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Your question raises a very good and generally misunderstood point dhs12345. When a prospective employee walks into my office looking for farm labor work and presents what appears to be a valid identification I hire him just as someone would hire someone at Microsoft. I submit all of the required paperwork to federal and state agencies and I pay wages and taxes as required by law. That is what every farmer I know does. I recognize there are bad players out there who take advantage of people and smuggle them in backs of trucks and pay below minimum wage but they are the minority. The law used to require us to notify the employee if we received a no match letter from SS and it was the employee’s responsibility to contact SS and get it corrected. If I terminated an employee because I receive a no match letter then I have opened myself up to a discrimination lawsuit. Bush tried to change the no match procedure to have the employer resolve the discrepancy with the SS but law suits from immigration groups and democrats derailed that. So even though I am completely following the law as it now exists, well meaning people including those on this board believe the farmer is the criminal here.

I terminated an employee because I receive a no match letter then I have opened myself up to a discrimination lawsuit. Bush tried to change the no match procedure to have the employer resolve the discrepancy with the SS but law suits from immigration groups and democrats derailed that.

So if I wanted to get a job off the books, I can just give a farmer a bogus SSN and not worry about the number being valid?

“...When a prospective employee walks into my office looking for farm labor work and presents what appears to be a valid identification I hire him just as someone would hire someone at Microsoft...”

Oh, boy; you haven’t looked for work lately.

All employers are demanding proof that you’re legal, either a citizen or legal resident (green card), and are doing background checks. These laws are meant to protect you from a lawsuit.

Quit making excuses.

I certainly understand your point. It is tough. And why we are having troubles competing in the world.

And your higher expenses, translate to higher prices for the consumer. We are all at fault.

Curious: what percentage of produce is grown here in the States. Seems like a lot of produce is not grown in the States any more. Another strike and another issue. Similar to buying our TV from China where labor is cheap and without the regulations.