Are "undocumented" / illegals a real big issue in the area? (Houston: house, landscaping)

[occdn]

In my area now they are a pretty big problem, providing work that is so cheap no one can compete in the cleanup/yardwork market.

I grew up in Canada and it was standard that young white or even Asian kids would do all landscaping. The rate of pay was good and it was something you could live on.

When we move to the area, I just want to be sure to have a plan B, and that would be landscaping. Is this sector off limits to decent wages?

I am trying to sound tolerant as I am unsure of Houstonians feelings toward the issue.

[icon7]

basically almost all yard work yard maintenance is done by people who may or may not have documents. Most do not speak any English. However, they know what a "greenback" is

[tstone]

Houston only likes illegals when they can perform cheap labor that improves the value of our homes & businesses. At any other time, they are a considered nuisance.

But anyway, I've heard about companies paying lawn mowers $8-12/hr. That's all I know. They could be paying under the table, as could tree, concrete, cleaning services etc... but I honestly can't say what goes on in their books. That wage is nothing to me & you but it's a lot to someone who came from Mexico.

What I do know is that if you want to get into it, you should know Spanish if you want to communicate with your co-workers. Also, yardwork is seasonal work for about 7 months out of the year. The rest of the year would have a lot of downtime.

[Wysiwyg]

well personally I do not think yard work labor is cheap. my neighbor's kid wants $10

[southeasttexas]

Originally Posted by tstone

At any other time, they are a considered nuisance.
.

They go far beyond "nuisance". They have filled our schools with free ride students, and filled our hospitals with free ride patients wanting free medical care. Oh, and even if you get past their auto thefts and drug trafficking, one blew the head off of a Houston Police Officer last year.

[occdn]

Originally Posted by southeasttexas

They go far beyond "nuisance". They have filled our schools with free ride students, and filled our hospitals with free ride patients wanting free medical care. Oh, and even if you get past their auto thefts and drug trafficking, one blew the head off of a Houston Police Officer last year.

How can school districts not require birth certificates for enrollment into classes? Seems that would be the easiest way to curb the issue?

[icon7]

Again, Please send that kid to my lawn. I am willing to go $12 :P

Originally Posted by Wysiwyg

well personally I do not think yard work labor is cheap. my neighbor's kid wants $10

[southeasttexas]

Originally Posted by occdn

How can school districts not require birth certificates for enrollment into classes? Seems that would be the easiest way to curb the issue?

Houston, like San Francisco, is a sanctuary city. Only Americans are required to obey the law. The Mexicans get a free pass.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Look at it this way...

Official Mexico Minimum Wage PER DAY (Not Hour): MX$53 (About US$5.28)

Average Mexico Minimum Wage PER DAY (Not Hour): MX$200 (About US$19.94)

Need I say more? I'm not defending it, BTW, just pointing out why so many come here to the US.

[occdn]

I don't think the question on anyones mind has ever been "Why do they come here".

If you've been inside of central Mexico... you'd know why. Take a drive through it like I did a few years ago. Kids wear rags, in hut villages and kick old battered coffee cans around for entertainment. I saw a 10-11 year old girl piggy-backing her 5-7 year old brother down a dirt road selling trinkets to folks driving by - the issue was they had no water and there wasn't a town or house within 2 miles on either end. No, I am not exaggerating one slight bit. I witnessed some real back road towns and saw what they had - nothing. So if there is a single chance they could get a 10% better life, I am sure they would let alone a 100,000% better one.

I'm not defending it either, but as an immigrant myself I can understand coming to the US for a better life. I just happened to do it the legal and respectable way. I paid my dues... oh did I ever.