undocumented workers

Christian (left) and his wife Monze (right) were laid off from restaurant jobs in mid-March and not qualified to receive unemployment because they are undocumented immigrants.

National

New California Relief Program for Undocumented Overwhelmed By Demand

3:56pm May 26, 2020

Response far outstrips resources as the state partners with nonprofits and foundations in a one-time program that aids undocumented workers and their families during the pandemic.

National

D.C. Tourism Group Pledges $18 Million To Help City's Hospitality Workers, Industry

6:02pm April 10, 2020

by Brooklyn Riepma

The funds aim to help tourism workers pay their rent and buy food, among other things.

The Pew Research Center estimates there are 7.5 million unauthorized workers in the United States concentrated in agriculture, construction and the hospitality industry.

Employers Struggle With Hiring Undocumented Workers: 'You Cannot Hire American Here'

8:51am August 21, 2019

by John Burnett

Unauthorized immigrants often do manual, low-paying jobs, and employers say they have no choice but to hire them. But the White House and advocates for lower immigration say the law is the law.

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Arleene Correa Valencia works on a painting in her latest series: In Times of Crisis, En Tiempo de Crisis.

After The Wildfires: Artist Captures Plight Of Napa's Undocumented Workers

8:36am September 01, 2018

by Rachael Bongiorno

Napa Valley's wine industry relies heavily on immigrants, but the undocumented are often ineligible for services when disaster strikes. An artist depicts how the 2017 fires impacted this community.

Young worshippers at Erez Baptist Church in Duncanville, Texas, gather for a midweek music service. The congregation, less than a year old, consists almost entirely of Hispanic immigrants and their children.

Some Christian Leaders Say Deportations Would Jeopardize Their Churches

7:54pm February 13, 2018

by Tom Gjelten

The increased dependence on immigrants to fill U.S. church pews means that Christian leaders have a big stake in the current debate over immigration policy.

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Sergio Mucino was charged with harboring unauthorized immigrants after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided his four Buffalo, N.Y., restaurants, but critics say his illegal workers have suffered much more than he has.

How Kitchen Raids In Buffalo Sent Shock Waves Through Immigrant Rights Community

8:40am January 08, 2017

Federal immigration agents raided four Mexican restaurants in Buffalo, N.Y., recently — one of largest worksite actions in recent years. Outraged locals are asking: Why pick on taco cooks?

National

AP: Hawaiian Seafood Caught By 'Foreign Fishermen Confined To American Boats'

3:01pm September 08, 2016

by Camila Domonoske

The Associated Press reports that Hawaiian fishing boats rely on hundreds of undocumented workers who can't step foot on shore and aren't protected by labor laws — all thanks to a legal loophole.

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) makes opening statements during a hearing to examine the National Labor Relations Board's joint employer decision last month.

National

One Step Closer To Collective Bargaining, Some Temp Workers Unionize

5:15pm January 06, 2016

by Simon Rios

The workers at Bob's Tire Co. in New Bedford, Mass. recently voted 65-5 to unionize. Labor advocates say the move is historical, but are undocumented workers protected from enforcement?

Fieldale Farms in Gainesville, Ga., says it can't keep enough workers to meet demand for its poultry products, despite paying $16 per hour plus benefits.

National

Some Businesses Say Immigrant Workers Are Harder To Find

10:07am January 30, 2015

by Jim Zarroli

The president's recent executive actions will allow millions of immigrants to stay in the U.S. But many businesses say those changes aren't enough to help them find and keep all the workers they need.

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Ted Andrews, CEO of HerbCo International, says the H-2A agricultural guest worker program needs improvements.

After Immigration Bust, Herb Grower Tries A New Path

10:58pm August 07, 2013

by Liz Jones

One of the nation's largest herb producers once relied heavily on undocumented labor, but has learned some hard lessons since an immigration crackdown. He says transitioning to a legal workforce was well worth it, but that navigating a cumbersome foreign worker program has been challenging.

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