Is it immoral to hire an illegal immigrant?

[Stylites]

money is tight? higher illegals?

Well, maybe they are higher. How high is high, anyway?

 

[Stylites]

OP made it sound like you have a landscaping business, was that deliberate?

No, the OP has already stated that he is a homeowner needing some help with his yard. He is not an employer but a private individual engaging in a verbal contract. Taxes and SSNs do not apply.

 

[Stylites]

…illegals like you want to hire put me out of work…how quaint!

I’m certain you would have no problems grinding down a few stumps, John, but the OP needs it done this week, not this year.

 

[Dee123]

Ahhh, the immigration issue. Since when is it God’s law to employ people who come into our countries illegally? Yes, the old testament has many quotations about treating an alien (today, immigrant) as our own countryman. However, do you think God was referring to people who circumvent the laws of the land? There probably weren’t even any immigration laws a few thousand years ago. Perhaps they should have never been made. Anyhow, every country now has them. I do believe this is a moral issue. Even though I’m from Canada, we have many illegals coming through the U.S. coming to our borders. They are employed. Paid under the table, don’t pay taxes. Many of them have already made refugee claims, so they already get a monthly stipend (I believe equivalent to our citizens on welfare), however, they also obtain free medical and dental care, certain restrictions do apply. They totally know how to abuse the system and they do it by the thousands every year. In the meantime, both of our countries have growing unemployment rates and employers use them. They all know they’re breaking the law. Meanwhile, these people who circumvent the law benefit from the taxes the rest of us pay! Is this fair? I think not!! I’ve seen it before. They come here unable to barely afford a month’s rent, and before you know it, they’re buying big screen TV’s, and having operations that we have to wait longer for sometimes and that we cannot afford. This is unjust and you kow what, sometimes they ask immigration for more money because they spent it all that month. I know, because I was personally asked more than once when I worked for immigration here in Canada. So, are they using our system? For the most part, yes. Do our governments exploit the citizens of the poor countries? Yes, they do. So, is it just for those being exploited to come to our countries and exploit our systems, the laws of our land? I don’t think so. Jesus corrected those who believed in an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Let’s put it this way.
If you believe God is asking us to treat “illegal” aliens/immigrants fairly, please show me where it says this. I’m not saying we disrespect them. And, I firmly believe that if they are willing to break the law to enter our country–something that takes much planning, risk, and effort/energy—what is going to stop them from breaking another little law here and there? Tell me. what is going to stop them?

 

[Big_Dummy]

Based on Romans 13 it is in fact immoral because you are disobeying the laws of the land by supporting thier illegal activies.

 

[Big_Dummy]

2 charged with hiring illegal workers
April 26, 2010 12:12 PM | 28 Comments

The father and son-in-law operators of two Bensenville temporary labor firms were charged today with hiring dozens of undocumented workers to form their labor pool to work at suburban warehouses.

Clinton Roy Perkins, 65, of Wayne, and his son-in-law, Christopher Reindl, 40, of St. Charles, were each charged with one count of hiring illegal immigrants. Perkins is the president of Anna II Inc. and Can Do It Inc., while Reindl is their office manager, authorities said.

chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/04/2-charged-with-hiring-illegal-aliens.html

 

[Stylites]

Based on Romans 13 it is in fact immoral because you are disobeying the laws of the land by supporting thier illegal activies.

Catholics do not allow the likes of Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank to determine what is moral and immoral.

 

[Stylites]

2 charged with hiring illegal workers
April 26, 2010 12:12 PM | 28 Comments

The father and son-in-law operators of two Bensenville temporary labor firms were charged today with hiring dozens of undocumented workers to form their labor pool to work at suburban warehouses.

Clinton Roy Perkins, 65, of Wayne, and his son-in-law, Christopher Reindl, 40, of St. Charles, were each charged with one count of hiring illegal immigrants. Perkins is the president of Anna II Inc. and Can Do It Inc., while Reindl is their office manager, authorities said.

chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/04/2-charged-with-hiring-illegal-aliens.html

Interesting news item, for sure, but immaterial to the OP’s question, since he does not own a firm.

 

[1catholic]

Well, maybe they are higher. How high is high, anyway?

maybe I’m misunderstanding you but my pt is that u shouldn’t hire someone who is illegal b/c u can pay them less than u’d have to pay a legal citizen, they are human and deserve humane wages…ignoring the debatable morality of hiring an illegal in the first place

 

[Stylites]

maybe I’m misunderstanding you but my pt is that u shouldn’t hire someone who is illegal b/c u can pay them less than u’d have to pay a legal citizen, they are human and deserve humane wages…ignoring the debatable morality of hiring an illegal in the first place

Yes, and I pointed out that undocumented workers often earn more than green card holders or natives.

 

[John_Pascendi]

There’s an Hispanic woman, primary language Spanish, who I sometimes hire to clean my apt when it gets too messy and have no qualms whatsoever about calling her back to dust and vacuum and clean. I would never ask for her ID. (And I seriously doubt she would have any legal or obligation to comply with such a request, since I’m a private citizen - not a law enforcement professional.) That would be extremely rude and uncharitable, particularly after a ‘services rendered’ relationship has already been established.

…its always the establishment who quickly takes the bat and ball and makes the rules.Its only they who truly ‘care’ and are ‘concerned’.I live in the village with the peasants but still work 10 years after retiring as a teacher. The area I work in is all to the left. In fact local headquarters of the ACLU is in the area. Its segregated 100%…no coloreds ! a toll…but they do care. Also they have only illegals do their lawns etc.since they low balled the citizens landscaping companies ,they get paid only in cash so that there is no paper trail and its great fun…no one seems to care about the loss of jobs to US citizens who must charge a reasonable price because of the immense taxes they are burdened with. Yes,I taught a class in commuications and know how to use the same 'buzz’words as tthe establishment…only thing they control so much and have deep pockets and so their influence is much wider then we 'mean spirited 'types…maybe smoke signals might work…lets see…dry wood,flint,hot air…

 

[havana1]

…its always the establishment who quickly takes the bat and ball and makes the rules.Its only they who truly ‘care’ and are ‘concerned’.I live in the village with the peasants but still work 10 years after retiring as a teacher. The area I work in is all to the left. In fact local headquarters of the ACLU is in the area. Its segregated 100%…no coloreds ! a toll…but they do care. Also they have only illegals do their lawns etc.since they low balled the citizens landscaping companies ,they get paid only in cash so that there is no paper trail and its great fun…no one seems to care about the loss of jobs to US citizens who must charge a reasonable price because of the immense taxes they are burdened with. Yes,I taught a class in commuications and know how to use the same 'buzz’words as tthe establishment…only thing they control so much and have deep pockets and so their influence is much wider then we 'mean spirited 'types…maybe smoke signals might work…lets see…dry wood,flint,hot air…

No “coloreds”? Is that a typo? Wow…I’m just… wow… I wish I could have taken that communications class…

 

[pnewton]

It is also immoral to hire illegals rather than our own countrymen.

Because God loves Americans best? You will not find “charity begins at home” in the Sacred Scripture. It is not a Christian concept.

 

[atassina]

The illegal immigrants wouldn’t be here if the government didn’t want them to be here. Other countries close their borders. For example, Mexico restricts its southern border.

 

[pnewton]

In this case, I am not a business owner. I just need some yard work done in my own home. As far as the illegals being exploited, I don’t think so, because they cross the border and take the money home, where it is worth a lot more; more, relatively speaking, than I would have paid an American worker here.

I do think if one wants to hire an undocumented worker per se to get a cheaper job done, then that is a dangerous thing. One thing we must never do is take advantage of the poor or underprivileged. If you want something done, I would ask someone who needs the money and pay a fair wage. If the need was great, I would not ask immigration status or anything else irrelevant to the job.

I would say that if you want some work done, decide a fair price and ask them if they are willing to do it, or what it would cost. I would not ask immigration status for a little day job.

 

[pnewton]

No “coloreds”? Is that a typo? Wow…I’m just… wow… I wish I could have taken that communications class…

All I can say is Wow. I guess it must be contageous. Did your jaw also drop on that one?

 

[afterimage]

This is not just a simple question of should I or shouldn’t I hire an illegal. It is much more complex - dealing with the dignity of human life, the morality of the law (since when are all laws moral?), and the underlying reason he wants to hire illegals - it’s economically to his advantage. Most Americans, not all, have never had to leave their homeland, their family, their friends to find employment just to feed their children or to avoid political persecution. Just suppose an enemy of the US should gain control of our country and apply their laws. Would you not try to get out, papers or not?

 

[TheAdvocate]

Well, what would the US bishops have to say about this? Do we trust the Magisterium, or only when it is convenient for us and we agree with them? Cafeteria Catholicism goes beyond only sexual issues…

 

[DebChris]

…
if you want to throw bible quotes around it also says the laborer is worthy of his hire. OP proposes hiring an illegal precisely because he plans to pay them less than a documented worker, and that is the heart of the immorality, the exploitation.

There’s an Hispanic woman, primary language Spanish, who I sometimes hire to clean my apt when it gets too messy and have no qualms whatsoever about calling her back to dust and vacuum and clean. I would never ask for her ID. (And I seriously doubt she would have any legal or obligation to comply with such a request, since I’m a private citizen - not a law enforcement professional.) That would be extremely rude and uncharitable, particularly after a ‘services rendered’ relationship has already been established.

I do think if one wants to hire an undocumented worker per se to get a cheaper job done, then that is a dangerous thing. One thing we must never do is take advantage of the poor or underprivileged. If you want something done, I would ask someone who needs the money and pay a fair wage. If the need was great, I would not ask immigration status or anything else irrelevant to the job.

I would say that if you want some work done, decide a fair price and ask them if they are willing to do it, or what it would cost. I would not ask immigration status for a little day job.

What you would pay an American citizen versus what you would pay somebody who has immigrated illegally is the crux of the issue. Many have been brought into the country illegally with promises that far exceed the reality they face. Yes, an undocumented worker might accept lower wages because he does not know the law regarding minimum wage, and/or he does not have the legal status to complain if his pay is shorted.
The Bible is quite explicit when it comes to taking advantage of the poor.

I personally work overseas because of the high unemployment rate in America currently. While citizens are provided free health care, my employer is required to provide insurance for my care. As stated in an earlier post, should an alien expect more from our country than I would expect another country to provide for me? Yes, I have legal residence documentation.

 

[puzzleannie]

No, the OP has already stated that he is a homeowner needing some help with his yard. He is not an employer but a private individual engaging in a verbal contract. Taxes and SSNs do not apply.

yes they do apply if he is planning to hire an individual for longer or more frequently than regulations allow, ie. more than casual labor on a one-time basis. He will be well advised to check out the law before he considers it. I still maintain that if his intent is to pay less than the going rate for the work there could be a moral issue there.