Hispanic Community Takes Hard Hit in Slowing Economy

[cvangel]

So if documented workers can't find jobs just where is the labor shortage????

Melissa Duran, Reporter
Hispanic Community Takes Hard Hit in Slowing Economy

Updated: May 15, 2008 07:31 PM PDT








"We'll stay out here until five or six at night," said Maximino Perez.



Helena Garcia is with Latinos In Action.





More Las Vegas residents are losing their jobs as the economy weakens. The Hispanic community has taken a huge hit -- unemployment insurance claims have gone up more than 50-percent in the last year.

Competition is getting tough outside home improvement stores, nurseries and convenience stores throughout the valley.

"Yes, yes. There are a lot more groups that are looking for work, but there is no work," said Pedro Cedilla. He used to hold a construction job laying concrete but recently lost it. It's the same story you'll hear from many of the men there.

"We don't have work. Sometimes we don't have work for several days, and we'll stay out here until five or six at night," said Maximino Perez.

But the slow economy isn't just hurting undocumented workers, it's being felt by documented Hispanic workers as well. The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation saw a 67-percent increase in Hispanics applying for unemployment in the last year.

Helena Garcia is with Latinos In Action -- an Hispanic advocacy organization. She says the slowdown in the Las Vegas housing market is largely to blame.

"Mainly construction, because of our housing market right now I see the majority in construction are losing their jobs but that has a ripple effect. It's having a tremendous affect on all kinds of businesses," said Garcia.

Garcia says the bad economy and new immigration laws combined are causing more Hispanics to lose their jobs -- but ultimately their loss is also yours.

"All of these people that have been working, sometimes making $30-$40 an hour -- they are providing a lot for the economy," said Garcia.

For now, workers say hope is the only thing that gets them through. The lack of jobs for Hispanics here in the U.S. isn't just hurting our economy. The high Hispanic unemployment rate has decreased the number of Hispanics wiring money to family members in their native countries, also increasing the risk of poverty in those areas.

Email your comments to Reporter Melissa Duran.
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[tencz57]

What about all the "Citizens" who lost their jobs ? Where is the group to speak for them ? The dog gone Latino's took these jobs from Americans . Waaaaaa

[misterbill]

Don't you know you are supposed to be cheap labor??? If I could make that I would go back to work and I am $75 years old.

Folks I am so darned tired of all this BS that I need to vent sarcasm--

""We don't have work. Sometimes we don't have work for several days, and we'll stay out here until five or six at night," said Maximino Perez.

Well, then, go home, there you won't have to go stand on a corner for 5-6 days a week. You can stay home and rest because your stinking politicians are running one of the most corrupt countries in the world into the ground. But---things will get better when Geroge Bush moves down and takes over.

[SicNTiredInSoCal]

"All of these people that have been working, sometimes making $30-$40 an hour -- they are providing a lot for the economy," said Garcia.

Are you kidding me? WTH??? Thats more than 80% of the Americans I know make!
Now THAT is an outrage!

Go home illegals! Make more jobs for citizens here legally.

[MyAmerica]

All of these people that have been working, sometimes making $30-$40 an hour -- they are providing a lot for the economy," said Garcia.

For now, workers say hope is the only thing that gets them through. The lack of jobs for Hispanics here in the U.S. isn't just hurting our economy. The high Hispanic unemployment rate has decreased the number of Hispanics wiring money to family members in their native countries, also increasing the risk of poverty in those areas.

According to the media only Hispanics are suffering ill-effects from the economy--what about the whites, blacks, asians, native Americans, etc.?

Hispanics making $30-$40 an hour and the money they were wiring home to FAMILY members in their native countries has decreased.
Just what were they doing to earn that amount of money--was it legal?
Illegal immigration breaks up families--money is wired to FAMILY members in native countries.

Mexican illegal aliens in the U.S. need to return to Mexico and help retake their country from criminals and drug cartels.

[miguelina]

"All of these people that have been working, sometimes making $30-$40 an hour -- they are providing a lot for the economy," said Garcia.

Americans used to make up to that years ago before illegal aliens took their jobs. Those same jobs now pay $7-12 an hour, so how did these aliens help? Illegal aliens provide NADA for the economy, they send the money out of this country! THEY help KILL our economy. Now we're saying, NO MAS!

[koobster]

good, now they need to kill the bill that gives these people welfare, section 8 houseing, food stamps, health insurance, and all the other freebies they get we, cut that they will LEAVE. We have people here that are AMERICANS that need help, but, yet they are not getting it because ILLEGALS are getting it all. Remember they DEMAND it. UGH... They can go home, and leave us alone.