You've never worked in construction before have you?
I have... 25 years
Illegal immigration has definitely undercut US citizens who would do the same work. However, there's a wide discrepancy between the skilled labor positions and the unskilled positions. The illegal immigrants are almost exclusively unskilled labor or at best, basic carpenters.
And if you're a contractor who has to do competitive bids, you're forced to play along or risk never landing projects.
You don't see immigrants as much in Electrical, Mechanical, HVAC, etc.... except as a basic labor.
But on the flip side, the grinding unskilled trades like rebar installation is almost all immigrants. It's brutal, tough work, especially mid-summer.
Funny how you clowns cry "Minimum Wage" but turn a blind eye when it's inconvenient.
I have zero issues with these workers. This isn't their issue. They work hard and rarely complain. Something that most US born workers definitely don't do... lol
It's crazy our government hasn't streamlined the Visa process for high demand workers such as construction.
Even with E-Verify implemented, there's a huge number of workers who aren't legal. My company has to do Certified Payroll because of government contracts. Doesn't matter. No one cares or checks. As long as the paperwork doesn't raise red flags. Everyone turns a blind eye. Red or Blue...
I'm sure there's lots of residential and commercial construction companies who pay under the table and the illegal workers are getting screwed. No one pays the slightest attention in the construction projects.
But these are the type of immigrants the US wants and needs. Why isn't there a some kind of sponsorship program where as long as a company can verify a worker is employed, that they can extend their visa and expedite the citizen process? I know there is one technically... but it's garbage and ineffective.
Rationalizing having 10 million+ illegals by saying it keeps products and housing cheaper because these workers undercut US workers? Don't you think that's fucked?
The system is fucked and needs to be scrapped and start over. Like most of the bloated inefficient agencies of the Federal Government.