FREE TO READ: A healthy US economy’s secret ingredient: Immigrant workers, eager to fill jobs | Business
MIAMI — Having fled economic and political chaos in Venezuela, Luisana Silva now loads carpets for a South Carolina rug company. She earns enough to pay rent, buy groceries, gas up her car — and send money home to her parents.
Reaching the United States was a harrowing ordeal. Silva, 25, her husband and their then-7-year-old daughter braved the treacherous jungles of Panama’s Darien Gap, traveled the length of Mexico, crossed the Rio Grande and then turned themselves in to the U.S. Border Patrol in Brownsville, Texas. Seeking asylum, they received a work permit last year and found jobs in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
kAm“|J A=2? 😀 E@ 96=A >J 72>:=J E92E >F49 ?665 E96 >@?6J 2?5 E@ 8C@H 64@?@>:42==J 96C6[” $:=G2 D2:5]k^Am
kAmw6C DE@CJ 2>@F?ED E@ 72C >@C6 E92? @?6 72>:=J’D 2C5F@FD BF6DE 7@C 2 36EE6C =:76] %96 >:==:@?D @7 ;@3D E92E $:=G2 2?5 @E96C ?6H :>>:8C2?E 2CC:G2=D 92G6 366? 7:==:?8 😕 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2AA62C E@ D@=G6 2 C:55=6 E92E 92D 4@?7@F?565 64@?@>:DED 7@C 2E =62DE 2 J62Cik^Am
kAmw@H 92D E96 64@?@>J >2?2865 E@ AC@DA6C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^;@3D\9:C:?8\F?6>A=@J>6?E\64@?@>J\:?7=2E:@?\7656C2=\C6D6CG6\`6cde3g57_6“3a`g65d_7`625e7efhfQm255:?8 9F?5C65D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 ;@3Dk^2m[ >@?E9 27E6C >@?E9[ 2E 2 E:>6 H96? E96 u656C2= #6D6CG6 92D 288C6DD:G6=J C2:D65 :?E6C6DE C2E6D E@ 7:89E :?7=2E:@? — ?@C>2==J 2 C64:A6 7@C 2 C646DD:@?nk^Am
kAmx?4C62D:?8=J[ E96 2?DH6C 2AA62CD E@ 36 :>>:8C2?ED — H96E96C =:G:?8 😕 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D =682==J @C ?@E] %96 :?7=FI @7 7@C6:8?\3@C? 25F=ED G2DE=J C2:D65 E96 DFAA=J @7 2G2:=23=6 H@C<6CD 27E6C 2 &]$] =23@C D9@CE286 925 =67E >2?J 4@>A2?:6D F?23=6 E@ 7:== ;@3D]k^Am
kAm|@C6 H@C<6CD 7:==:?8 >@C6 ;@3D 2?5 DA6?5:?8 >@C6 >@?6J 92D 96=A65 5C:G6 64@?@>:4 8C@HE9 2?5 4C62E6 DE:==\>@C6 ;@3 @A6?:?8D] %96 2G2:=23:=:EJ @7 :>>:8C2?E H@C<6CD 62D65 E96 AC6DDFC6 @? 4@>A2?:6D E@ D92CA=J C2:D6 H286D 2?5 E@ E96? A2DD @? E96:C 9:896C =23@C 4@DED E@ E96:C 4FDE@>6CD G:2 9:896C AC:46D E92E 7665 :?7=2E:@?] %9@F89 &]$] :?7=2E:@? C6>2:?D 6=6G2E65[ :E 92D A=F>>6E65 7C@> :ED =6G6=D @7 EH@ J62CD 28@]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D 366? D@>6E9:?8 @7 2 >JDE6CJ — 9@H 2C6 H6 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ 86E DF49 6IEC2@C5:?2CJ DEC@?8 ;@3 8C@HE9 H:E9 :?7=2E:@? DE:== 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ 4@>6 5@H?n’’ D2:5 w6:5: $9:6C9@=K[ AC6D:56?E @7 E96 t4@?@>:4 !@=:4J x?DE:EFE6 2?5 2 7@C>6C 49:67 64@?@>:DE 2E E96 {23@C s6A2CE>6?E] “%96 :>>:8C2E:@? ?F>36CD 36:?8 9:896C E92? H92E H6 925 E9@F89E — E92E C62==J 5@6D AC6EEJ >F49 D@=G6 E92E AFKK=6]’’k^Am
kAm(9:=6 96=A:?8 7F6= 64@?@>:4 8C@HE9[ :>>:8C2?ED 2=D@ =:6 2E E96 962CE @7 2? :?46?5:2CJ 6=64E:@?\J62C 5632E6 @G6C E96 4@?EC@= @7 E96 ?2E:@?VD $@FE96C? 3@C56C] x? 9:D 3:5 E@ C6EFC? E@ E96 (9:E6 w@FD6[ s@?2=5 %CF>A 92D 2EE24<65 >:8C2?ED 😕 @7E6?\568C25:?8 E6C>D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3@C56C\:>>:8C2E:@?\ECF>A\3:56?\C96E@C:4\a_ac\6=64E:@?\baf4_g_cd6544a__7gd_5ghb56e2fh5eQm492C24E6C:K:?8 E96> 2D 52?86C@FD 4C:>:?2=Dk^2m H9@ 2C6 “A@:D@?:?8 E96 3=@@5” @7 p>6C:42 2?5 7C6BF6?E=J :?G@<:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^ECF>A\:>>:8C2E:@?\3:56?\8@A\G@E6CD\3@C56C\>:8C2?ED\`74eeac`gg7dc_7chd6`_gf366ecb`g6Qm72=D69@@5D 23@FE >:8C2E:@?k^2m] %CF>A 92D G@H65 E@ 7:?:D9 3F:=5:?8 2 3@C56C H2== 2?5 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^ECF>A\C:@E\A2C5@?D\56A@CE2E:@?\C6AF3=:42?D\4@?8C6DD\4g6dbhg3b4a4g46cb`ch6ba45_g_dgedQm=2F?49 E96 “=2C86DE 5@>6DE:4 56A@CE2E:@? @A6C2E:@?k^2m 😕 p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ]” (96E96C 96 @C !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56? H:?D E96 6=64E:@? 4@F=5 56E6C>:?6 H96E96C E96 :?7=FI @7 :>>:8C2?ED[ 2?5 E96:C <6J C@=6 😕 AC@A6==:?8 E96 64@?@>J[ H:== 6?5FC6]k^Am
kAm%96 3@@> 😕 :>>:8C2E:@? 42F89E 2=>@DE 6G6CJ@?6 3J DFCAC:D6] x? a_`h[ E96 r@?8C6DD:@?2= qF586E ~77:46 925 6DE:>2E65 E92E ?6E :>>:8C2E:@? — 2CC:G2=D >:?FD 56A2CEFC6D — H@F=5 6BF2= 23@FE ` >:==:@? 😕 a_ab] %96 24EF2= ?F>36C[ E96 rq~ D2:5 😕 2 y2?F2CJ FA52E6[ H2D >@C6 E92? EC:A=6 E92E 6DE:>2E6i b]b >:==:@?]k^Am
kAm%9@FD2?5D @7 6>A=@J6CD 56DA6C2E6=J ?66565 E96 ?6H 2CC:G2=D] %96 64@?@>J — 2?5 4@?DF>6C DA6?5:?8 — 925 C@2C65 324< 7C@> E96 A2?56>:4 C646DD:@?] r@>A2?:6D H6C6 DECF88=:?8 E@ 9:C6 6?@F89 H@C<6CD E@ <66A FA H:E9 4FDE@>6C @C56CD]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@3=6> H2D 4@>A@F?565 3J 56>@8C2A9:4 492?86Di %96 ?F>36C @7 ?2E:G6\3@C? p>6C:42?D 😕 E96:C AC:>6 H@C<:?8 J62CD — 286D ad E@ dc — H2D 5C@AA:?8 3642FD6 D@ >2?J @7 E96> 925 2865 @FE @7 E92E 42E68@CJ 2?5 H6C6 ?62C:?8 @C 6?E6C:?8 C6E:C6>6?E] %9:D 8C@FAVD ?F>36CD 92G6 D9CF?< 3J ff_[___ D:?46 u63CF2CJ a_a_[ ;FDE 367@C6 r~’xs\`h D=2>>65 E96 64@?@>J]k^Am
kAmu:==:?8 E96 82A 92D 366? 2 H2G6 @7 :>>:8C2?ED] ~G6C E96 A2DE 7@FC J62CD[ E96 ?F>36C @7 AC:>6\286 H@C<6CD H9@ 6:E96C 92G6 2 ;@3 @C 2C6 =@@<:?8 7@C @?6 92D DFC865 3J a]g >:==:@?] p?5 ?62C=J 2== E9@D6 ?6H =23@C 7@C46 6?EC2?ED — a]f >:==:@?[ @C heT @7 E96> — H6C6 3@C? @FED:56 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] x>>:8C2?ED =2DE J62C 244@F?E65 7@C 2 C64@C5 `g]eT @7 E96 =23@C 7@C46[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 t4@?@>:4 !@=:4J x?DE:EFE6’D 2?2=JD:D @7 8@G6C?>6?E 52E2]k^Am
kAmp?5 6>A=@J6CD H6=4@>65 E96 96=A]k^Am
kAmr@?D:56C y2? v2FE2>[ rt~ @7 E96 =@58:?8 4@>A2?J x?E6C6DD2?E w@E6=D U2>Aj #6D@CE |2?286>6?E 😕 ~C=2?5@[ u=@C:52[ H9@ D2:5 96 42?’E 7:?5 p>6C:42?\3@C? H@C<6CD E@ E2<6 ;@3D 4=62?:?8 C@@>D 2?5 5@:?8 =2F?5CJ 😕 9:D cc 9@E6=D] ~7 x?E6C6DD2?E’D b[d__ H@C<6CD[ 96 D2:5[ gdT 2C6 :>>:8C2?ED]k^Am
kAm“(:E9@FE 6>A=@J66D[ J@F 2C6 3C@<6?[Q D2:5 v2FE2>[ 9:>D6=7 2? :>>:8C2?E 7C@> x?5:2 H9@ DE2CE65 H@C<:?8 😕 C6DE2FC2?ED 2D 2 5:D9H2D96C 2?5 ?@H @H?D 9:D @H? 4@>A2?J]k^Am
kAm“x7 J@F H2?E 3@@DE E96 64@?@>J[Q 96 D2:5[ “:E 567:?:E6=J ?665D E@ 92G6 >@C6 :>>:8C2?ED 4@>:?8 @FE E@ E9:D 4@F?ECJ]”k^Am
kAm~C 4@?D:56C E96 H@C<7@C46 @7 E96 u=@@5 qC@E96CD 72C> 😕 |2:?6’D “52:CJ 42A:E2=’’ @7 r=:?E@?] u@C6:8?\3@C? H@C<6CD >2<6 FA 7F==J 92=7 E96 72C>VD DE277 @7 ?62C=J d_[ 7665:?8 E96 4@HD[ E6?5:?8 4C@AD 2?5 96=A:?8 4@==64E E96 >:=< — `g[___ 82==@?D 6249 52J]k^Am
kAm“(6 42??@E 5@ :E H:E9@FE E96>[Q D2:5 y6??: %:=E@?\u=@@5[ 2 A2CE?6C 😕 E96 @A6C2E:@?]k^Am
kAmu@C 6G6CJ F?6>A=@J65 A6CD@? 😕 |2:?6[ 27E6C 2==[ E96C6 2C6 EH@ ;@3 @A6?:?8D[ @? 2G6C286]k^Am
kAm“(6 H@F=5 ?@E 92G6 2? 64@?@>J[ 😕 |2:?6 @C 😕 E96 &]$] :7 H6 5:5 ?@E 92G6 9:89=J D<:==65 =23@C E92E 4@>6D 7C@> @FED:56 @7 E9:D 4@F?ECJ[” %:=E@?\u=@@5 D2:5 😕 2 A9@?6 :?E6CG:6H H:E9 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD 7C@> 96C 72C>]k^Am
kAm“(:E9@FE :>>:8C2?ED — 3@E9 ?6H 2DJ=F>\D66<6CD 2D H6== 2D @FC =@?8\E6C> :>>:8C2?E 4@?EC:3FE@CD — H6 H@F=5 ?@E 36 23=6 E@ 5@ E96 H@C< E92E H6 5@[Q D96 D2:5] QtG6CJ D:?8=6 E9:?8 E92E 27764ED E96 p>6C:42? 64@?@>J 😀 5C:G6? 3J 2?5 H:== @?=J 36 D2G65 3J 2446AE:?8 :>>:8C2?E =23@C]”k^Am
kAmp DEF5J 3J (6?5J t56=36C8 2?5 %2C2 (2ED@?[ 64@?@>:DED 2E E96 qC@@<:?8D x?DE:EFE:@?’D w2>:=E@? !C@;64E[ 92D 4@?4=F565 E92E @G6C E96 A2DE EH@ J62CD[ ?6H :>>:8C2?ED C2:D65 E96 64@?@>J’D DFAA=J @7 H@C<6CD 2?5 2==@H65 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D E@ 86?6C2E6 ;@3D H:E9@FE @G6C962E:?8 2?5 2446=6C2E:?8 :?7=2E:@?]k^Am
kAmx? E96 A2DE[ 64@?@>:DED EJA:42==J 6DE:>2E65 E92E p>6C:42VD 6>A=@J6CD 4@F=5 255 ?@ >@C6 E92? e_[___ E@ `__[___ ;@3D 2 >@?E9 H:E9@FE @G6C962E:?8 E96 64@?@>J 2?5 :8?:E:?8 :?7=2E:@?] qFE H96? t56=36C8 2?5 (2ED@? :?4=F565 E96 :>>:8C2E:@? DFC86 😕 E96:C 42=4F=2E:@?D[ E96J 7@F?5 E92E >@?E9=J ;@3 8C@HE9 4@F=5 36 C@F89=J EH:46 2D 9:89 E9:D J62C — `e_[___ E@ a__[___ — H:E9@FE 6I6CE:?8 FAH2C5 AC6DDFC6 @? :?7=2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 2C6 D:8?:7:42?E=J >@C6 A6@A=6 H@C<:?8 😕 E96 4@F?ECJ[Q u65 r92:C y6C@>6 !@H6== D2:5 =2DE H66< 😕 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^7656C2=\C6D6CG6\A@H6==\:?7=2E:@?\64@?@>J\C2E6D\;@3D\7h4ed73`3g“e`eg7gadedf34d7d4“fQmDA6649 2E $E2?7@C5 &?:G6CD:EJk^2m] {2C86=J 3642FD6 @7 E96 :>>:8C2?E :?7=FI[ !@H6== D2:5[ “:E’D 2 3:886C 64@?@>J 3FE ?@E 2 E:89E6C @?6] #62==J 2? F?6IA64E65 2?5 2? F?FDF2= E9:?8]’’k^Am
kAm%CF>A 92D C6A62E65=J 2EE24<65 q:56?VD :>>:8C2E:@? A@=:4J @G6C E96 DFC86 😕 >:8C2?ED 2E E96 $@FE96C? 3@C56C] ~?=J 23@FE afT @7 E96 b]b >:==:@? 7@C6:8?6CD H9@ 6?E6C65 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D =2DE J62C 5:5 D@ E9C@F89 2D “=2H7F= A6C>2?6?E C6D:56?ED’’ @C @? E6>A@C2CJ G:D2D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ t56=36C8 2?5 (2ED@?VD 2?2=JD:D] %96 C6DE — a]c >:==:@? — 6:E96C 42>6 :==682==J[ @G6CDE2J65 E96:C G:D2D[ 2C6 2H2:E:?8 :>>:8C2E:@? 4@FCE AC@4665:?8D @C 2C6 @? 2 A2C@=6 AC@8C2> E92E =6ED E96> DE2J E6>A@C2C:=J 2?5 D@>6E:>6D H@C< 😕 E96 4@F?ECJ]k^Am
kAm“$@ E96C6 J@F 92G6 :E[’’ s@F8=2D w@=EK\t2<:?[ 2 7@C>6C rq~ 5:C64E@C H9@ 😀 AC6D:56?E @7 E96 4@?D6CG2E:G6 p>6C:42? p4E:@? u@CF>[ HC@E6 😕 u63CF2CJ] “%96 H2J E@ D@=G6 2? :?7=2E:@? 4C:D:D 😀 E@ 6?5FC6 2? :>>:8C2E:@? 4C:D:D]Qk^Am
kAm|2?J 64@?@>:DED DF886DE E92E :>>:8C2?ED 36?67:E E96 &]$] 64@?@>J 😕 D6G6C2= H2JD] %96J E2<6 86?6C2==J F?56D:C23=6[ =@H\A2J:?8 3FE 6DD6?E:2= ;@3D E92E >@DE &]$]\3@C? p>6C:42?D H@?’E[ =:<6 42C:?8 7@C 49:=5C6?[ E96 D:4< 2?5 E96 6=56C=J] p?5 E96J 42? 3@@DE E96 4@F?ECJ’D :??@G2E:@? 2?5 AC@5F4E:G:EJ 3642FD6 E96J 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ DE2CE E96:C @H? 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 @3E2:? A2E6?ED]k^Am
kAmtC?:6 %656D49:[ 2 G:D:E:?8 76==@H 2E v6@C86E@H? &?:G6CD:EJVD !D2C@D r6?E6C 2?5 2 7@C>6C q:56? 64@?@>:4 25G:D6C[ 42=4F=2E6D E92E E96 3FCDE @7 :>>:8C2E:@? 92D 244@F?E65 7@C 23@FE 2 7:7E9 @7 E96 64@?@>JVD 8C@HE9 @G6C E96 A2DE 7@FC J62CD]k^Am
kAmrC:E:4D 4@F?E6C E92E 2 DFC86 😕 :>>:8C2E:@? 42? 7@C46 5@H? A2J[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 7@C =@H\:?4@>6 H@C<6CD[ 2 42E68@CJ E92E @7E6? :?4=F56D :>>:8C2?ED H9@ 92G6 =:G65 😕 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D =@?86C] {2DE >@?E9[ 😕 E96 >@DE C646?E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H9:E69@FD6]8@G^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ac^_b^t#!\a_ac]A57Qm64@?@>:4 C6A@CE @7 E96 AC6D:56?Ek^2m[ q:56?’D 25G:D6CD 24<?@H=65865 E92E “:>>:8C2E:@? >2J A=246 5@H?H2C5 AC6DDFC6 @? E96 H286D @7 D@>6 =@H\A2:5 H@C<6CDQ 3FE 25565 E92E >@DE DEF5:6D D9@H E92E E96 :>A24E @? E96 H286D @7 E96 &]$]\3@C? 😀 “D>2==]Qk^Am
kAmtG6? t56=36C8 ?@E6D E92E 2? F?6IA64E65 H2G6 @7 :>>:8C2?ED[ =:<6 E96 C646?E @?6[ 42? @G6CH96=> DE2E6 2?5 =@42= 8@G6C?>6?ED 2?5 D255=6 E96> H:E9 3FC56?D@>6 4@DED] p >@C6 @C56C=J :>>:8C2E:@? DJDE6>[ D96 D2:5[ H@F=5 96=A]k^Am
kAm%96 C646?E DFC86 “:D 2 D@>6H92E 5:DCFAE:G6 H2J @7 :?4C62D:?8 :>>:8C2E:@? 😕 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[” t56=36C8 D2:5] “x 5@?’E E9:?< 2?J3@5J H@F=5 92G6 D2E 5@H? 2?5 D2:5i ‘{6E’D 4C62E6 @AE:>2= :>>:8C2E:@? A@=:4J[V 2?5 E9:D 😀 H92E E96J H@F=5 4@>6 FA H:E9]Qk^Am
kAmw@=EK\t2<:? 2C8F65 E92E 2? :>>:8C2E:@? 4FE@77 @7 E96 <:?5 %CF>A 92D G@H65 E@ :>A@D6[ :7 6=64E65[ H@F=5 C6DF=E 😕 “>F49[ >F49 D=@H6C =23@C 7@C46 8C@HE9 2?5 2 C6EFC? E@ E96 D92CA EC256@77’’ 36EH66? 4@?E2:?:?8 :?7=2E:@? 2?5 >2:?E2:?:?8 64@?@>:4 8C@HE9 E92E E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 92D D@ 72C >2?2865 E@ 2G@:5]k^Am
kAmu@C ?@H[ >:==:@?D @7 ;@3 G242?4:6D 2C6 36:?8 7:==65 3J :>>:8C2?ED =:<6 |2C:6= |2CC6C@] p A@=:E:42= @AA@?6?E @7 ‘6?6KF6=2’D 2FE9@C:E2C:2? !C6D:56?E }:4@=áD |25FC@[ |2CC6C@[ ba[ 7=65 96C 9@>6=2?5 😕 a_`e 27E6C C646:G:?8 562E9 E9C62ED] $96 =:G65 😕 !2?2>2 2?5 t= $2=G25@C 367@C6 4C@DD:?8 E96 &]$] 3@C56C 2?5 2AA=J:?8 7@C 2DJ=F>]k^Am
kAmw6C 42D6 A6?5:?8[ D96 C646:G65 2FE9@C:K2E:@? E@ H@C< 😕 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D =2DE yF=J] |2CC6C@[ H9@ FD65 E@ H@C< 😕 E96 2C49:G6D @7 E96 ‘6?6KF6=2? r@?8C6DD 😕 r2C242D[ 7@F?5 H@C< D6==:?8 E6=6A9@?6D 2?5 E96? 2D 2 D2=6D 4=6C< 2E 2 4@?G6?:6?46 DE@C6 @H?65 3J ‘6?6KF6=2? :>>:8C2?ED]k^Am
kAmpE 7:CDE[ D96 =:G65 7@C 7C66 2E E96 9@FD6 @7 2? F?4=6] qFE ?@H D96 62C?D 6?@F89 E@ A2J C6?E @? 2 EH@\365C@@> 9@FD6 D96 D92C6D H:E9 E9C66 @E96C ‘6?6KF6=2?D 😕 s@C2=[ u=@C:52[ 2 |:2>: DF3FC3 H:E9 2 =2C86 ‘6?6KF6=2? 4@>>F?:EJ] p7E6C C6?E[ 7@@5[ 6=64EC:4:EJ 2?5 82D@=:?6[ D96 92D 6?@F89 =67E @G6C E@ D6?5 Sa__ 2 >@?E9 E@ 96C 72>:=J 😕 ‘6?6KF6=2]k^Am
kAm“~?6 9F?5C65 A6C46?E — E9:D 4@F?ECJ 8:G6D J@F @AA@CEF?:E:6D[’’ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm|2CC6C@ 92D 96C @H? p>6C:42? 5C62>ik^Am
kAm“x :>28:?6 92G:?8 >J @H? 4@>A2?J[ >J 9@FD6[ 96=A:?8 >J 72>:=J 😕 2 >@C6 4@>7@CE23=6 H2J]”k^Am
k9C ^m
kAm(:D6>2? 2?5 #F8236C C6A@CE65 7C@> (2D9:?8E@?[ $2=@>@? 7C@> |:2>:]k^Am
