To: U.S. Department of Homeland Security

From: Jerin Choudhury , MPA Student at Baruch College

Date: September 17, 2015

RE: Undocumented workers in U.S.

Problem:                                  Undocumented Workers in U.S.

Undocumented workers provide critical contributions to the US economy. The agriculture, construction, and restaurant sectors   would collapse without the critical contributions of undocumented workers. Hiring undocumented aliens plays as a positive incentive for a dynamic economy. It becomes evident that undocumented workers are a necessary asset for the growth of the US economy. Many undocumented workers are forced to hold their jobs that pay them less than the minimum wage, sometimes $2 an hour. The employers exploit these workers in order to make a high profit. The employers know that these undocumented workers will never leave because they have very little choice.  I believe that paying undocumented workers less than the minimum wage ($ 8.75) is unethical and a violation of human rights. Also, it creates a legal system of slavery and exploitation.

Hiring illegal workers is illegal and paying them less than the minimum wage is immoral. Illegal workers are the most helpless and oppressed workers in the United States. They are victims of low wages, hazardous workplace conditions, injuries, discrimination and other labor related disruptions. Illegal hiring breaks up the labor laws; as a result, companies may impose heavy penalties. Hiring an undocumented worker is a dangerous business. However, companies still tend to hire illegal employees to reduce the labor cost. There are 9.3 million undocumented workers in the United States. 2.2 million are Mexican, 2.2 million are from  Latin American countries, 10% from Asia, 5% from Europe and Canada and 5 %  from  the rest of the globe. Undocumented workers usually live in California, New York, Florida, Texas, Illinois, and New Jersey.  Undocumented workers are mostly involved in agriculture, housekeeping, baby sitting and food service work. The majority of the undocumented workers work without health insurance and are paid below the minimum wage. It is a great benefit for a company to save labor costs. Undocumented workers are willing   to work below the minimum wage because U.S money is worth more in their native countries. Undocumented workers do not complain about their lack of benefits.  They have no health insurance, social security or IRS payments. Most Americans are not willing to work for the low wages that the illegal worker   accept. However, illegal workers work hard to save their jobs. They cannot file lawsuits against their companies or managers. For this reason, they get hired by the companies. Undocumented workers decrease the labor costs of construction and restaurant businesses. These low labor costs stimulate the dynamic economy. Food prices are low. In the U.S about 25% to 50% farm labors come from undocumented workers. We owe the undocumented workers for their contribution to our agriculture. Many economists believe that immigrants legal or illegal play a vital role in the overall economy.  Undocumented workers are willing   to work below the minimum wage because U.S dollars have great value in their home countries. Mexicans are the largest immigrant groups in the United States. Money send home maximizes happiness to their families. Undocumented workers are afraid of deportation and they are happy having few benefits. Their job performance and salaries paid do not match the dedication they provide to their employer. In Coyotes, Migration   duration, and remittances, Author describes the positive consequences of remittance send by Mexican undocumented workers from the United States to Mexico.  Mexican immigrants   reside in the United States   for a short period of time. Among   Latin American immigrants, Mexican receives the fewest US green cards. Most Mexican migrants   arrive to United States in the   growing season. Growing season refers to harvesting time. When the harvesting is over they leave the United States. Research suggests that Mexican alien   go back to Mexico after a   few months of their arrival. These alien come to   the United States through worker visas .These workers have previous experience of working  in   and entering  the to the   United States illegally . Remittance sent to Mexico from immigrants working in US totaled $ 21.5 billion in 2009.  The remittance is still consider the largest source of   earning path in the economy of   Mexico. In   Business Ethics and Ethical Business,  Audi (2009) has  mentioned Kantian Ethics to elaborate the idea of exploitations: ‘Each person   has dignity and profound worth; therefore people should not be exploited or manipulated or merely used as a means to and ends(Audi, 2009) .Undocumented workers do not get any praise from their employers. Sometimes   they work for long shifts without any breaks and days off. Undocumented workers do not have safe work environment and adequate equipment to finish their work easily. As a result, they suffer from muscle pain and mental stress.  Undocumented workers are scared of losing their jobs because   they depend on their jobs to survive in the United States. Many companies use this anxiety as a chance to make profit for their businesses. Employers   receive benefits from undocumented workers. A company saves every dollar by paying less than the   minimum wage. This is simply unfair and unethical because   it disrespects the true value of their   quality. The employers use this cheap labor to make profit in their business.  On the other hand, undocumented workers’ benefits are few. I t is very clear that exploiting undocumented workers   by paying less then minimum wage is unethical and immoral. The benefit levels between these two groups are unbalanced and unjust.

The issue of undocumented workforce is very sensitive.

The United States is a country of immigrants. America is called the melting pot because of the diversity of the people , mixture of different cultures, customs, norms and values but when any immigrant come  to America legal or illegal ,one day they  become American. Every human being has some value.  Paying   less than minimum wage means underestimating the value human. Therefore, it is time for United States to solve this issue and give undocumented workers to enjoy legal rights in workplace.

Work Cited

Audi, R. (2009). Business ethics   and ethical business. (1 ed., p. 17). New York, New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.