[azhenfud]

Actually, it is more dishonest than simple immigration violations that the Home Builders' Association mentioned Santos-Cruz's legal status - since it never before mattered as long as he was "productive".

It's time felon employers realize they can't hide under a cloak of legality claims to protect them in cases like these. They will THEN make a more conscientious effort to verify an applicant's status when they risk losing their business to the illegal alien. If the employer "thought" the man was legal, the man is due his just compensation accordingly. If the employer knew him to be illegal, they become admitted felons and ought be served justice accordingly.

I don't condone the illegal alien's being here - but I detest the felon employer even worse.

[jocon307]

And it seems to me that there are about a million and one lies being told about this stuff, or maybe it's the case that nobody has the smallest clue as to what the truth is.

You always hear illegals pay taxes, but you never hear what those taxes are. Are they sales taxes? Property taxes? Are they income taxes remitted by employers and returns never filed by the workers?

In this case, was the employee paying premiums for this guy and then they (or the insurance co.) balked when it came time to pay the benefit? Or are all these workers so cheap to hire because taxes, insurance premiums, etc. are all avoided due to the workers being illegal?

The fact of the matter is if the guy had died in the desert or drowned in the Rio Grande no one but he would be responsible for that. But presuming he made money for his employer he deserved compensation for his injury.

This has all become such a huge bundle of illegalities, untruths, and discrimination (against these workers as well as native born and legal immigrants), I don't see how it can ever be untangled and resolved.

But, it becomes increasingly clear that cracking down on the employers must be part of the picture. But, please bear in mind, the last time this was tried the squawking got really loud, really fast, and it was dropped as soon as it had started.