Thread: NC:Citizens, illegal immigrants jostle for jobs

Citizens, illegal immigrants jostle for jobs
Hard times alter the debate over undocumented workers and their role in economy
By Kristin Collins - Staff Writer
Published: Sun, Mar. 15, 2009 12:30AM
Modified Sun, Mar. 15, 2009 03:59AM



Business owners once said they needed illegal workers because there weren't enough Americans willing to do dirty and lowly jobs. Now, unemployment is nearing 10 percent, and citizens are lining up for jobs they once would have rejected. Yet, some say, many employers still want illegal immigrants.

"They prefer immigrants, especially now," said James Lee, an electrician who hasn't found work since Thanksgiving. "I don't think it's fair when there's so many of us in the shape we're in now."

Lee, 47, said American workers can't compete against immigrants who are willing to work for low pay and under unreasonable conditions. And now that jobs are scarce -- nearly a quarter of construction workers nationwide are unemployed -- Lee is one of a growing chorus who say that illegal immigrants are leaving citizen workers with fewer options.


Here are the national unemployment rates for February among different ethnic groups.

Blacks: 13.4 percent

High school dropouts: 12.6 percent

Hispanics: 10.9 percent

High school graduates: 8.3 percent

Whites: 7.3 percent

College graduates: 4.1 percent

U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS


"It's just more people out there competing for what little work there is," said Franklin Tigner, a Louisburg construction subcontractor who was searching for a job last week.

Such concerns prompted legislative action. More than two dozen state lawmakers proposed a bill this month that would require North Carolina companies getting federal stimulus money to verify that their workers are in the country legally. They say the $787 billion plan should benefit U.S. citizens.

"With unemployment in North Carolina approaching 10 percent, with the layoffs we've seen, we have plenty of Americans who need those jobs," said Rep. Nelson Dollar, a Cary Republican who is one of the bill's co-sponsors.

Some, however, argue that the equation is not so simple.

Immigrants don't just fill jobs; they also create them by buying cars, groceries, homes and services.

"If they weren't here, I'd have less people employed here, no question about that," said Durham car dealer Kyle Ollis, who sells about a third of his cars to Hispanic customers.

And many business owners say that the vast supply of dependable labor that immigrants provided was responsible for much of the growth in industries such as construction and landscaping. Without immigrant labor, they say, their companies couldn't have created so many jobs in North Carolina.

Now, in a time of shrinking profits, some say those productive and loyal workers could mean the difference between survival and failure.

Bill Downey, a Durham construction company owner, said immigrants have been willing to work harder and more reliably than native workers -- and those are the types of workers that employers will keep as they try to remain solvent in a tight market. He said he doesn't employ illegal immigrants, but he acknowledged that many laborers are in the country illegally.

"When it comes down to the bottom line, more people are going to be interested in good workers than whether they're legal," Downey said. "I've got a good worker, and I'm going to send him away? I don't see that happening."

Some workers, immigrant and native alike, say that illegal immigrants have earned their place in the American economy, in good times and bad.

"We have been taking care of work that people don't want to do," said Carlos Reyes, a legal U.S. resident from Honduras who runs a Raleigh painting business. "Now you want to throw us away? That's not fair."

A surplus of labor

An estimated 300,000 illegal immigrants poured into North Carolina in the past decade, lured by plentiful jobs in construction, landscaping, manufacturing and hospitality. Now, those industries are taking the brunt of the recession, and there is a growing surplus of low-skilled workers.
kristin.collins@newsobserver.com or 919-829-4881

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1443428.html

Bill Downey, a Durham construction company owner, said immigrants have been willing to work harder and more reliably than native workers -- and those are the types of workers that employers will keep as they try to remain solvent in a tight market. He said he doesn't employ illegal immigrants, but he acknowledged that many laborers are in the country illegally.

"When it comes down to the bottom line, more people are going to be interested in good workers than whether they're legal," Downey said. "I've got a good worker, and I'm going to send him away? I don't see that happening."

I have a news break for this liar. When it comes down to it you and your fellow corrupt, self serving business owners are going to be forced to use a verification system and if you do not you are going to be driven out of business. He says he does not employ illegals, but how does he know this to be true. I can just picture this money grubber with his tongue in cheek as he makes such an assinine statement. Anyone want to join me in locating who this person is and researching his workforce? I am sure we will find plenty of illegals. If we were to follow this guys way of thinking we might as well just do away with laws since no one will obey them anyway.

What I don't understand is why those construction workers who are out of work aren't protesting at work sites that are hiring illegals instead of them? It seems that if you aren't working and have the time you could be pro-active and make sure that your point is made that these companies are hiring illegals instead of legal citizens.
Seeing that this article is from the N&O it doesn't surprise me that it's slanted towards the illegals and the fact that they are just "hard working dependable people" and we should just forget they are here illegally, with their hands out for welfare, healthcare, and support for the many children they're having. Oppps...sorry didn't mean to talk badly of them. Guess it's the zenophobe racist in me coming out.

Originally Posted by Havoc

Bill Downey, a Durham construction company owner, said immigrants have been willing to work harder and more reliably than native workers -- and those are the types of workers that employers will keep as they try to remain solvent in a tight market. He said he doesn't employ illegal immigrants, but he acknowledged that many laborers are in the country illegally.

"When it comes down to the bottom line, more people are going to be interested in good workers than whether they're legal," Downey said. "I've got a good worker, and I'm going to send him away? I don't see that happening."

I have a news break for this liar. When it comes down to it you and your fellow corrupt, self serving business owners are going to be forced to use a verification system and if you do not you are going to be driven out of business. He says he does not employ illegals, but how does he know this to be true. I can just picture this money grubber with his tongue in cheek as he makes such an assinine statement. Anyone want to join me in locating who this person is and researching his workforce? I am sure we will find plenty of illegals. If we were to follow this guys way of thinking we might as well just do away with laws since no one will obey them anyway.

DONE! http://www.dpsnc.net/news/community-new ... uction-and


His Bio:
http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Downey_W ... 13024.aspx

"We have been taking care of work that people don't want to do," said Carlos Reyes

BS. Plain and simple. You may convince yourselves, but this excuse is wearing thin and Americans just don't buy it anymore.

"If they weren't here, I'd have less people employed here, no question about that," said Durham car dealer Kyle Ollis, who sells about a third of his cars to Hispanic customers.

Interesting isn't it, that the car dealer neglected to mention a couple of relevant factors associated with the third of his total sales?

Of the 33% of sales to Hispanic buyers, what percentage were illegal alien buyers? Was that an issue when applying for credit, typically handled by the dealer?

Who will absorb the loss on defaults on these loans should the illegal alien decide to drive the car into Mexico and abandon the responsibility of the loan, or simply disappear under an assumed identity and default on the loan?

Who REALLY buys those cars when the credit is extended to illegal aliens? The American people through their tax dollars subsidizing the corrupt banking industry and the corrupt car dealer?

So let me see if I have this right: Mr. Kyle Ollis gets to employ a few extra salesmen and clerical staff because WE THE PEOPLE are held hostage with our tax dollars ransomed, and all the while Mr. Ollis' personal wealth increases as a result? Kyle Ollis, lay off your extra staff if you have to and get your business compliant with federal law. You are aiding and abetting illegal aliens for personal gain at the expense of your neighbors and fellow citizens. Grow a conscience, and meanwhile sit down and shut up! Your EXCUSES are worthless rhetoric.

I'd much rather support your laid-off staff through my tax dollars (and those they themselves contributed through the unemployment taxes} than see my hard earned money squandered to benefit you, your illegal alien customers, and a corrupt administration!

My advice is to ignore all articles by Kristen Collins.

My advice is to ignore all articles by Kristen Collins.

Maybe she will be on of those laid off from the N&O. Wonder what she might say if the newpaper hired an illegal to take her job. I know it's not the type of job that illegals would do since it means speaking English but it was just a thought. Now that would be justice.

The N&O, my local newspaper, is a liberal rag that does all it can to paint illegal aliens in a favorable light.

Immigrants don't just fill jobs; they also create them by buying cars, groceries, homes and services.

And Americans don't buy cars, groceries, homes and services? I would think Americans buy more, because they don't send 3/4 of each paycheck to relatives in a foreign country.