assorted Protestants;Revs.Nogueras and Rivera(racist);Reps.Segal,Diaz,Handy;Almeida;
Posted by: joe bernstein at April 10, 2008 9:58 PMSlater;Ajello;Sens.Perry,Pichardo,
Levesque;Karen Lee Ziner;Bakst;Nee;Crowley;Jerzyk;Lucie Burdick;Kate Brewster;Rachel Miller;Karen Malcolm;Rick Martinez;Steven Brown;Miguel Sanchez-Hartwein and Dean Esserman to name a few.
"You have it good," he reminds his employees periodically. "If you're sick, go to the emergency room for care. It's for free. If you think you can't subsist on my wages which I pay you, apply for welfare in the name of your children. The state will give you money, housing, food stamps, free daycare and other benefits. See, isn't this a better situation than what you had in your native land? Stop complaining about my treatment of you. You should be grateful." signed, Walmart.
Posted by: David at April 10, 2008 10:00 PMCrowley wants to be George Nee when he grows up
Posted by: joe bernstein at April 10, 2008 10:06 PMrhody....rhody....rhody ...what are we going to do with you? When have I ever said you were/are/will be a state worker? Never have! Know many a mindless union wank in the private sector. You've also made it quite clear your big issue with Murphy is his opposition to homosexual marriage. Much more a personal issue than a good government one.
David,
Let's make a deal. Shutdown any company employing illegals fine them $10,000 per illegal and don't allow them to re-open until all new hires are verified citizens. Then we deport all illegal aliens from this nation. A-L-L of them. You on board with this idea David?? Sounds good to me! Do know the anti-American liberal hypocrites would object. They want the employers slapped and slapped hard but they don't want to do anything with the illegals other than plug them into our social service system. Slap the employers hard and deport all illegals who don't belong here to begin with. Let them enter this country the legal way and abiding by our laws. Sounds fair doesn't it? You on board David?
Joe,
What a line-up eh? lol
Posted by: Tim at April 11, 2008 7:39 AMOne question for the Bishop and Lou Dobbs favorite Rabbi 'Fram'. If these illegals (40,000 - 100,000 strong here in RI) were Muslin would they be advocating for these 'children of God'? Think not!
Great letter to the editor in today's Projo. Let's tax the religious institutions to pay for their 'illegal' advocacy.
Re: Duckboy-methinks he's got a mega duck crush on the governor. Seriously! Duckboy obsesses over Mr. Carcieri all the time. 24/7! Quite creepy really! lol Do suppose we should be grateful. It's keeping Duckboy occupied {snip}.
Ah Walmart. The Great Spectre. And who was formerly on the board and on the record talking about how great a company it is?
Everyone's favorite enabler-in-chief, Hillary Clinton of course.
Posted by: Greg at April 11, 2008 8:20 AMGay marriage is only one issue, Timmah. Murphy is the living embodiment of the lawyer-corporate-lobbyist-consultant complex that has shot our budget to hell. Gordon Fox is gay, but he's part of that same hypocrisy.
Posted by: rhody at April 11, 2008 11:04 AM(And as a private sector union member, Timmah, don't blame me for taking money out of your pocket. I'm not getting a state pench - I do a 401K like you probably do, and state workers should be doing).
And which religious institutions do we tax? Just the ones we disagree with? Until that's applied to ALL religions (not just the ones with active and well-paid Smith Hill lobbyists), that's a non-starter.
Until that's applied to ALL religions, that's a non-starter.
I'm all for it!
Posted by: Greg at April 11, 2008 11:07 AMBussiness, wants them for cheap labor.
Posted by: RiverFox at August 27, 2008 6:27 AMDemocrats, wants them for votes.
The church, wants them for donations.
Both idiots running for President, want to protect them.
So nothing will be done about this illigal problem, until somthing major happens, like an attack from the southern border.