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Undocumented workers are exploited by employers who break laws

Supporters of immigrants' rights march downtown Washington, D.C., during an immigration protest Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. Immigrants around the U.S. stayed home from work and school Thursday to demonstrate how important they are to America's economy and its way of life, and many businesses closed in solidarity, in a nationwide protest called A Day Without Immigrants.
Supporters of immigrants' rights march downtown Washington, D.C., during an immigration protest Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. Immigrants around the U.S. stayed home from work and school Thursday to demonstrate how important they are to America's economy and its way of life, and many businesses closed in solidarity, in a nationwide protest called A Day Without Immigrants. Jose Luis Magana AP

Along with Greg Holt, I supported the Feb. 16 demonstrations concerning “illegal” immigrants who work hard within our nation. Each time a “legal” U.S. citizen hires a worker without proper documentation, or hires a worker and does not pay taxes, or exploits workers with substandard wages or conditions, laws are broken; yet the “problem” is the always exploited working poor.

Robert Ferguson, Atascadero

This story was originally published March 14, 2017 at 8:50 PM with the headline "Undocumented workers are exploited by employers who break laws."

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