The many reports on the supposed benefits undocumented immigrants provide to society seem to overlook the major inconvenient truth that undocumented immigrants are not legally allowed to work in the US and Americans who hire illegals can be charged with breaking the law.
Did you know that while undocumented immigrants are not authorized as workers in the US, they are still protected under labor law?
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Can Undocumented Immigrants Get a Work Permit in the US?
Federal law requires an immigrant to have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), or work permit, to lawfully work in the states. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible due to their immigration status. Some other classes of immigrants legally allowed to be in the U.S. are also not permitted to work, such as tourist visa holders.
However, to sustain themselves, undocumented workers have started to work in the cash economy, also known as “under the table” or “off the books.” We spoke with experts on immigration law and labor laws to learn the rights protecting undocumented workers in New York.
What happens if I get caught working under the table?
An
employer must use form I-9 to verify that an individual is eligible to work in the United States. The employer can face criminal charges, as much as $3,000 per hire, for employing unauthorized workers.