“Importing these workers for a few months cost him... their wages, which must be the same as he pays American workers.”
More pathetic sloppy logic dressed up as a news item. How much does he pay American workers? The answer is $0. He does not hire American workers. He knows $12 is not enough to hire American workers so what is his factual basis for paying the foreigners $12 if he is required to pay them the same rate.
Around here factory works is at $15 with benefits and we still cannot find drug free, literate, and dependable workers. Rule of thumb is you can get 2 of 3 of those requirements.
I understand the problem. Landscaping customers will cutback on landscaping if it gets too expensive. I pay the neighbor kid $40 for 3/4 of an acre. Takes him 2 hrs using my equipment. If he ask for more The wife will make me do it.
Jobs that exist at $12 may not exist at higher rates.
The $12 hour foreign workers have their wages subsidized by the American taxpayer through food stamps and eitc fraud.