The news has not been kind to the recent wave of migrants, especially those crossing over into the US through the Mexican border. Many in Congress accused the Biden Administration of opening the door to a class of migrants who will bring crime and unemployment to these shores. Officials like New York’s Mayor Eric Adams criticized the Administration for “dumping” these immigrants and straining the city’s resources. Numerous jurisdictions like Rockland County openly criticized New York City for temporarily housing the migrants in their domains.
On the flip side are many Democratic legislators who argue that this latest wave of migrants is America at its best, extending humanitarian assistance to people whose only desire is to seek economic opportunity and real freedom. They went through a great deal just to get here and now all they wish for is to provide for their families. So why all the criticism?
There is, according to some, a very positive aspect to this latest wave, one that has broad implications for our economy. More than 7,600 H-2A visas (allows U.S. employers who meet specific regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs) were issued in New York State last year alone and an additional 4,579 workers were brought in under a related H-2B visa. As New York’s economy continues to improve — unemployment in the state dipped below 4% last year — the need for migrant workers has increased.
Most migrants have said that they were coming, eager to find work; they can become eligible to work legally if they apply for asylum. The process can take a long time, however, so many are finding jobs to support themselves in the underground economy instead. In 2022, reported the New York Times, 22,000 migrants arrived in New York City from April through December, many of them Venezuelans fleeing economic and political chaos in their home country. Mayor Adams actually declared a state of emergency as the city’s shelters started buckling under the influx of migrants. The city erected a tent encampment near a shelter on Randall’s Island to provide housing to everyone. New York says that these migrants are seldomly self-sufficient in the short-term and heavily tax the city’s health care and social service systems.
About 3.5 million workers are “missing” from the workforce, according to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. That is how much bigger the labor force would be if the number of people working or looking for work returned to pre-pandemic levels. But as it is, there are more openings than job seekers. At first glance, the migrants might be a perfect fit to fill some of these jobs.
Many construction companies are desperate for these migrant workers. But big construction projects require workers to present OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) certificates, which obviously the migrants do not have. The rules may, however, be more blurry for private residences, said Stephen Handlik, a licensed site superintendent who works for the Rinaldi Group, a construction management company. That is how many migrants find a loophole to work in construction, which they are very good at. They are also needed as office clerks, housekeepers, caregivers like home care workers, agriculture, and hospitality – which are reliant on immigrant workers. Those types of industries had higher rates of unfilled jobs last year – adding to existing labor shortages, according to UC Davis research. There are currently 10.3 million open jobs in the US – 377,000 in construction and 1.6 million in hospitality. That number has been on the rise in recent months.
It is interesting to note that economic experts do not see the migrants as a quick fix. According to a recent podcast, when Jose crossed the Mexican border with his wife and three young kids, he immediately tended to some of the health problems of his wife and 3-year-old son. He registered in a migrant program to learn English. In other words, said this expert on a podcast, Jose may not be ready for a real job for at least ten months or more.
There are many industries like construction that face chronic shortages over the next decade, predict the experts. The restaurant industry has borne the brunt of the downturn in immigration. Slower service, restaurants closed for lunch, higher prices – are all a result of labor shortages. And the restaurant industry is on track to grow by 14% in the next decade – while the US-born workforce is expected to grow by just 10%, according to the National Restaurant Association. There will be more restaurant jobs than the US workforce can fill. Sixty percent of restaurant operators are facing staffing shortages limiting their operating capacity, according to the National Restaurant Association.
Congress is not oblivious to the fact that the country desperately needs more workers. Legislation like, “The Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act,” was introduced in the House earlier this year. The law would create a new visa program for workers in industries like hospitality. “Immigration reform is an economic necessity for the restaurant industry,” said Sean Kennedy, EVP of Public Affairs at the National Restaurant Association.
While migrants may not be the answer in some industries, including restaurants, they could be the solution for such jobs as construction, housekeeping, and home care. This fact worries many in the halls of legislators. They are concerned that opting for reform in immigration policy will somehow address the labor shortage with a broad brush squeezing some industries out of a possible solution.
One immigration expert I corresponded with wrote to me: “The US needs to deal with the migrants like they have with every generation of immigrants, to educate, train and care for them in the short run with an eye to making them self-sufficient within a short period of time.” The question then emerges as to what the numbers should be for migrants admitted to this country.” The expert says that it should be based on the traditional litmus test of basing criteria on skills and familial ties.
Irrespective of which view one adopts, the migrant debacle is far from a black and white issue. Mayor Adams may be right that the city does not have the resources to cope with the large influx which may mean that a city like New York should be receiving more federal aid, specifically earmarked for absorbing the migrants. Industries that could use the migrant workers should be given leeway in expediting the migrants ability to work. One thing is certain: the migrant issue needs more debate and action from Congress.
As an aside, many migrants are filling many jobs in our neighborhoods including at popular eating establishments.