Proudly harboring the undocumented

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t agree with the way MAGAs are approaching this as hunting down immigrants for sport, but there needs to be humane immigration reform. Plenty of people all over the world are in bad situations and would love to live in the US. Laws need to be respected.

The US and mostly Western European countries have historically done real damage to countries in South America and Africa. They are still living in impoverished unstable countries. Same with the Middle East with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Assad in Syria and now Israel working to exterminate a whole group of Palestinians. People who have never known what it feels like to feel safe, to have a real home and a stable job. They will do what they have to keep their families alive. Most of these immigrants have a story to tell. Not all but the stories are heartbreaking.

There was a picture of a Palestinian women holding a boy that might have been about 13 years old with tears brimming around his eyes. I wondered how long before that profound sadness turns to anger and violence. It will be justified but this boy and his peers, if they make it to adulthood, will have a hard time getting people to listen. This will just be another denied holocaust and history books will not be kind to the US.

To OP, good job. If we all do what we can, the small acts of kindness can change people’s lives for the better.

The silly romanticization is a bit much, not to mention totally ahistorical.

The people of South and Central America and Africa engaged in ongoing wars of conquest (and sometimes annihilation) long before Europeans or Americans had any meaningful impact whatsoever. And the history of the ME is arguably the bloodiest per cap in world history, even if one excludes all conflict involving extra-regional powers.

TLDR? You’re a fantastist.

[Anonymous]

Do you have records, identification, and documents from his original country in your possession? Assuming all migrants are innocent and clean is a dangerous game and incredibly naive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a home in a very red state, and we and the neighbors are all happily harboring an undocumented immigrant from Latin America who does tremendous yardwork for all of us. We pay very very well. And we advise on how to keep their head low and avoid ICE.


I have no qualms about this. What is going on in this country right now is morally wrong. These people work their butts off, are law abiding good people and make our country great. THEY’RE doing that. Not MAGA.

And, you are breaking the law.

If the president doesn’t follow the law, why should OP?

See how that works. Presidents should take pains to follow the law and model citizenry.

Clearly with Trump it’s man for man. I say, good for Op!

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of fools in the US. Overpaying for mediocre yard work? Probably the same people who kept on their cleaners and pained them for not cleaning during the pandemic. Just to realize that their slot has been taken by those who paid for actual cleaning and be cast to the side once the restrictions were lifted.
The same way this gardening guy is laughing all the way to the bank, pardon me, to a western Union location.

[Anonymous]

*paid not pained

[Anonymous]

OP come back and post when your child goes to college and can’t find a job in computer science or engineering or other areas because companies prefer to hire OPT international students for cheaper. In case you don’t know what that is companies can hire international students after they graduate for three years at a reduced rate (it’s at minimum a saving of 8% because they don’t have to contribute to social security).

Come back and post when you realize a Latino or Black small business owner who is trying to run a landscaping company goes under because they have to pay for workers comp insurance, licenses, social security, and taxes while following safety procedures.

Come back and post when that gardener gets injured at a neighbors house or a neighbor realizes he doesn’t have to pay him after all for a big job because there is no recourse.

Not many people are blaming a migrant who wants a better chance at life. But by so many people hiring undocumented people it has set up a system that is exploitative and lowers wages for the working class.

Stop thinking like a white savior because you aren’t really helping.

[Anonymous]

Or when this gardeners kids take the customer facing jobs because they require Spanish, pushing out the elderly ladies with 30 years experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You pay VERY VERY well in CASH so that income doesn't get reported or taxed by your state or the federal government. The worker gets screwed if he gets hurt because he has no health or disability insurance when working with equipment that could be dangerous to his health. He gets no social security when he gets old and his body is worn down.

There is a chance your gardener actually can work legally in the US but it is a way better to get all you money in cash in the short-term because you don't have to report it. If your Gardner came in the last three years chances are they claimed asylum and can legally work.

He’s been here 20 years. Has never claimed asylum. There’s virtually zero chance he could ever legalize his situation—especially under the current administration. People who say stuff like that simply don’t understand how our immigration system and process works. Guys like him for all practical purposes can never, ever get legal status here under the law.

He doesn’t work with heavy equipment. You’re right — he can’t get social security or any benefits should he ever get hurt (or when he gets old) but there’s nothing I can do about any of that other than pay him well and hope he manages his money well.

Finally, the idea that I somehow personally benefit from paying in cash is ridiculous. He does not work for me full-time—he works throughout the neighborhood and elsewhere as well. I don’t know everything he does, but I know what I and the neighbor who recommended him to me pay him. I probably personally end up paying him maybe $1500 a season? I pay over $30 a hour.

The guy works like a horse and goes home. That’s all he does. I don’t know where he lives or who he lives with and I don’t ask. All I know is he isn’t married and doesn’t drink. Never has. He’s extremely honest and reliable. He’ll text when he plans to arrive; he shows up, does what he thinks needs to be done, and leaves. If I’m not here when he comes, he’ll text me how many hours he worked and the next time I see him I pay him.

I speak Spanish fluently. I text him from when I haven’t heard from him and make sure he’s ok and lying low—which he always is. I think he’s being pretty smart. If ICE finds him and does anything with him that puts firmly to rest any bullshit claim that they’re only going after the “bad guys.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So effectively an indentured servant?

Considering that we pay him more than triple the minimum wage in our state? I don’t think so.

The slaves were fed. Your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have records, identification, and documents from his original country in your possession? Assuming all migrants are innocent and clean is a dangerous game and incredibly naive.

He’s been here 20 years. He’s done work for me for the last several. I’m fluent in Spanish. I’ve spoken with him an length over the years (because, you know, I actually respect and treat him as a human being and not just a worker) and I know he’s a good and honest man. I don’t need to see his paperwork.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of fools in the US. Overpaying for mediocre yard work? Probably the same people who kept on their cleaners and pained them for not cleaning during the pandemic. Just to realize that their slot has been taken by those who paid for actual cleaning and be cast to the side once the restrictions were lifted.
The same way this gardening guy is laughing all the way to the bank, pardon me, to a western Union location.

It’s not mediocre yard work in the slightest. He takes great pride in it. He does things on my property (7 acres) which would have never occurred to me to do and the place always looks great.

We never “casted aside” any of our cleaners either.

My guy can laugh all the way to the usurious Western Union if he wants, but I look out my front door and smile
at the excellent work that he does
and my heart is warmed knowing that I’m helping him and maybe his family in his home country. The only bad guy in all of this is Western Union for stealing too much of a good man’s money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP come back and post when your child goes to college and can’t find a job in computer science or engineering or other areas because companies prefer to hire OPT international students for cheaper. In case you don’t know what that is companies can hire international students after they graduate for three years at a reduced rate (it’s at minimum a saving of 8% because they don’t have to contribute to social security).

Come back and post when you realize a Latino or Black small business owner who is trying to run a landscaping company goes under because they have to pay for workers comp insurance, licenses, social security, and taxes while following safety procedures.

Come back and post when that gardener gets injured at a neighbors house or a neighbor realizes he doesn’t have to pay him after all for a big job because there is no recourse.

Not many people are blaming a migrant who wants a better chance at life. But by so many people hiring undocumented people it has set up a system that is exploitative and lowers wages for the working class.

Stop thinking like a white savior because you aren’t really helping.

My kids are grown and have good jobs. One actually did asylum work for State until the Orange Man came in and terminated all the contracts on day one.

I also have a lawn service. I’m pretty sure the workers are documented. I’m also sure they’re paying their workers less than I pay my yard guy. I don’t under pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or when this gardeners kids take the customer facing jobs because they require Spanish, pushing out the elderly ladies with 30 years experience.

You’re grasping at straws.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So effectively an indentured servant?

Considering that we pay him more than triple the minimum wage in our state? I don’t think so.

The slaves were fed. Your point?

Sorry. You’re not going to pin the “slave”
label on a guy earning $30+ an hour in a state where the minimum wage is $7.25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They crossed the border illegally. They may have a criminal record at how , you do not know. They did not follow the law. Many people have to wait for years to get a visa to come to the US and follow the rules.

Your post betrays a common and fundamental misconception about how the American immigration system works. There is no single “line.” To the contrary, it is more like boarding an airplane, where there are several lines, and the ones who board first are only those who purchased first class tickets or have airline status.

There is one big difference between our immigration system and boarding an airplane, though: for many, there’s no getting in the line at all, ever, because you can’t afford a ticket and don’t qualify in any way for a free one. No line for you. Not even Group 7.