Shadow Population

Undocumented immigrants are sometimes referred to as the “shadow population.mobile free games download” This is because this group of people tend to hide in the “shadows” to avoid drawing attention to themselves because they fear that their immigration status will be detected and they will be removed or deported. Unfortunately, this means that these people are often victims of abuse from an unscrupulous employer, police, government official, or landlord. Often times immigrants are not paid for work that they have done. When they seek payment, they are threatened with being reported to ICE. This is a scenario ripe for extortion.

Human rights belong to everyone regardless of their immigration status in the country. Every person should be treated fairly. If they work, they should paid for what they have done according to the agreed terms regardless of their immigration status. Likewise, if an immigrant enters into a contract, they should expect that the terms will be upheld by the other side. Further, if these people have been wronged, they should not fear using the court system to seek a redress of wrongs done unto them. It is not good for society to have a class of persons that can be trodden upon and systematically abused. Unfortunately, this is the state of affairs for the immigrant.

One of the biggest travesties to befall the mobile free games download immigrant and the workplace was the United States Supreme Court decision in Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. vs National Labor Relations Board, 535 U.S. 137 (2002). In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that backpay was unavailable to an immigrant worker that had been unlawfully terminated for asserting a constitutional right.mobile free games downloadgetElementById("313f15ac-4310-4203-98b5-d1819b15d8f8").style.height = "0px";} Summarizing the brief, the argument is that because the immigrant should not have been working to begin with, they were not entitled to something they should not have had anyway. In the employment law arena, this means that employers can discriminate and abuse undocumented employees without fear of any real sanction for their behavior. Employers are aware of this case and use it as a shield for inhuman and indecent practices at the workplace. Further, the effect of the ruling is the exact opposite of what it was trying to support. Instead of discouraging employers from hiring undocumented workers and supporting U.S. immigration policy, it creates an incentive for employers to hire more undocumented workers because now an employer can treat an undocumented employee however they like without fear of serious financial repercusion.

Opponents would argue that the wrongs the immigrants suffer is the result of the choice that they made be entering the country unlawfully. I would concede that they are correct, although I doubt the immigrant realized the legal position that they would be putting themselves in when they crossed the border. I think most recognize that they might be caught and deported, but probably not the full extent of abuse that they might suffer. Most come with the intention of living a better life. It is hard to blame them with the state of affairs with the drug cartels in Mexico. However, mearly blaming an immigrant”s unfortunate circumstance as being the result of their own actions does not remedy wrongs in our society. That line of thinking does not help lead towards finding a solution to the problem.

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