And how do we know they are not claiming 18 dependents or just filing for refunds? and a bunch are working for Cash.

I know...first hand. It's part of what I deal with everyday. Folks assume that Ag employs most of the illegal aliens, and nobody in Ag employs more than California. I know second-hand from direct sources in Texas and Florida, the second and third largest Ag labor states. As for the number of exemptions...there's a limit as to how many one can claim without providing dependant information. Cash payments? That's something urban folks do when they pick up day laborers...a relatively small portion of the illegal alien labor pool compared to industries such as Ag or even hotels/restaurants...and it's those urbanites who assume their own deeds reflect overall reality. Employers can only deduct formal payrolls, not off the books employees, so the perceived savings folks imply in thinking companies pay by cash is simply so much fodder for discussion.

Unless someone with more direct information comes forth, I rest comfortable with what I know rather than rely on perceptions of blog-created info.

Not trying to be nasty...it's just I've heard those same comments over the years from various sources. It is the single biggest fallacy of the immigration debate. I am certainly not a voice for illegal aliens nor do I want amnesty for any. But we're not going to fix a problem until everyone understands what the problem is. :)

:)

Mike,

when I was living in the Fresno area I worked one Summer between semesters in the fruit orchards. I believe there were 10 men in the crew I was in and of them, only two were illegals and they chose to be paid in cash by the amount they picked. The rest had work visas and were paid by check just as I was with taxes deducted. They used to fill out the crews by going to some street corners where they would find people waiting for a days work and pick up whatever amount they needed for the day. I don't know if that is still true or not as it has been a long time since those days and I later went to work on weekends and such at Yosemite Park.

Ron ;)

...and Ron, it's what people remember from many decades ago that drives the misconception.

You say you don't know if it's changed or not, so...respectfully...what's the relevance?

Really none I guess. Sorry for butting in.

Ron ;)

Jamo,
I work in construction and I know first hand that cash is a big part of illegal trade especially in So Ca.

I represent contractors and I'm aware that in that industry some cash changes hands for work...more often than not to keep the person (legal or illegal) off the roles so they don't have to join the union. The worker skips paying dues and the contractor avoids paying into assinine union trusts and apprentice/journeyman training programs. Happens a lot for short term work or union-required sites such as government construction.

Even during the construction boom, construction illegal labor was relatively low compared to Ag, hotels/restaurants and the garmant industries...which is why ICE targets them rather than construction.