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Minimal wages is relative. I imagine that most people do it because those wages let them support their families and build a house / start a business back home.
by ftyers 3y ago
Minimal wages is relative. I imagine that most people do it because those wages let them support their families and build a house / start a business back home. The crossing takes about a year to pay back, and there are living costs, but many work double shift at different jobs, with one paycheque going for living costs in the US and the other for savings/family/setting themselves up for a better life back home. 5-6 years "echando ganas" and you can be set for life. It's a pretty rational thing to do, much like pensioners who retire "down south".
- monero-xmr 3y agoOf course it’s rational - my primary point was that the left pretends to want to make citizenship for undocumented workers easier, and the right to kick them all out, but for the last 30 years we have been at a stalemate and more people come to the US illegally than ever. IMO both sides like the status quo and endlessly hype to their base but never intend to do anything.
- ftyers 3y agoI agree with that. It was surprising to me how easy it seems to be in the US to get by as an undocumented worker, compared to in many places in Europe for example. It's also surprising how mandatory eVerify hasn't been rolled out in all states, despite being in existence for more than 20 years.
- lotsofpulp 3y agoIt is not surprising. Those in leadership positions intentionally look the other way because they and their cohorts benefit from the cheaper labor. They openly issue paltry fines to giant companies found to be violating the law. If they really wanted to, they could easily make it a jailable felony to not eVerify employment status of immigrants.
- angmarsbane 3y agoI think this is key. If the jobs paid enough for Americans to do the same thing in their hometowns after 5-6 yrs of work then Americans would sign up for these "labor shortage" jobs.