Posted on 12/06/2004 4:56:28 AM PST by JesseHousman
(Workers from Chiapas, Mexico watching TV after a long day of labor. They refused to show their faces for the photo and requested anonymity.)
Illegal day laborers are hidden in plain sight in South Florida. But authorities say there is little they can do to protect -- or deport -- them.
South Florida's illegal day laborers aren't hard to find.
You can see them gathering any morning at a gas station in Pompano Beach or in an empty lot a few blocks from Interstate 95.
They are invisible only to the government.
The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency says it has to have ''intelligence'' reports before it can act. And the U.S. Department of Labor points at loopholes in the federal minimum-wage law when asked about the exploitation of these workers.
The Mexican consul general in Miami, Jorge Lomonaco, summarized the situation with a phrase from a recent presidential speech addressing the dilemma.
'Like President Bush said, `The system is broken.' ''
The Bush administration has talked about legalizing many undocumented immigrants, making them ''guest workers'' for limited periods. But the White House has not yet followed up on those plans.
José García, 43, arrived in Pompano Beach from Chiapas, Mexico, almost a year ago. The next day, he went to one of the city's work pickup spots and found an employer for the next 10 hours. He's been going to the same spot since.
Has he ever encountered immigration or labor officials?
''No one has ever bothered me,'' he said.
An immigration agency spokeswoman said her office must have more than just a suspicion before pursuing a case.
''We can't simply go and raid a place because people look a certain way,'' said Nina Pruneda, spokeswoman for the agency's South Florida region. ``Everything has to be done on a case-by-case basis, based on intelligence.''
Earlier this month in Jacksonville, immigration authorities went after a company that was employing undocumented workers, Pruneda said. The owner was arrested and 41 workers were detained.
This type of raid is rare. The last one in South Florida was at least two years ago.
''Please, what are [immigration authorities] talking about?'' said Thomas Matthews of the local chapter of the Laborer's International Union of North America. ``You can throw a stone from your window right now and hit an illegal worker.''
THOUSANDS OF CASES
Thousands of illegal immigrants are indeed working in the United States.
The 2000 Census showed the Mexican worker population grew 493 percent in 10 years in the Southeast alone. But authorities have not granted anywhere near that many visas and work permits, suggesting that many of the newcomers are here illegally.
The U.S. Department of Labor is responsible for policing minimum-wage and overtime issues to protect workers from exploitation. All workers, regardless of their immigration status, are covered by federal labor law.
But the laws have loopholes.
For instance, minimum wage does not apply to companies with revenues of less than $500,000 a year unless they are involved in interstate commerce, said John McKeon, southeast regional administrator for the Wage and Hour Division of the Labor Department.
In the construction industry, a general contractor may employ many subcontractors, who in turn may employ other subcontractors. Or they may hire unskilled day laborers from workforce recruiting companies. The companies at the bottom of this labor tier may be too small to come under the federal minimum-wage law.
The state of Florida does not even have a labor department.
LITTLE PROTECTION
The state Department of Financial Services is supposed to ensure that all workers are covered by an employer's insurance policy against workplace accidents. Often, companies that employ day laborers do not give them this protection.
But these companies are hard to track down. Statewide, there are only 26 investigators looking into workers' compensation insurance fraud.
''Every year we go to the Legislature and scream for more people,'' said Jeff Korte, chief of the Bureau of Workers' Compensation Fraud.
The division does its best working within its budget, Korte said. Since January, the division has issued 1,500 stop-work orders statewide and initiated dozens of criminal investigations.
Others say the reason so many government agencies are not dealing head-on with the situation is far simpler.
''There is a lot of money involved,'' said Matthews, the union leader. ``Currently, there are $20 billion worth of construction projects in the state. No agency wants to mess with that.''
For Greg Schell, an attorney with the Migrant Farmworker Justice Project of Florida Legal Services, it all boils down to priorities.
''These workers are no one's priority,'' Schell said. ``The state is not much of an enforcing power, and the feds don't have enough people to inspect every work site. When they do, it's usually because there has been some kind of a terrible accident.''
Lomonaco, the Mexican consul, offers another opinion.
''Immigrants contribute more than what they take,'' he said. ``Entire sectors of this economy would be completely paralyzed if they were all deported.''
They must be stopped at the border!
Nothing is ever none untill it is too late. illegal immergration, aclu and the world trade center. The list goes on and on.
I would add, no more govt. subsidies, no more FREE Healthcare, no more Anchor babies, no more, no more, no more!!! The problem would resolve itself. They would flee in hoards. Those remaining would be easily dealt with. Blackbird.
Sometimes you just know. Occasionally you run into something that isn't what it appears, like 'dry-ice', but that is the exception - not the rule.
It all comes back to Political Correctness, ACLU & "civil rights" groups.
I know that I will be basted, seared & flame broiled for this but until people stop seeing any form of law enforcement as the first step of a huge conspiracy to strip all Americans of all of their rights we will not be able to control, never mind end, our immigration problems.
Sometimes you just know. Occasionally you run into something that isn't what it appears, like 'dry-ice', but that is the exception - not the rule.
It all comes back to Political Correctness, ACLU & "civil rights" groups.
I know that I will be basted, seared & flame broiled for this but until people stop seeing any form of law enforcement as the first step of a huge conspiracy to strip all Americans of all of their rights we will not be able to control, never mind end, our immigration problems.
-`You can throw a stone from your window right now and hit an illegal worker.''-
Sounds like I haven't been using my windows or my stones to full advantage.
ping
I just want a list of the laws that I can totally ignore, without the govt bothering me about it.
How about the tax laws?
The fedgov is breeding a contempt for the rule of law, and in the long run, that will be fatal to freedom.
"`Everything has to be done on a case-by-case basis, based on intelligence.''
Intelligence? It doesn't take much intelligence to figure this one out, Ms. Prudena!
Congressional Switchboard..Call them!
1-877-762-8762
Political correctness is the handmaiden of terrorism.
Michelle Malkin.
Nothing will happen unless Bush wants something to happen. Or the American people demand it loud enough.
Until then, the invasion and sellout of America to illegals and Mexico, and the open door to terrorism continues.
Part of Bush's mandate, I suppose...
Pick and choose as you see fit.
You would then be eligible for national elected office...
Mr. President, are you telling us that America should just roll over and accept that? How about FIXING IT by enforcing the laws already on the books? You have allowed the invasion of America without firing a shot!
Considering that the largest of these businesses keep the GOP coffers full with the expectation that the favor will be returned in the form of (relatively) open borders and amnesty programs disguised as "guest worker" programs, it'll never happen.
"America's first black President" was succeeded by "America's first Mexican President." What's next? Hopefully not America's first woman President. .....you know, the one that's married to America's first black President.
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