Day Labor Sites Harm Local Businesses And Homeowners
By Greg L | 23 May 2008 | Fairfax County, Illegal Aliens, Crime | 41 Comments
Derek Boudreau, the owner of Living Water Design & Build of Centreville is tired of competitors using cheap illegal alien labor to undercut his business, and is even more tired when the local mainstream media displays a consistent favoratism towards these people that are destroying his business. In a recent article published in the Centre View North, Boudreau lays out in stark detail the reality of illegal alien labor and its effect on legal businesses, and the risks attendent to homeowners when they try to shave a few dollars off a remodeling project’s cost.
“People who hire people at day-labor sites have no responsibility for them and don’t have to pay insurance or Workmen’s Compensation for them. It’s totally illegal for a contractor to pick up a day laborer, but we continue to let it happen. These contractors can then bid [jobs] at a lower price [because they have less expenses], but contractors legally paying their bills, insurance, licensing, business and federal taxes and general liability insurance have to bid higher. And it can push them out of business or tempt them to go illegal.”
While homeowners may think that picking up a few illegal aliens at the Centreville Public Library who aren’t busy sexually assaulting library patrons (see here), the downside for them is pretty significant:
For example, he said, a Great Falls homeowner hired a group of El Salvadorians to rebuild an old deck for him. It was 1,300 square feet and the men tore it down. “But when they discovered they didn’t know how to handle modern, deck-building materials, the homeowner called me, and I had to rebuild and reframe it.”
Boudreau said illegal immigrants know how to do tile work, drywall, painting and basic house framing, but have problems with jobs requiring engineering. He said an illegal immigrant in Prince George’s County, Md., “masqueraded as a licensed builder” but lacked the skills to finish a deck job and built it improperly. “It was on the second story of a townhouse,” said Boudreau. “So it was dangerous for people to stand on without falling 10 feet to the ground.”
The rampant violations of law, the harm done to honest businessmen, and the dangers inherent in having unqualified and unskilled illegal aliens unlawfully perform structural work on residences should give serious pause to anyone deluded enough to think that having day laborer sites a good public policy. State and local law enforcement seriously needs to address this problem and stop their selective enforcement of the law.
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41 Comments
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Let me be the first to reply to this headline…
Our business has suffered greatly, being in the remodeling
business. Illegal “laborers” can do many things, and one
of them is to take my legal work away from me. I agree
with all that is said above.
I have some customers that have gotten up to 8 estimates
to get the lowest price, and that’s all that matters. Of course,
with all my LEGAL overhead (insurance, etc.) I can no longer
compete.
I have no compassion for the day laborers. I don’t feel sorry
for them. I don’t feel that they “only do what I won’t do”. That’s
bullshit, to put it bluntly. They have put me and my family in
a terrible position….having to cut my overhead. They are here
because we have tucked our tails between our legs and God
forbid someone should say a nasty word about the poor darlings…..
I’m having a hard time paying my mortgage, much less other bills,
because hiring these guys off the street has become OK to homeowners
who don’t want to pay for the security of a licensed and insured
contractor.
There we go again….letting something become normal because
it just happens over and over, and nothing is done or said about it.
Might be too late for our legitimate small business….
We can all hope that one day the ubiquitous sign “se habla español” will be commonly replaced by one that reads “documented employees only”.
I find it interesting that the complaints about hurting businesses due to illegal immigration skyrocket whenever there is a downturn in the home building home improvement industry.
“but have problems with jobs requiring engineering”
Like electrical and plumbing work?
Sure, anyone can twist two wires together with a wirenut..it’s knowing which two wires and WHY that’s the problem.
Well, El, when the economy is bad, legitimate businesses suffer because of the undercut in labor costs. Of course, you would rather call it racism. When we have plenty of money, we can afford to pay others to do our chores. When money is scarce, lots of people stop buying new homes, and start mowing their own lawns again. It’s the economy! The apple cart has capsized and illegal aliens are getting the brunt. That’s the beauty of capitalism vs. socialism.
The moron who destroyed my bathroom was a homegrown idiot from Yorkshire. Don’t assume because someone isn’t an immigrant, they know what they are doing. In fact, if it wasn’t for an immigrant this fool brought along for the ride, I would have had a bathtub in my downstairs.
I had my roof done last year. I interviewed several contractors and I asked for proof each time that the workers they hired were legally in the country, etc. The guy that would provide proof was about 20 percent higher in his estimate than the others. So this lends some credence to the above story. Illegal aliens have been undercutting legitimate workers since I can remember, regardless of the housing market. most people dont equate cheap with quality, however in these trying times it’s easy to see why some people go with the cash savings the illegals offer, even if it requires them to take a chance with quality.
It’s a cliche but it’s so true…
“The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory.”
Dolph said on 23 May 2008 at 4:05 pm:
That’s why one check references and actually contact the people listed. BUYER BEWARE!
REMEMBER……YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
Dolph said on 23 May 2008 at 4:05 pm:
“The moron who destroyed my bathroom was a homegrown idiot from Yorkshire.”
Dolph, I remember when you were talking about that incident. The way I understood it from you at the time was that the “homegrown idiot from Yorkshire” had a crew of illegal aliens, and that they destroyed your bathroom. I agree that the guy was an idiot, and greedy, if he hired illegal aliens…which I thought was the point.
AWC,
No they didn’t destroy my bathroom. He did. He didn’t know what he was doing. My point is, just because someone isn’t an immigrant doesn’t mean they know what they are doing. My second person was wonderful.
Anyone seen the fine “workmanship” found in these foreclosed homes once owned by those here to “do the jobs Americans don’t want to do”?
If you want quality work and solid references, I recommend Angie’s List www.angieslist.com. If you aren’t familiar with it, suggest you check it out. I found a super plumber, an honest roofer, and a good mechanic via the list. I highly recommend it!
I walked into a foreclosed home, one that had suspected illegal aliens in it. happened to be on my street so I attended the open house. it’s still on the market, offered 100,000 below market value and it still will not sell. it’s hammered.
central A/C is busted, air compressor shot as it’s about 15 years old and is totally rusted out. who knows how long this has been broken.
kitchen looks circa 1970, with faded yellow tile, half of it torn up for some reason (possible leak). dishwasher and refrigerator removed. range remains.
lower bathroom has hole where toilet used to be, nasty. has a rag stuffed in the hole where the sewage pipe went. there was a bucket in there that at one time had stuff in it. I hesitate to imagine what.
shower completely moldy, and completely nasty as is all the bathrooms.
basement converted to 3 rudimentary bedrooms, it was divided by hideously framing it (attempt to frame) with unfinished drywall. Doors each had their separate locks on them. About enough room to fit a cot and a duffle bag is all the room they had.
the carpet in the upstairs bedroom was puke colored and stained all over the place. smelled urine everywhere in the house. like dogs had their way with it or something.
water was turned off, kitchen fixtures and some appliances were removed. they should still be with the house
the list goes one, they demolished that house and left it. it’s sad because it’s an end-unit and could fetch top dollar had it been kept in shape. they also have some roof leaks and their gutters are falling off. Everyone who looked at the house looked like they were ready to puke after they walked out. I got ill myself.
this is what these people do, I’ve seen it for myself.
It would be nice if someone had a website that told us what companies obey the law and which don’t. But that is a perfect world is it not?
Josh said:
Wow! What a bigot you are Josh. I guess white people have never mistreated their properties. Thats why Manassas had a stellar reputation in the region before the immigrants showed up…
HSM has a list of companies that do NOT hire illegal aliens.
Anyone who runs a Northern Virginia business that does not hire illegals, or knows someone who runs such a business, please add your company listing to the Honest Business Network.
http://honestbusinessnetwork.com/join_us.html
We have nearly 30 companies in the directory and were featured on Channel 7 in March
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0308/507297.html
Honest businesses are getting hard to come by and we need to give them all the help we can.
Great post! Straightforward and no unnecessary and pointless liberal bashing. This is the kind of informative and real story that I read blogs for.
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HAVE AT IT TELL EMPLOYERS TO GET INVOLVED PUT THEIR NAME ON IT. and for those of you in need of legal employees what better than the military. They are already trained for hard work.
try it couldn’t hurt
Someone a little closer, let Derek Boudreau, the owner of Living Water Design & Build of Centreville know about this. Beats doing nothing about it .
good luck, hope this helps some
The Truth said on 23 May 2008 at 7:54 pm:
I see you’ve lost your way around the blogs again…..the loonies are all over on ANTIbvbl…..
The Truth said on 23 May 2008 at 7:54 pm:
“The Lie” - it looks like you’ve lost your way around the blogs again….. most of the nut cases are over on ANTI bvbl…..
Just trying to be helpful.
americangal4ever,
Ha ha! You’re spitting in the wind. It’s the law of supply and demand that is bringing immigrant labor here. Most real americans can understand that…
I’m so far from a bigot it’s pitiful, it’s what illegal immigrants do when they board in a house. nothing bigoted about it. notice i didnt say “hispanics” or hispanic immigrants or even hispanic illegal immigrants. in fact, they were not even hispanic illegals that occupied the house, they were from other countries. put away your self righteous attitude and stop thinking everyone is a racist. and since I’m not “white” then you’ve got another problem there. get “your” facts straight i.e. “the truth” before you start opening your pie hole…
Dolph,
Where in the article does it say home grown is better? I suppose you would just want the type of criminal that raped the ten year old to come to your house? Or, how about the criminal who was hired at a corner in Maryland and ended up killing the owner of the house.
josh said on 23 May 2008 at 7:11 pm:
Just like their places in Mexico and El Slavador. Want to be reminded all the time of “home.”
The Truth said on 23 May 2008 at 7:54 pm:
Thats why Manassas had a stellar reputation in the region before the ILLEGALS showed up…
I saw one of these foreclosures today..the MLS listing said “Bring your hammer and nails”.
It should have said, “Bring a sledgehammer and a trashcan, then bring your hammer and nails”.
I do find it interesting that just about every illegal-alien boarding house I’ve looked at has keyed locks on all the bedroom doors. Don’t they trust each other????
By the way, it’s really starting to look like Mexicanos Sin Frontreras needs to change their name to Mexicanos Sin Haciendas. Two more just went up for sale in my neighborhood. “Short sale”, both of them.
Seems to me that this is the direct result of a huge oversupply of unskilled labor.
the truth just wants to bash “racists” and “bigots” and he doesnt care whether they are legitimate or not. as long as he can call someone one or both of the above he’ll be happy. that’s why he didnt post anymore after that, he got his fix and hit the sack. he’ll be back tomorrow for more I’m sure.
Hit the sack, or the bong?
COM,
Again, you have missed the point.
My big question to business owners adversely affected by illegal laborers is why don’t you make this point more clearly to the business community, lawmakers, and journalists? Every time an article is written in the Washington Post about illegal immigration, there are a multitude of letters to the editor stating that “illegal aliens are just here to work”, but very few letters that discuss their adverse impact on legitimate employers. It seems to me that this is a winning argument that is not often made to the public and to law makers.
Why should we pay more for things than we have to? Lot’s of people love to shop at Wal-mart despite the issue that there might be a nine year old girl chained to a chair in Thailand sewing……..
Let’s get over blaming people for heading for the lowest bidder or cost. We all do it - sometimes it’s easier or more convenient NOT to see what is behind the low price. Doesn’t make it not true.
Try some deep rooted integrity…. don’t support day laborers and don’t shop in places where they avoid full costs by buying from foreign countries that use slave labor. Stop pretending you don’t know about it or excusing yourself.
I see the same ignorance that is common among anti-immigrant fanatics. They think that it’s just so easy to not hire illegal immigrants. “All you gotta do is check their documents.” These documents can be easily forged with sufficient quality so as to fool the naked eye. Fake documents can be acquired for a couple hundred bucks in most major cities and in many small towns throughout the nation.
Some employers have been defendants in discrimination lawsuits for being overly diligent in their screening process. You people think that only unscrupulous employers hire illegal aliens. Get a clue.
“These documents can be easily forged with sufficient quality so as to fool the naked eye.”
That’s right El Guapo…and that’s why everyone should have EVerify on speed dial.
“These documents can be easily forged with sufficient quality so as to fool the naked eye.”
Many contain UV reactive dyes that are impossible to forge. A UV light costs about $10.
The 2008 ID Checking Guide costs all of $24:
http://www.driverslicenseguide.com/
“impossible to forge”
Easily, I should say.
you can’t forge E-Verify
So is it better to do nothing? Call your local ICE office. It worked in this case*
Restaurant Owner Arrested for Hiring, Harboring Illegal Aliens
Written by Imperial Valley News
Friday, 23 May 2008
Waukesha, Wisconsin - Special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested the owner of an upscale Asian steakhouse on Thursday on charges that he knowingly hired illegal aliens to work at his restaurant and housed them at a Waukesha residence. The charges resulted from an ICE criminal worksite enforcement investigation.
ICE agents executed a federal search warrant May 22 at Asiana Restaurant, 1198 George Towne Drive in Pewaukee. They arrested restaurant owner Rong “Ricky” Shi, 32, of Merton, Wis. Shi, a naturalized U.S. citizen from China, who is charged with unlawfully harboring and hiring illegal aliens for financial gain.
ICE agents initiated the investigation following an April 29 arrest when they took into custody four illegal aliens from Mexico and China from a Waukesha residence. Waukesha Police Department reported receiving numerous complaints from the public regarding a residence located at 2208 Melody Lane; police requested assistance from ICE. An ICE affidavit unsealed in federal court Thursday alleges that Shi knowingly hired the four illegal aliens to work at his restaurant and harbored them at the Melody Lane residence he owns.
“ICE is committed to enforcing the nation’s immigration laws in the workplace to maintain the integrity of our legal immigration system,” said Brian Falvey, resident agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Milwaukee. “Criminal sanctions against employers are an effective deterrent to illegal employment schemes.”
ICE has dramatically enhanced its efforts to combat employers who unlawfully employ illegal aliens in the United States. The agency’s strategy for effective worksite enforcement is aimed at promoting national security, protecting critical infrastructure, and ensuring fair labor standards. In fiscal year 2007, ICE secured more than $30 million in criminal fines, restitutions, and civil judgments in worksite enforcement cases. ICE arrested 863 people in criminal cases and made more than 4,000 administrative arrests, which is a tenfold increase over 2002 figures.
The penalty for the felony offense of harboring illegal aliens is up to 10 years in federal prison.
Members of the public are reminded that a complaint is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
*****************************************************
“In fiscal year 2007, ICE secured more than $30 million in criminal fines, restitutions, and civil judgments in worksite enforcement cases.”
THIS is why ICE has stepped up its investigation of work place enforcement! I guess that they suddenly discovered how to find that funding they sorely lack, and this is a good thing! We can only hope that the money is actually going back to ICE to enable them to keep it up and bolster their deportation activities as well. Now, if only we could get the border properly secured….