Study: Newly arrived Hispanic immigrant men drove down other workers' wages

Associated Press ^ | Aug. 18, 2003 | ALEX VEIGA

[new cruelty]

LOS ANGELES - Men working blue-collar and service jobs in 15 states tended to earn lower pay when they were employed alongside newly arrived Hispanic immigrant men because the new arrivals were often paid less, driving down the wages for all, according to a UCLA study.

The UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center study released Monday analyzed 1990 Census data on male workers in 38 U.S. metropolitan areas. It found that men - both native and established immigrants - earned an average of 11 percent less than others in comparable low-level service and manual labor jobs when they worked with Hispanic newcomers.

Minority workers in those jobs earned an average of 14 percent less. And the higher the proportion of newly arrived Hispanic men, the less money the other workers tended to make, the study said.

The study results reflect only the period of time the data were collected. The same type of data from the 2000 Census has not been released yet, said Lisa Catanzarite, the senior research sociologist who conducted the study.

"These findings push us to understand that wage penalties in 'brown-collar' occupations stem from newcomer Latinos' marginal status, and not from immigration, per se," Catanzarite said.

Employers' attitudes and immigrants' status when they first come to the United States are to blame for the disparity in wages in some jobs, she said.

Many employers devalue certain jobs where Hispanic immigrants are overrepresented, such as landscaping, construction, farm labor, groundskeeping and painting, and pay less. And immigrants are unable to resist low wages and have little political power to demand proper pay, so they end up working for less, Catanzarite said.

"The point is, if you have a vulnerable group, when they're exploited, then that can push down wages for everybody," she said. "Somewhat paradoxically, policies to combat pay penalties for native-born workers necessarily involve improving the status of immigrants."

The study recommends expanding worker protections for the immigrants, enforcing minimum wage standards and extending amnesty.

Catanzarite said people should not infer from the study that immigrant labor hurts American workers.

"The findings don't suggest that immigration overall is hurting native-born workers," she said. "Some of these jobs wouldn't even exist if those immigrants weren't here."

Among the metropolitan areas tracked in the study were the cities of Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Boston, Las Vegas, Dallas and Washington.

[Dolphy]

At the mercy of their new vile slaveowners, who will pay what they want to pay the slave, regardless of what "market prices" dictate labor is worth.

I have no sympathy for the business owner who purposely disregards labor law or knowingly hires illegal immigrants but you are not clear in your charges if that is who you are referring to. If not, "market prices" are minimum wage plus whatever it takes to attract the labor you need. Either way it's the consumer who ultimately pays the wages.

[sarasmom]

You might want to review the load of crap you posted.
It is not possible for an employer to employ an illegal alien,against the will of the employer.
They stopped giving MBAs for stupidity in the late 1970s.

[nmh]

"The findings don't suggest that immigration overall is hurting native-born workers," she said. "Some of these jobs wouldn't even exist if those immigrants weren't here."

"Many employers devalue certain jobs where Hispanic immigrants are overrepresented, such as landscaping, construction, farm labor, groundskeeping and painting, and pay less."

Americans think they are too good for these menial jobs so they open the door to immigrants. If immigrants do NOT do these jobs they wouldn't get done. Immigrants are exploiting the laziness and arrogance of Americans.

[Gunslingr3]

So you consider yourself in the same class of people who ran the "underground railroad" and risked their lives to abolish slavery?

No, just not among the statist like yourself who seek to impose a regulation on every voluntary human economic activity that puts us hat in hand begging a bureaucrat for permission to do something. In short, I seek liberty, while you seek to prevent voluntary cooperation because you're afraid to compete.

[sasafras]

Thank you for your reply, it is nice to see that someone who posts on this board actually is active in changing the face of politics with action and not hot air - I would suspect that you are the exception and not the rule, unfortunately.

[Dolphy]

You might want to check into the real world of seasonal employment and forged documents. It certainly is possible, particularly for relatively small seasonal business' to hire illegal aliens. In fact, I am aware of an investigation in Michigan where the state was assisting illegal aliens in finding seasonal employment. It was first thought to be a sting operation and now appears to be something different. So before you start calling something a load of crap you might want to check your own facts.

[dalebert]

Lots of people on this board are very active. Much more than I. If we want to preserve this country we should do our best to stay informed and not be afraid to act.

[sarasmom]

I live in Florida.
We are very familiar with "latino" immigrants.
Citizens of Cuban and South American ancestry are considered as much the "natives" in this state, as are the derogatorilly stereotyped caucasion "crackers".
Florida is experiencing a flood of illegal immigrants from Veneseula,Brazil,Columbia, Haiti etc.
The majority of immigrants from the continent of South America are primarily seeking political asylum, and tend to blend into our society, and tend to follow immigration laws.
Mexican illegal immigrants are generally equal to the Mariel Boat Lift, when Castro dumped his criminal and mentally ill class onto the USA.
Mexico is successfully repeating history, on a much larger and more destructive scale.
25% of the economy of Mexico depends on illegal immigrants to the USA.The failed socialist government of Mexico depends on their fellow socialists in the USA to continue to exist as a nation.
Any employer who cries ignorance of these facts is a liar.I have assisted in hiring over 15 people this year for my company.Proof of legal status is not as easily forged as people think.It requires a suspension of integrity and common sence to hire an illegal.Generally found coupled with a "bleeding heart" liberal socialist mindset.
If you walk around with your eyes stubbornly shut,does that excuse the damage you do to this country?

[sasafras]

I with you - the question is how do act as a unified voice we need one issue that we can agree upon as a majority and make a stand. Conservatives and Republicans to a greater extent are so willing to back down when the going gets rough. We have got to grow a backbone.

[dalebert]

We need backbone in the people we elect. Most Conservatives and Republicans work so don't have much time. I we they are getting better. Also, I honestly don't think it is the conservative way to make a spectacle of ones self and not easy to learn. The majority of us are better behaved,better educated and better mannered than Liberal dems. That naturally makes us quieter. We can all speak at the voting booth.
What I don't like is electing someone who says they will do something and when they get in office they go liberal.

[freeangel]

"I truly believe God has not yet forsaken America"

But I do believe He is making an example of California and the rest of the country better wake up.

[sasafras]

No the people we elect, as conservatives, need a backbone. If you havent noticed your rights are being taken away as we speak cause we dont speak out. We are quiet and reserved - this is the wrong answer - we need a media campaign which shows how we are being injured, tortured and wronged. This will create sympothy with soccer moms and the general public. Most people and almost all women are swayed by emotion not facts.

[dalebert]

I am just telling you that conservatives usually do more thinking than libs. I agree that we need to speak up. What do you think Rush and others are doing? But when we elect a conservative we need to take them to task for not doing what they say. Just as soon as they get elected they change. We don't have anyone thats not in the pocket of some special interest group. And we can't ban special interest groups because some are conservatives. We need lawmakers who hold to the laws of the land. "Illegal" means just what it says. You can't have one groupe just a little illegal and another "a lot illegal"
Keeping the pressure on the lawmakers might help but I am not so sure. They start working for re election just as soon as they are voted into office. Same at local level right up to the top.

[sasafras]

Well said, thanks for your reply.