I used to work as a recruiter for a construction staffing company. We would just need a social security card and id from anyone applying. I’m sure in most cases the ss cards were fake but there wasn’t much we were going to do. But in that case, they were illegal but were paid legally and had taxes taken out of their check. I also think that a large majority send money back to Mexico each month so it’s not like they are contributing large sums of money to our economy. With a sharp downturn in construction I think we’ll just see less illegals risking everything to get into the country. Word will spread that times aren’t as good here and many won’t make the trip. And just as many may return to Mexico.
By the way, a house can built for extremely cheap labor. $8/hr for a laborer $12-14/hr for a good framer. And i would have no worries about buying a house built by these workers. They are just as hard (if not harder) workers than most Americans and don’t want to screw things up while they’re here. I’d much rather hire an illegal who risked his life to get here than some lazy American who’s skipping out of work early to hit the bars. Besides we still have stringent building codes and inspectors. It needs to be built right to pass inspection.
And also, I’m 29, is the government guaranteeing me a ss payout at retirement? Probably not.
