Being half of a Hispanic, people frequently ask me to find them “a good Mexican” concrete man, carpenter, roofer, whatever.
Not wanting to get into a scolding session, I always tell them: yes, I have lots of Mexican customers but they are the LEGAL variety (as a mortgage broker my first question is, “Do you have a social security card? Let’s copy that and your drivers license”).
When they find out that I only have contacts who are US born or here legally, they seem to lose interest quick.
Sad. Everybody wants to get away cheap. Without thinking about the consequences long-term.
Of course.
If a Hispanic is here legally, the chances are much higher that they are skilled, for example. They may have gone through one of the many apprenticeship programs, for one thing. If not, they prolly have a working knowledge of English and can be taught the skills they need, etc.
Yes, you can find a good Mexican. Most of them are terrific people. They work very hard, and yes, sometimes harder than our own native born Americans. And I happened to be at work the very day there was a small immigration raid, hauling away a half dozen of my coworkers (whom I’d known were illegal). And it was heartbreaking, I have to say.
I don’t blame them, as they are pawns. I blame the people that hired them (including my former company). They aren’t just taking advantage of these workers; they are taking advantage of the system by hiring on the cheap, and then foisting the “benefit package” of a living wage (food stamps, housing assistance) and health care (medicaid, etc) on the taxpayers. Many of whom who have lost their own jobs!
And this is to say nothing of the strain on charities. When I worked at our local Catholic Church for the Christmas Charity meal-a-palooza, at least 80% of the people in line were Latino. They spoke little English except for “thank you.” It was a thoughtful gesture on their part to ensure that they and their children said it in English, instead of “gracias.” But I can tell you that Dixie Care & Share (which is what the Salvation Army in S. Utah is called) is nearly tapped out. Charities here are at a crisis stage. We are close to both AZ and NV, both economically in deep shit, testing the legendary Mormon charitable impulses.