Legalizing Undocumented Workers
Alex Zakson
March 30, 2006
The House, Senate and White House have begun addressing the issue of undocumented (formerly known as illegal) workers. The Senate proposed to give them an opportunity to become legal workers, and even citizens. They will have to learn English, learn civics, pay back taxes, pay a fine, and abide by our laws. Once they do so, they will be entitled to become U.S.
Citizens. This is approach is both compassionate and humane.
Workers flock to America for three major reasons: (1) there are many more opportunities to work here, (2) there are too few opportunities in their countries, and (3) no matter what the wage, it is significantly more than they could earn back home. These workers try legal avenues, failing that they risk their lives getting across the border to America illegally. They don?t speak English, are unfamiliar with our laws and their rights as individuals, consequently, they put up with many indignities on route and later on working in America.
American businesses hire these workers for three major reasons: (1) they will accept virtually any job they can get, (2) they will work for lower wages, off the books, saving the employer his share of employee taxes, (3) they don?t speak English, don?t know our laws, and being illegal have no way to escalate grievances, should they arise.
But once they complete the prescribed steps to become legal, they will no longer be as attractive to employers. They may command higher wages, pay Social Security and Medicare taxes, and will not tolerate as much abuse.
Employers in turn will have to pay the higher wages and the necessary taxes, and will have to treat them more carefully.
Therefore I predict that the demand for undocumented workers will continue unabated, because the new legal/citizen workers will not meet the major criteria enumerated above that make illegal workers so attractive to employers.
In a world of Supply and Demand, as long as there is a demand, new sources will spring up to satisfy the demand. The only way to break this cycle is to solve this problem: choke off demand. There must be significant disincentive for employers to hire illegal workers, and good incentive to hire legal workers. That alone will solve the problem. But I doubt if there is a politician who will trouble business with severe disincentives.
Citizens. This is approach is both compassionate and humane.
Workers flock to America for three major reasons: (1) there are many more opportunities to work here, (2) there are too few opportunities in their countries, and (3) no matter what the wage, it is significantly more than they could earn back home. These workers try legal avenues, failing that they risk their lives getting across the border to America illegally. They don?t speak English, are unfamiliar with our laws and their rights as individuals, consequently, they put up with many indignities on route and later on working in America.
American businesses hire these workers for three major reasons: (1) they will accept virtually any job they can get, (2) they will work for lower wages, off the books, saving the employer his share of employee taxes, (3) they don?t speak English, don?t know our laws, and being illegal have no way to escalate grievances, should they arise.
But once they complete the prescribed steps to become legal, they will no longer be as attractive to employers. They may command higher wages, pay Social Security and Medicare taxes, and will not tolerate as much abuse.
Employers in turn will have to pay the higher wages and the necessary taxes, and will have to treat them more carefully.
Therefore I predict that the demand for undocumented workers will continue unabated, because the new legal/citizen workers will not meet the major criteria enumerated above that make illegal workers so attractive to employers.
In a world of Supply and Demand, as long as there is a demand, new sources will spring up to satisfy the demand. The only way to break this cycle is to solve this problem: choke off demand. There must be significant disincentive for employers to hire illegal workers, and good incentive to hire legal workers. That alone will solve the problem. But I doubt if there is a politician who will trouble business with severe disincentives.
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