A simple three step process to discourage illegal employment:
Step 1: When you observe a landscaper truck or construction crew that is obviously employing illegal labor, note the number on the side of the truck and the address of the homeowner who has contracted for this work.
Step 2: Call the company and ask if they can demonstrate that they employ only legal workers and US citizens. If they cannot or will not, proceed to...
Step 3: Write a letter to the happy homeowner, to inform him that he might, in effect, be the direct employer of several illegal aliens, and may be subject to the criminal penalties that can result from employing people without requring documentation.
Given the nature of casual employment, often the workers are treated as independent sub-contractors, who are paid for the work performed, but are not employees of the company that has contracted to do the work. As a result, their ultimate employment relationship is not with the company, but with the homeowner, and it is the homeowner's responsibility to perform due diligence to ensure he is employing legal labor and that taxes are collected and paid.
Now most homeowners are will look the other way, because they are getting a good deal. I would bet dollars to donuts, though, that lot's of them don't realize what they are opening themselves up to.
And, of course, there are the various insurance issues. If you are dealing with a company that is hiring employees illegally, you can bet your bottom dollar (in fact, you are!) that those employees are not covered by his liablity insurance or workman's compensation insurance. So when a worker cleaning the gutters takes a header off the ladder and will require lifelong medical care, it falls to the homeowner to duke it out with his homeowner's insurance company over whether or not this man is covered. And unless you carry excess liability umbrella coverage, the limits are so low that the money will be exhausted quickly, anyway.
The only responsible party in these transactions is the homeowner. He has the most to lose, and is in ultimate control. Homeowners have to be conditioned to demand legal labor and proof of insurance before they will contract with any service provider. He'll pay a little more up front, but will protect himself down the road.
"""And, of course, there are the various insurance issues. If you are dealing with a company that is hiring employees illegally, you can bet your bottom dollar (in fact, you are!) that those employees are not covered by his liablity insurance or workman's compensation insurance. So when a worker cleaning the gutters takes a header off the ladder and will require lifelong medical care, it falls to the homeowner to duke it out with his homeowner's insurance company over whether or not this man is covered. And unless you carry excess liability umbrella coverage, the limits are so low that the money will be exhausted quickly, anyway. """"
Have a neighbor that got burned when an undocumented 'off the books'illegal alien took a header off his roof, who was employed by by a home improvement contractor.
So when a worker cleaning the gutters takes a header off the ladder and will require lifelong medical care, it falls to the homeowner....
Well said bond. Never hire anyone or any company that is not fully bonded and insured PI and PD. You should also verify this with the insurance company before you hire. Many homeowner insurance policies do not cover uninsured worker injury claims BTW.
Unfortunately a person who did this would probably get charged with a hate crime or at least harassment if they followed these steps.
In a sane world your 3 step plan makes perfect sense - unfortunately we don't seem to be living in a sane world any longer.
According to US Code, anything used for transporting illegals can be seized by the government and forfeited.
I would imagine that local governments could make some pretty good money seizing vehicles used in construction and landscaping if they would just get off their rears and look into this.
hard way to learn a lesson. some here in MN learned that lesson when they hired "Panelcraft" to do their roofs and siding.
some are still trying to get their houses fixed and money refunded.