New immigrants without work permits find a lifeline in setting up businesses

DENVER, Colo. – New immigrants arriving in the United States, mostly from Venezuela and Colombia and lacking work permits, have found a lifeline to generate income by taking advantage of existing laws that allow non-residents to open their own businesses.

“Many of these people arrive with strong work histories from their countries, But you are not eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or a work permit. “They create an LLC and that’s how they get contracts,” Marta Hernandez, president of a cleaning company north of Denver, Colorado, explained to Efe.

Hernandez, a US citizen, constantly needs employees to clean her homes and offices. With the help of a specialized lawyer (for document and background checks), she helps interested parties open their own companies and then recruits these new companies without risking breaking the law.

“There are no laws preventing an undocumented person from legally establishing and owning a business in any state.“, Hernandez stated, adding that “any legally owned company, with its identification number and duly registered, can engage the services of another legally owned company.”

New business from newcomers from Colorado, mostly Venezuelans, Focus on construction, landscaping or snow removalBut some of the more adventurous people have mobile barbershops or deliver food, according to information from Highland Neighbors.

Examples of the struggle of new immigrants can be seen across the country. For example, in the country’s capital, dozens of migrants on scooters deliver food at home, working on platforms, after reaching this option through direct connections or after responding to advertisements on social networks to “rent” vehicles or delivery methods. As reported by the Washington Post.

“That’s exactly what I do,” South American Sergio Ruiz admitted to Efe, who… Accept a “borrowed route” for home delivery of meals (a procedure he completed with the LLC) They take advantage of these deliveries to promote their pastry creations.

“Monday through Thursday I deliver other people’s food. Friday through Sunday, I drive all over Denver and the northern part of Colorado with my deliveries. I cook everything in my house. “I post something on Facebook and people contact me,” Al-Muhajir explained.

Similar work is done by Colombian Edgar Rodriguez in California, who confirms that in a good week he manages to make approximately $800 net. Much more than you would get from minimum wage.

For Ruiz, this amount is “not bad for a beginner.” “Whoever really wants to work, whether at night or in the cold or snow, can double this income,” he said.

Pew Research Center statistics show that as of June 2020, 5% of American workers (7.6 million) were undocumented, the majority of whom worked in high-risk or low-income jobs.

But the situation changed after the epidemic. For example, Currently, approximately 15% of health workers are undocumented. In the textile sector, they represent 11%.

However, it’s not all good news. Injustice and exploitation at work are common. Other challenges include inability to access personal protective equipment or benefits, unpredictable schedules, cultural and language barriers, wage theft, and the constant fear of deportation.

Additionally, laws change from state to state. A recent report from the Center for Immigration Studies lists eleven states with a “positive stance” toward undocumented entrepreneurs: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

Meanwhile, Arizona, Texas, Montana, Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama are among the least receptive states to these immigrants.

“Although the good news is that illegal immigrants can open their own businesses in the United States, there is always the risk that the immigrant will be detained or deported by federal authorities. Always remind them when hiring. In fact, the risk exists,” Hernandez commented. , whether they have their own business or have their own.”

Read on:
• Joe Biden’s government will provide $640 million to help migrants awaiting asylum
• The story of a former Venezuelan police officer who crossed the dangerous jungle of Darien and arrived in the United States
• Democratic members of Congress ask Biden to issue work permits to “all” illegal immigrants