Immigration Issue Requires Thoughtful Debate

Immigration is a complex issue, one that can only be resolved through rational debate and the cooperation of government, the business community and society.

By Tony Milo

In late December, “Dateline NBC” aired a special program, “In the Shadow of the American Dream,” that documented the increasingly complex issue of illegal immigration and its effect on the American work force.

For the program, NBC’s Tom Brokaw spent time in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado and focused on Gould Construction Co., a member in good standing of the Colorado Contractors Association. Since the airing of the documentary, I have received a large volume of e-mails and phone calls, mostly expressing displeasure and frustration over the number of alleged illegal immigrants working in the construction industry. 

The frustration leads many to place blame on employers like Mark Gould for the problem of illegal aliens in our work force. The belief of those whom I have heard from is that employers take advantage of illegal immigrants to keep wages artificially low and increase profits. In the case of Gould Construction Co. and the vast majority of CCA members, the facts simply don’t support this conclusion.

CCA does not condone, nor will it defend, any of our members knowingly hiring illegal aliens. Like Gould Construction, CCA members do their best to abide by the complex web of state and federal laws regulating their hiring practices. 

As it was portrayed in the “Dateline” story, reputable and law-abiding employers must receive the proper documentation before hiring any job applicant. If the documentation appears to be legitimate, the employer must accept it or risk being in violation of federal laws outlawing discrimination. Employers find themselves in a “Catch-22” situation where there is no failsafe way to ensure that all of their employees are legal.

As of August, Gould and other CCA members are using the Basic Pilot Program to verify the legal status of employees during the hiring process. This tool, now required by Colorado law for government contracts, requires the employer to get authorization from Homeland Security before hiring a new employee. Unfortunately, as we have witnessed recently in the Swift case, the process leads some undocumented workers to resort to identity theft. In such cases, the employer is yet another victim.

Further complicating the issue is the severe shortage of labor we face here in Colorado. Gould Construction pays entry level laborers $14 per hour, plus full benefits – twice the minimum wage. 

CCA spends a significant amount of its resources educating members on how to comply with state and federal hiring laws. This year we sponsored a workshop that more than 200 members attended, produced a training DVD and provided members with a checklist to ensure they are following the law.

We also promote construction as a career to young people. CCA was a founding partner of Colorado Construction Career Days and continues to participate in the annual fair hosted by about a dozen construction industry organizations for 1,500 high school students that highlights the many job opportunities in the industry. We also provide thousands of dollars each year in scholarships to Colorado college students studying engineering and construction management. Still, our members face a continuing and ever-growing shortage of skilled and unskilled workers every day.

The problem of illegal immigration and its impact on our work force is a complex issue that will require much rational, thoughtful debate and the combined efforts of many facets of government, the business community and society to resolve. Simply placing the blame on employers, who are doing everything in their power to follow the law, does nothing to contribute to the solution. CCA and its members stand ready to engage in the debate in a constructive manner and pledge to do our part to offer viable solutions. 

Tony Milo is executive director of the Colorado Contractors Association.

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