Comments on: My competitors keep hiring illegals! http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/ Editors from FSB magazine answer your pressing small-business questions. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:07:19 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Cathy http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-2040 Cathy Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:33:06 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-2040 I think as Americans who need work to support our families and are losing everything we have ever owned should not complain because it has no intrinic value. I myself have refused to buy, or shop, eat, wash, rent, or do anything that requires my last monies to support any company that has all mexican workers, because businesses like yourself who feel that we citizens are no worth hiring, should no spend one penny at your business or any relative colleagues. So we should see if this man's business can be support by just his hard workers. STOP SPENDING MONEY AT ANY BUSINESS THAT ONLY HIRES MEXICANS. promote a stable economy where all americans have a chance to earn a living and not just one culture but all. I think as Americans who need work to support our families and are losing everything we have ever owned should not complain because it has no intrinic value. I myself have refused to buy, or shop, eat, wash, rent, or do anything that requires my last monies to support any company that has all mexican workers, because businesses like yourself who feel that we citizens are no worth hiring, should no spend one penny at your business or any relative colleagues. So we should see if this man's business can be support by just his hard workers. STOP SPENDING MONEY AT ANY BUSINESS THAT ONLY HIRES MEXICANS. promote a stable economy where all americans have a chance to earn a living and not just one culture but all.

]]> By: KELLI2L, So Fla http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-1640 KELLI2L, So Fla Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:42:51 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-1640 In my industry, we are so starved for employees, that I will hire anyone that will 1.pass a drug screen 2.show up on time 3.present a “real” ssn. Commonly I hear back from ICE that the ssn is not valid (often > 6months later), at which point I do terminate that employee, but that position is almost certainly filled by another that will eventually be rejected as well. I do pay 2-3x minimum wage for all employees regardless of race etc… and know that 80% of my competition pays less… I don’t know how they do it though… Posted By Rick, Phoenix, AZ : May 14, 2007 7:17 am TO RICK from az: I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME "ICE" ACTUALLY PAYS YOU A VISIT TOO. YOU HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME "GAMING THE SYSTEM". . . In my industry, we are so starved for employees, that I will hire anyone that will 1.pass a drug screen 2.show up on time 3.present a “real” ssn.

Commonly I hear back from ICE that the ssn is not valid (often > 6months later), at which point I do terminate that employee, but that position is almost certainly filled by another that will eventually be rejected as well.

I do pay 2-3x minimum wage for all employees regardless of race etc… and know that 80% of my competition pays less… I don’t know how they do it though…

Posted By Rick, Phoenix, AZ : May 14, 2007 7:17 am

TO RICK from az:
I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME "ICE" ACTUALLY PAYS YOU A VISIT TOO. YOU HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME "GAMING THE SYSTEM". . .

]]> By: KELLI2L, So Fla http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-1639 KELLI2L, So Fla Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:38:50 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-1639 Ed wierdness…. 5 have hired both legal and illegal workers. I pay them the same wage I would an American employee because I didnt want to get accustomed to super-low wage rates. However - I will still hire immigrants, legal or otherwise over an American worker every time. Why? American employees, very honestly, stink. Thier productivity is scratch, absenteeism about doubles my labor costs, they whine and complain with an atitude that the American business ” owes ” them something. I dont have any of these problems with immigrant workers. They have a true work ethic. Again, I dont hire them to pay ultra-low rates,,, I use them because they are great workers. Posted By Rick - phoenix - az : December 24, 2007 12:34 am TO RICK - phoenix- az: SORRY - I'M NOT BUYING YOUR STORY. AND YOUR NOSE IS GROWING !!! Ed wierdness…. 5 have hired both legal and illegal workers. I pay them the same wage I would an American employee because I didnt want to get accustomed to super-low wage rates. However – I will still hire immigrants, legal or otherwise over an American worker every time. Why? American employees, very honestly, stink. Thier productivity is scratch, absenteeism about doubles my labor costs, they whine and complain with an atitude that the American business ” owes ” them something. I dont have any of these problems with immigrant workers. They have a true work ethic. Again, I dont hire them to pay ultra-low rates,,, I use them because they are great workers.

Posted By Rick – phoenix – az : December 24, 2007 12:34 am

TO RICK – phoenix- az:
SORRY – I'M NOT BUYING YOUR STORY. AND YOUR NOSE IS GROWING !!!

]]> By: KELLI2L, So Fla http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-1638 KELLI2L, So Fla Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:34:45 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-1638 Americans are hurting amercians not illegals, people who hire illegals are not tring to save money they really actually do like the way they work. VERY HARD AND THEY GET THE JOB DONE WITHOUT TAKING LONG BREAKS AND STOP TO SMOKE EVERY 5 MINUTES LIKE US AMERCIANS DO. WE ALL NEED TO LEARN TO GET ALONG AND THIS DARN GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO START GIVING ILLEGALS THEIR PAPERS SO THEY CAN WORK , IT IS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 20 YEARS ILLEGALS COMING HERE TO WORK AND NOW IT IS BECOMING AN ISSUE!!! OH PLEASE COME ON NOW, IT IS GETTING PRETTY LOW, i WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT 1 SINGLE ILLEGAL PERSON AND SEE HOW FAR THIS COUNTRY WILL FALL WITH IN MAYBE 1 WEEK. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN ! Posted By CASSIE RAMOS : February 1, 2008 3:42 am TOO BAD YOU AREN'T SMART ENOUGH TO REALIZE THAT YOU ARE JUST A SLAVE. . . . YOUR NOT ANY BETTER THAN THE ONES WHO'S JOBS YOU TOOK. . . Americans are hurting amercians not illegals, people who hire illegals are not tring to save money they really actually do like the way they work. VERY HARD AND THEY GET THE JOB DONE WITHOUT TAKING LONG BREAKS AND STOP TO SMOKE EVERY 5 MINUTES LIKE US AMERCIANS DO. WE ALL NEED TO LEARN TO GET ALONG AND THIS DARN GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO START GIVING ILLEGALS THEIR PAPERS SO THEY CAN WORK , IT IS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 20 YEARS ILLEGALS COMING HERE TO WORK AND NOW IT IS BECOMING AN ISSUE!!! OH PLEASE COME ON NOW, IT IS GETTING PRETTY LOW, i WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT 1 SINGLE ILLEGAL PERSON AND SEE HOW FAR THIS COUNTRY WILL FALL WITH IN MAYBE 1 WEEK. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN !

Posted By CASSIE RAMOS : February 1, 2008 3:42 am

TOO BAD YOU AREN'T SMART ENOUGH TO REALIZE THAT YOU ARE JUST A SLAVE. . . . YOUR NOT ANY BETTER THAN THE ONES WHO'S JOBS YOU TOOK. . .

]]> By: KELLI2L, So. Fla http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-1636 KELLI2L, So. Fla Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:27:05 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-1636 I am a seafood processor that owns a company that has been working legal workers from mexico for 15 years. The previous owner started using the H-2B visa program in 1992, and when I took over in 2002, I continued to use this program. In 2005 I did not get any visas for my company until May of that year. When I finally got them, it was only 17 workers. Many of our workers who we had trained went somewhere else to work because we didn’t know when or if we would get any visas that year. I could have worked 20 - 30 illegal workers that year but, I didn’t want to be a part of the problem. You see the illegal worker is the reason we are having this problem. I know these illegals personally, because my wife is from Mexico. She had been coming to the U.S. since 1991 legally. So we get invited to many birthday parties, weddings, funerals, and cook outs. I do not dislike hispanic people. Fact is I love them. But to break the law is wrong. And there is a price to be paid for breaking the law. But the punishment must fit the crime. Most Republicans were against giving pathway to citizenship. They called it a form of amnesty. Well what else are you going to do? You already want them to pay a fine, back taxes and get at the end of the line, plus you don’t want them, who for the most part, have been helping us to run our country for an opportunity to be a citizen. After all we pay those who don’t want to work by not policing our welfare system. many Americans either can’t pass the drug screen, won’t wake up on time, or don’t last on the job for more than a few days. Many Americans say that foreign workers are stealing jobs. This is true, but what percent of legal or illegal workers or stealing jobs? Maybe 10 percent. what about the bad guys, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and gangs? Maybe another 10 percent. That leaves 80 percent of hard working just want a better life type of people. As it stands now if you are in the U.S. illegally, someone will give you a job. But if you refuse to break the law by coming without proper documentation you are punished. Also if you work illegals your production is up, and if you refuse to work illegal workers your production is down, your sales are down, your tax paying is down, and your workers comp is also down. How about the amount of packaging material you may use, or maybe raw product you used to buy? Not to mention the energy you use. Can you get the picture of the economical domino effect that is happening here. I don’t know all the answers, but I do know somebody in Washington better wake up or this will be a disaster that will take a whole lot of cleaning up. As for turning the ones who work illegals in, I say it does no good so far. I have given ICE many photos, addresses and nothing has been done. Posted By kevin dartez Abbeville, LA. : April 29, 2008 8:59 pm LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT - YOU DON'T WANT TO HIRE "MORE" ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THAN YOU ALREADY DO BECAUSE YOU SAY YOU DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF THE PROBLEM? YOU MUST BE JOKING. YOUR A "REPEAT OFFENDER" - ALREADY !!! LOOK OUT YOUR WINDOW - "ICE" IS COMING. . . . I am a seafood processor that owns a company that has been working legal workers from mexico for 15 years. The previous owner started using the H-2B visa program in 1992, and when I took over in 2002, I continued to use this program. In 2005 I did not get any visas for my company until May of that year. When I finally got them, it was only 17 workers. Many of our workers who we had trained went somewhere else to work because we didn’t know when or if we would get any visas that year. I could have worked 20 – 30 illegal workers that year but, I didn’t want to be a part of the problem. You see the illegal worker is the reason we are having this problem. I know these illegals personally, because my wife is from Mexico. She had been coming to the U.S. since 1991 legally. So we get invited to many birthday parties, weddings, funerals, and cook outs. I do not dislike hispanic people. Fact is I love them. But to break the law is wrong. And there is a price to be paid for breaking the law. But the punishment must fit the crime. Most Republicans were against giving pathway to citizenship. They called it a form of amnesty. Well what else are you going to do? You already want them to pay a fine, back taxes and get at the end of the line, plus you don’t want them, who for the most part, have been helping us to run our country for an opportunity to be a citizen. After all we pay those who don’t want to work by not policing our welfare system. many Americans either can’t pass the drug screen, won’t wake up on time, or don’t last on the job for more than a few days. Many Americans say that foreign workers are stealing jobs. This is true, but what percent of legal or illegal workers or stealing jobs? Maybe 10 percent. what about the bad guys, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and gangs? Maybe another 10 percent. That leaves 80 percent of hard working just want a better life type of people. As it stands now if you are in the U.S. illegally, someone will give you a job. But if you refuse to break the law by coming without proper documentation you are punished. Also if you work illegals your production is up, and if you refuse to work illegal workers your production is down, your sales are down, your tax paying is down, and your workers comp is also down. How about the amount of packaging material you may use, or maybe raw product you used to buy? Not to mention the energy you use. Can you get the picture of the economical domino effect that is happening here. I don’t know all the answers, but I do know somebody in Washington better wake up or this will be a disaster that will take a whole lot of cleaning up. As for turning the ones who work illegals in, I say it does no good so far. I have given ICE many photos, addresses and nothing has been done.

Posted By kevin dartez Abbeville, LA. : April 29, 2008 8:59 pm

LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT – YOU DON'T WANT TO HIRE "MORE" ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THAN YOU ALREADY DO BECAUSE YOU SAY YOU DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF THE PROBLEM?
YOU MUST BE JOKING.
YOUR A "REPEAT OFFENDER" – ALREADY !!!
LOOK OUT YOUR WINDOW – "ICE" IS COMING. . . .

]]> By: Fontana, ca http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-1351 Fontana, ca Wed, 24 Dec 2008 02:28:36 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-1351 Commom caucasians, you need to be smarter than that! The Architect with out a job cause illigals? You most likely are without a job, cause you though your college degree was gonna do it, and yet smoke every 5 minutes.It is true, I am an illigal have a BS in Math, have a great job $75k, but I work my B...,I have managed almost all nationalities, and yes you americans because you are from here you believe that you should have an $18 hour job and don't do nothing and yet take Piss, smoke break every 5 minutes; you are only sinking your own economy by doing this! I would suggest you stop being lazy, get to work and I mean work, show that you deserve a job and be productive. Stop asking for welfare and blaming illigals. Have fun, you will always have illigal, you are an illigal, you were born from an illigal as your ansestors were illigals. I meam legal crooks, you stole part of Mexico, didn't you. So what are you talking about us mexicans. Shut up and get to work, my best suggestion! Commom caucasians, you need to be smarter than that! The Architect with out a job cause illigals? You most likely are without a job, cause you though your college degree was gonna do it, and yet smoke every 5 minutes.It is true, I am an illigal have a BS in Math, have a great job $75k, but I work my B…,I have managed almost all nationalities, and yes you americans because you are from here you believe that you should have an $18 hour job and don't do nothing and yet take Piss, smoke break every 5 minutes; you are only sinking your own economy by doing this! I would suggest you stop being lazy, get to work and I mean work, show that you deserve a job and be productive. Stop asking for welfare and blaming illigals. Have fun, you will always have illigal, you are an illigal, you were born from an illigal as your ansestors were illigals. I meam legal crooks, you stole part of Mexico, didn't you. So what are you talking about us mexicans. Shut up and get to work, my best suggestion!

]]> By: KH Miami Florida http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-1085 KH Miami Florida Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:28:13 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-1085 You are an idiot! You think we need to just allow people to work as they please, and send money back to the countries they come from? How does that help the economy? If we didn't have illegals here the county would be fine. The poorest people with no college education would be the ones building the buildings, doing the lawns, cleaning the restrooms, and babysitting my spoiled children. What needs to happen is the energy you put into coming here needs to be directed to fixing your own problems in the place you came from Ms. Ramos. With all of that determination you can easily correct issues at home right? Your parents came here illegally I suppose? You are reaping the benefits of a college education and most likely a decent paying job. It shows because you have yet to spell something wrong. ?Ju kno wat I mean? You are an idiot! You think we need to just allow people to work as they please, and send money back to the countries they come from? How does that help the economy? If we didn't have illegals here the county would be fine. The poorest people with no college education would be the ones building the buildings, doing the lawns, cleaning the restrooms, and babysitting my spoiled children. What needs to happen is the energy you put into coming here needs to be directed to fixing your own problems in the place you came from Ms. Ramos. With all of that determination you can easily correct issues at home right? Your parents came here illegally I suppose? You are reaping the benefits of a college education and most likely a decent paying job. It shows because you have yet to spell something wrong. ?Ju kno wat I mean?

]]> By: KH Miami Florida http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-1084 KH Miami Florida Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:20:45 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-1084 The same thing happened to me. I'm a Architect in Miami FL. I lost my job and wondered why no one else in the office was laid-off during that time. We'll because they are all illegal except for one other guy who is hanging by a thread and worried everyday. My employers excuse was for many reasons he cannot afford to pay my salary. Several of my projects lost budget or have been cancelled. Meanwhile several guys in the office who can't even say the word "Architect" properly get to keep their jobs. To this day I have never had a conversation with any of these guys because they can't even follow the words coming out of my mouth. I've only been out of work for a couple of weeks but as everyday goes by I get more pissed off as to what happened to me. I honestly would like to report this place but I as well have a friend in one of those guys. If I don't find anything in a month I doubt I will be as relaxed about this. A final note to people who are promoting the hiring of illegal workers are idiots. People come to this country and work harder than the people who are here legally, get job and send all of the money out of the country. Where does this ignorant logic come from? You are not only illegal, but you are stupid as well and not contributing to making the economy any better. Thanks for nothing!!!! The same thing happened to me. I'm a Architect in Miami FL. I lost my job and wondered why no one else in the office was laid-off during that time. We'll because they are all illegal except for one other guy who is hanging by a thread and worried everyday.

My employers excuse was for many reasons he cannot afford to pay my salary. Several of my projects lost budget or have been cancelled. Meanwhile several guys in the office who can't even say the word "Architect" properly get to keep their jobs. To this day I have never had a conversation with any of these guys because they can't even follow the words coming out of my mouth.

I've only been out of work for a couple of weeks but as everyday goes by I get more pissed off as to what happened to me. I honestly would like to report this place but I as well have a friend in one of those guys. If I don't find anything in a month I doubt I will be as relaxed about this.

A final note to people who are promoting the hiring of illegal workers are idiots. People come to this country and work harder than the people who are here legally, get job and send all of the money out of the country. Where does this ignorant logic come from? You are not only illegal, but you are stupid as well and not contributing to making the economy any better. Thanks for nothing!!!!

]]> By: dana,Gulf Shores, Al. http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-642 dana,Gulf Shores, Al. Fri, 30 May 2008 22:22:57 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-642 Ive been looking for a job for two years, but every job site I go to has 50 mexicans and these greedy contractors in ALABAMA won't hire you because they are making so much money hiring illegals..so I live on food stamps I have no medical insurance I am a single mother Starving in the united States of America. Alabama will not give me medicaid because they think I'm not from the U.S. That is crazy I have been turned down at hospitols...Hurricane Katrina turned my life upside down and we are barely hanging on by a string...when i go to walmarts all i see is mexicans buying buying buying..ya know im really sorry but the ..U.S. needs to enforce their own laws. I'm sure they want us to abide by the law so why don't uphold it. I have lost all respect for law enforcement. Try to go to Mexico and just walk across the border. What do ya think their government is gona do..I am fed up this is crazy, is anyone really in charge Ive been looking for a job for two years, but every job site I go to has 50 mexicans and these greedy contractors in ALABAMA won't hire you because they are making so much money hiring illegals..so I live on food stamps I have no medical insurance I am a single mother Starving in the united States of America. Alabama will not give me medicaid because they think I'm not from the U.S. That is crazy I have been turned down at hospitols…Hurricane Katrina turned my life upside down and we are barely hanging on by a string…when i go to walmarts all i see is mexicans buying buying buying..ya know im really sorry but the ..U.S. needs to enforce their own laws. I'm sure they want us to abide by the law so why don't uphold it. I have lost all respect for law enforcement. Try to go to Mexico and just walk across the border. What do ya think their government is gona do..I am fed up this is crazy, is anyone really in charge

]]> By: Steve Hammond, Columbia, SC http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-625 Steve Hammond, Columbia, SC Tue, 20 May 2008 21:31:46 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-625 Please be sure to tell the proper government agency about your hiring practices so you can be prosecuted promptly!! Please be sure to tell the proper government agency about your hiring practices so you can be prosecuted promptly!!

]]> By: joe,rr,nc http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-617 joe,rr,nc Fri, 16 May 2008 18:00:51 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-617 oh i forgotten one important part,,, the politicians say we cant send 12 million back, but we all know its wayyy more,, yes we can ,,, #1 they didnt come in the country all at one time ,,,so...... you can send them back the same way they came in as many as you catch that day oh i forgotten one important part,,, the politicians say we cant send 12 million back, but we all know its wayyy more,, yes we can ,,, #1 they didnt come in the country all at one time ,,,so…… you can send them back the same way they came in as many as you catch that day

]]> By: joe,rr,nc http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-616 joe,rr,nc Fri, 16 May 2008 17:55:59 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-616 its so simple to stop illegals in this country ,,, stop government benefits unless you have legal papers,, if a person is born from an illegal they are considered illegal as well,, they cannot go to college unless they are legal, if they are illegal the can be deported if stopped in a traffic offense,, when you stop all the free goodies the USA hands out there will be a reverse in the tide there will be no need to come if they cant bleed the system dry its so simple to stop illegals in this country ,,, stop government benefits unless you have legal papers,, if a person is born from an illegal they are considered illegal as well,, they cannot go to college unless they are legal, if they are illegal the can be deported if stopped in a traffic offense,, when you stop all the free goodies the USA hands out there will be a reverse in the tide there will be no need to come if they cant bleed the system dry

]]> By: kevin dartez Abbeville, LA. http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-574 kevin dartez Abbeville, LA. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:59:36 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-574 I am a seafood processor that owns a company that has been working legal workers from mexico for 15 years. The previous owner started using the H-2B visa program in 1992, and when I took over in 2002, I continued to use this program. In 2005 I did not get any visas for my company until May of that year. When I finally got them, it was only 17 workers. Many of our workers who we had trained went somewhere else to work because we didn't know when or if we would get any visas that year. I could have worked 20 - 30 illegal workers that year but, I didn't want to be a part of the problem. You see the illegal worker is the reason we are having this problem. I know these illegals personally, because my wife is from Mexico. She had been coming to the U.S. since 1991 legally. So we get invited to many birthday parties, weddings, funerals, and cook outs. I do not dislike hispanic people. Fact is I love them. But to break the law is wrong. And there is a price to be paid for breaking the law. But the punishment must fit the crime. Most Republicans were against giving pathway to citizenship. They called it a form of amnesty. Well what else are you going to do? You already want them to pay a fine, back taxes and get at the end of the line, plus you don't want them, who for the most part, have been helping us to run our country for an opportunity to be a citizen. After all we pay those who don't want to work by not policing our welfare system. many Americans either can't pass the drug screen, won't wake up on time, or don't last on the job for more than a few days. Many Americans say that foreign workers are stealing jobs. This is true, but what percent of legal or illegal workers or stealing jobs? Maybe 10 percent. what about the bad guys, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and gangs? Maybe another 10 percent. That leaves 80 percent of hard working just want a better life type of people. As it stands now if you are in the U.S. illegally, someone will give you a job. But if you refuse to break the law by coming without proper documentation you are punished. Also if you work illegals your production is up, and if you refuse to work illegal workers your production is down, your sales are down, your tax paying is down, and your workers comp is also down. How about the amount of packaging material you may use, or maybe raw product you used to buy? Not to mention the energy you use. Can you get the picture of the economical domino effect that is happening here. I don't know all the answers, but I do know somebody in Washington better wake up or this will be a disaster that will take a whole lot of cleaning up. As for turning the ones who work illegals in, I say it does no good so far. I have given ICE many photos, addresses and nothing has been done. I am a seafood processor that owns a company that has been working legal workers from mexico for 15 years. The previous owner started using the H-2B visa program in 1992, and when I took over in 2002, I continued to use this program. In 2005 I did not get any visas for my company until May of that year. When I finally got them, it was only 17 workers. Many of our workers who we had trained went somewhere else to work because we didn't know when or if we would get any visas that year. I could have worked 20 – 30 illegal workers that year but, I didn't want to be a part of the problem. You see the illegal worker is the reason we are having this problem. I know these illegals personally, because my wife is from Mexico. She had been coming to the U.S. since 1991 legally. So we get invited to many birthday parties, weddings, funerals, and cook outs. I do not dislike hispanic people. Fact is I love them. But to break the law is wrong. And there is a price to be paid for breaking the law. But the punishment must fit the crime. Most Republicans were against giving pathway to citizenship. They called it a form of amnesty. Well what else are you going to do? You already want them to pay a fine, back taxes and get at the end of the line, plus you don't want them, who for the most part, have been helping us to run our country for an opportunity to be a citizen. After all we pay those who don't want to work by not policing our welfare system. many Americans either can't pass the drug screen, won't wake up on time, or don't last on the job for more than a few days. Many Americans say that foreign workers are stealing jobs. This is true, but what percent of legal or illegal workers or stealing jobs? Maybe 10 percent. what about the bad guys, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and gangs? Maybe another 10 percent. That leaves 80 percent of hard working just want a better life type of people. As it stands now if you are in the U.S. illegally, someone will give you a job. But if you refuse to break the law by coming without proper documentation you are punished. Also if you work illegals your production is up, and if you refuse to work illegal workers your production is down, your sales are down, your tax paying is down, and your workers comp is also down. How about the amount of packaging material you may use, or maybe raw product you used to buy? Not to mention the energy you use. Can you get the picture of the economical domino effect that is happening here. I don't know all the answers, but I do know somebody in Washington better wake up or this will be a disaster that will take a whole lot of cleaning up. As for turning the ones who work illegals in, I say it does no good so far. I have given ICE many photos, addresses and nothing has been done.

]]> By: Elliss Goodrich, Scottsdale, AZ http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-567 Elliss Goodrich, Scottsdale, AZ Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:28:34 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-567 I was fired for putting illegals to work. Who else works for $6.90@hour? I gained nothing from this, I just satisfied a customer. Now I am jobless. I was fired for putting illegals to work. Who else works for $6.90@hour? I gained nothing from this, I just satisfied a customer. Now I am jobless.

]]> By: Christina,Smyrna ,TN http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-421 Christina,Smyrna ,TN Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:36:05 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-421 I think its great that they are passing laws that employers can get fined or in trouble for hiring illegals but come on nothing has changed. I recently got laid off from my job but what really pissed me off is that the illegals got to keep there job. These illegals are working and here you see many americans down at the unemployment office or applying for welfare. Can't even find another job because honestly there aren't many jobs out there right now.Don't get me wrong I do understand that mexicans are hard workers and employers do expect more from them. I also see why you would want to be here every one wants the american dream. I am just upset that I got laid off and "Maria" got to keep her job even though she got hired using false documents and this is happening every where not just at my former employer. I think its great that they are passing laws that employers can get fined or in trouble for hiring illegals but come on nothing has changed. I recently got laid off from my job but what really pissed me off is that the illegals got to keep there job. These illegals are working and here you see many americans down at the unemployment office or applying for welfare. Can't even find another job because honestly there aren't many jobs out there right now.Don't get me wrong I do understand that mexicans are hard workers and employers do expect more from them. I also see why you would want to be here every one wants the american dream. I am just upset that I got laid off and "Maria" got to keep her job even though she got hired using false documents and this is happening every where not just at my former employer.

]]> By: CASSIE RAMOS http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-363 CASSIE RAMOS Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:42:09 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-363 Americans are hurting amercians not illegals, people who hire illegals are not tring to save money they really actually do like the way they work. VERY HARD AND THEY GET THE JOB DONE WITHOUT TAKING LONG BREAKS AND STOP TO SMOKE EVERY 5 MINUTES LIKE US AMERCIANS DO. WE ALL NEED TO LEARN TO GET ALONG AND THIS DARN GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO START GIVING ILLEGALS THEIR PAPERS SO THEY CAN WORK , IT IS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 20 YEARS ILLEGALS COMING HERE TO WORK AND NOW IT IS BECOMING AN ISSUE!!! OH PLEASE COME ON NOW, IT IS GETTING PRETTY LOW, i WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT 1 SINGLE ILLEGAL PERSON AND SEE HOW FAR THIS COUNTRY WILL FALL WITH IN MAYBE 1 WEEK. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN ! Americans are hurting amercians not illegals, people who hire illegals are not tring to save money they really actually do like the way they work. VERY HARD AND THEY GET THE JOB DONE WITHOUT TAKING LONG BREAKS AND STOP TO SMOKE EVERY 5 MINUTES LIKE US AMERCIANS DO. WE ALL NEED TO LEARN TO GET ALONG AND THIS DARN GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO START GIVING ILLEGALS THEIR PAPERS SO THEY CAN WORK , IT IS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 20 YEARS ILLEGALS COMING HERE TO WORK AND NOW IT IS BECOMING AN ISSUE!!! OH PLEASE COME ON NOW, IT IS GETTING PRETTY LOW, i WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT 1 SINGLE ILLEGAL PERSON AND SEE HOW FAR THIS COUNTRY WILL FALL WITH IN MAYBE 1 WEEK. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN !

]]> By: Rick - phoenix - az http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-264 Rick - phoenix - az Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:34:44 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-264 Ed wierdness.... 5 have hired both legal and illegal workers. I pay them the same wage I would an American employee because I didnt want to get accustomed to super-low wage rates. However - I will still hire immigrants, legal or otherwise over an American worker every time. Why? American employees, very honestly, stink. Thier productivity is scratch, absenteeism about doubles my labor costs, they whine and complain with an atitude that the American business " owes " them something. I dont have any of these problems with immigrant workers. They have a true work ethic. Again, I dont hire them to pay ultra-low rates,,, I use them because they are great workers. Ed wierdness…. 5 have hired both legal and illegal workers. I pay them the same wage I would an American employee because I didnt want to get accustomed to super-low wage rates. However – I will still hire immigrants, legal or otherwise over an American worker every time. Why? American employees, very honestly, stink. Thier productivity is scratch, absenteeism about doubles my labor costs, they whine and complain with an atitude that the American business " owes " them something. I dont have any of these problems with immigrant workers. They have a true work ethic. Again, I dont hire them to pay ultra-low rates,,, I use them because they are great workers.

]]> By: Zandile, Philadelphia, PA http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-226 Zandile, Philadelphia, PA Thu, 29 Nov 2007 03:20:51 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-226 I am an immigrant and was trafficked to this country by a disgusting middle class American family in Roseland, New Jersey to babysit for only $600 a month. I worked one full year with no time-off, all the weekends and holidays I did not get paid for. I did not have benefits and whatsoever you guys are talking about. When I got sick with headache and double vision, the boss took me to UMDNJ, there she gave a different address for a lesser hospital bill I guess, and later had me apply for charity care. The entire year I did not have my passport or any other document becuase she took them from me. So I was stuck in their house with no key to lock the door even for just taking a walk . I had nobody in this country and did not know anything about the US immigration and the law or where my country's consulate was in the US. All I had to do is smile when their friends visited and I was told not to talk to strangers. I am coming from a very poor family in South Africa and the person that I am is the reflection of my poor family and my life experiences. Therefore, if I owned a business in the US, I would hire people based on my business needs, and would provide basic benefits to all my employees and I would find a way to legalize those hardworking individuals. The only method of boosting the economy as well as reducing the country;'s financial burden is to give one person at a time a chance to survive through training programmes, wage raise and promoting people from one position to another and probably helping people become financially self sufficient and of course own something they can pass on to their heirs. All it takes is a person with an ear and an open hand to help and share the possibilties of a lifetime. I am an immigrant and was trafficked to this country by a disgusting middle class American family in Roseland, New Jersey to babysit for only $600 a month. I worked one full year with no time-off, all the weekends and holidays I did not get paid for. I did not have benefits and whatsoever you guys are talking about. When I got sick with headache and double vision, the boss took me to UMDNJ, there she gave a different address for a lesser hospital bill I guess, and later had me apply for charity care. The entire year I did not have my passport or any other document becuase she took them from me. So I was stuck in their house with no key to lock the door even for just taking a walk . I had nobody in this country and did not know anything about the US immigration and the law or where my country's consulate was in the US. All I had to do is smile when their friends visited and I was told not to talk to strangers. I am coming from a very poor family in South Africa and the person that I am is the reflection of my poor family and my life experiences. Therefore, if I owned a business in the US, I would hire people based on my business needs, and would provide basic benefits to all my employees and I would find a way to legalize those hardworking individuals. The only method of boosting the economy as well as reducing the country;'s financial burden is to give one person at a time a chance to survive through training programmes, wage raise and promoting people from one position to another and probably helping people become financially self sufficient and of course own something they can pass on to their heirs. All it takes is a person with an ear and an open hand to help and share the possibilties of a lifetime.

]]> By: fed up Clarksville Tn http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-225 fed up Clarksville Tn Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:57:47 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-225 These honest businessmen who hire legal workers ought to bring a civil lawsuits to those caught hiring illegals and undercutting the competition. The boss who knowingly hires illegals, pays them poorly ...undercuts legal business and .....the american taxpayer meanwhile ...absorbs the costs of schools, and medical expenses that the shady boss escapes! The spineless politicians need either to start protecting US citizens/taxpayers from shady employers and the mess that they help create or they can be voted out!!! These honest businessmen who hire legal workers ought to bring a civil lawsuits to those caught hiring illegals and undercutting the competition. The boss who knowingly hires illegals, pays them poorly …undercuts legal business and …..the american taxpayer meanwhile …absorbs the costs of schools, and medical expenses that the shady boss escapes! The spineless politicians need either to start protecting US citizens/taxpayers from shady employers and the mess that they help create or they can be voted out!!!

]]> By: stuccolady http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-224 stuccolady Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:48:23 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/11/my-competitors-keep-hiring-illegals/#comment-224 We have been operating a small Exterior Stucco company here in Southeast Georgia for three years. Business has slowed with housing, but when we do find a job to bid on a local competitor, who works illegals as "subcontractors" consistently underbids us by 15% or more. We have reported him to ICE on both the hotline and by talking to a field officer, but nothing has happened. What jobs we have been able to get have been through homeowners and builders who do not want illegals on their jobsite or property. They tell us that the are "willing to pay more" for Americans, because "they do a better job". Why don't the general contractors get the message? They are too busy pocketing the profits to concern themselves with the quality of the homes they sell. We have been operating a small Exterior Stucco company here in Southeast Georgia for three years. Business has slowed with housing, but when we do find a job to bid on a local competitor, who works illegals as "subcontractors" consistently underbids us by 15% or more. We have reported him to ICE on both the hotline and by talking to a field officer, but nothing has happened. What jobs we have been able to get have been through homeowners and builders who do not want illegals on their jobsite or property. They tell us that the are "willing to pay more" for Americans, because "they do a better job". Why don't the general contractors get the message? They are too busy pocketing the profits to concern themselves with the quality of the homes they sell.

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