Immigrants, hard hit by economic fallout, adapt to new jobs

The Associated Press ^ | April 24, 2020 | By CLAUDIA TORRENS and GISELA SALOMON

[Oldeconomybuyer]

NEW YORK - Ulises García went from being a waiter to working at a laundromat. Yelitza Esteva used to do manicures and now delivers groceries. Maribel Torres swapped cleaning homes for sewing masks.

The coronavirus pandemic has devastated sectors of the economy dominated by immigrant labor: Restaurants, hotels, office cleaning services, in-home childcare and hair and nail salons, among others, have seen businesses shuttered as nonessential. The Migration Policy Institute found that 20% of the U.S. workers in vulnerable industries facing layoffs are immigrants, even though they only make up 17% of the civilian workforce.

And some of those immigrants, those without social security numbers, are unable to access any of the $2.2 trillion package that Congress approved to offer financial help during the pandemic.

The economic meltdown has forced many immigrants to branch out to new jobs or adapt skills to meet new demands generated by the virus. Those immigrants who are able to find new jobs say the possibility of catching the virus makes them nervous.

“I wonder sometimes if I should quit because I don’t feel comfortable working, when the virus is everywhere,” said García, a former waiter who now works at the laundromat in Brooklyn selling detergent, bleach or fabric softener.

“The problem is that no one knows for how long this will last,” he added.

For Venezuelan immigrant Yelizta Esteva there was no option other than to work after she lost the $2,100-per-month salary she earned at a Miami hair salon.

Her husband also lost his job at a house remodeling company. Besides rent and bills, they send money to at least seven family members in Venezuela.

“I was terrified. I was left with nothing,” said the 51-year-old immigrant, who left Venezuela in 2015 to seek asylum.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

New York City has (at least) 1.2 million illegal aliens.

[jmacusa]

Tough shit putos. Get out of my country. You have no right to be here.

[Reno89519]

The next COVID-19 relief package needs to include e-Verify, making it mandatory for all employers—for existing, returning, new, part-time, full-time, temporary, and other employment. With over 22 million unemployed Americans it is a perfect time to ensure that we weed out illegal employees in every American workplace. Further, President Trump needs to make real his E.O. on immigration to include ALL VISA WORKERS and rescind all existing work visas. Let’s get Americans back to work!

[jeffc]

The AP, tooting their favorite people: illegal aliens...

[Rurudyne]

(Music sting)

I want a new bus,
One that does what it should,
One that helps deport these folks,
Rather that help the vote multiple times.

[Sans-Culotte]

So I guess people staying home are mowing their own lawns now?

[cdcdawg]

I thought they were all preparing and serving Beto’s food.

[Brookhaven]

FINALLY, the press writes a sympathetic story about people losing their jobs durning the pandemic.

And, of course, it’s about illegal immigrants.

[Flavious_Maximus]

17% of the USA workforce are illegals? That is nearly 1 in 5 of all workers. Astonishing that we have allowed this to go on. Tell me how this is not a full blown invasion.

[metmom]

Illegals can go home now if they don’t like it.

[Gay State Conservative]

New York City has (at least) 1.2 million illegal aliens.

Kalifornia has at least 20 million

[Phil DiBasquette]

Well even Karen needs a babysitter!
How can she Karen effectively without one?

[dynachrome]

They can go back to the sh*thole they came from. Did Venezuelan immigrant Yelizta Esteva vote for chavez when he became dictator for life?

[1Old Pro]

They should just listen to Cuomo and get an essential job, it’s that simple.

[GailA]

You haven't seen the worst, GREAT DEPRESSION 2. Milk, eggs, chickens, pork, dumped, killed, food shortages already sending prices higher. BABY FORMULA rationed, diapers, is just the beginning. HOPE YOU 20-30 YR OLD'S KNOW WHAT A CLOTH DIAPER IS! Planting season late, less food, live stock feed will be planted. If food is healthy it should be PRESERVED.

Third world is starving now 1.3 million dying of starvation. Petty governors, mayor dictators will drive the USA BANKRUPT, by giving away food to these dictator countries.

You may not have listened to your grand or great grands parents stories, I did. FLOUR SACK men's shirts, slips, undies for women, shoes worn till you used cardboard in them, Homeless. Sold off everything you owned including your children. Perfect storm for GREAT DEPRESSION 2,. BLAME PELOSI AND MITCH. CONGRESS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN TO SHUT QUEEN NANCY DOWN. AND DO NOTHING MITCH.

ALL THEY WANT IS A CONTROLLABLE STUPID BIDEN TO CROAK IN A YEAR FOR THEIR HAND PICKED VP DICTATOR TO TAKE OVER AND PICK MOOCH OR ANOTHER LIKE HER.

NOW OPEN UP THE USA, STOP EO ON SLAUGHTER OF HEALTHY FOOD, DUMPING MILK, DESTROYING EGGS PLANT THE SAME AMOUNT OF FOOD, LIVE STOCK FEED AS LAST YEAR. PRESERVE ALL HEALTHY FOOD. MEAT LAST A YEAR FROZE RIGHT, LIQUID EGGS, CHEESE, DRY MILK, FROZEN VEGGIES/FRUIT.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Deport ALL illegal aliens, NOW!

[Fury]

Tough shit putos. Get out of my country. You have no right to be here.

If they are in the country legally they do have a "right" to be here. But that's hard to determine. In the case of the Venezualan immigrants, many were granted asylum. Our company just hired one last month. Great worker, the best qualified out of all that we interviewed.

[Fury]

But that's hard to determine

In the article re: immigration status.

[Lurkinanloomin]

It’s a full blown invasion and has been for a long time.
Here in Virginia it got really bad early in W’s 1st term.

Flimesy Grahamnesty and Micro Rubio STILL want to give them all amnesty.

[NativeSon]

They don’t give s**t about the millions of Americans losing their jobs.