Over 50% of construction workers in Texas are undocumented immigrants
A new report is shedding light on a problem in the booming construction business.
The Build a Better Nation report from Fe y Justicia surveyed almost 1,200 construction workers around Texas. They found that over half of the construction workers in Texas are undocumented immigrants.
Laura Perez-Boston with Fe y Justicia says the construction industry in Texas is propped up on the backs of illegal immigrants who are being taken advantage of by their employers.
The report also found that these undocumented workers face lower pay, no worker's compensation, wage theft, and no safety training.
Construction companies and sub-contractors are getting pinched too, they are faced with the choice of following the law, or hiring illegals at low pay to stay competitive.
Currently one out of every 20 dollars generated in Texas comes from the construction industry. Perez-Boston says, "Construction workers, contractors and builders are affected by today's broken immigration system. Which will continue to erode working conditions and put construction companies out of business due to unfair competition."
