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Undocumented Irish have no trouble finding work in New York City

Irish tradition of immigration allows undocumented workforce to thrive

INES NOVACIC,

IrishCentral.com Contributor

Published Wednesday, October 5, 2011, 7:06 AM

Updated Thursday, October 6, 2011, 5:00 PM

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New York construction workers - Irish undocumented continue to find work on sites and in bars

Photo by Google Images

“I’ve been here for almost 11 years,” said Paul, “and no-one in my situation that’s in my circle, or my friend’s circle, has been targeted.”

Paul, who works as a carpenter, estimated that he gets paid $25-30 an hour. Large construction companies, which generate approximately $150 million a year, negotiate wages with relevant unions.

The General Contractors Association of New York oversees 13 different trade-specific construction unions, and fixes hourly wages between $30-60, dependent on the worker’s skill level. Unionized carpenters typically make $40-45 an hour without benefits. With union membership fees taken into account, Paul earns slightly less in real terms than his documented counterparts.

On a recent day, several Irishmen watching a Gaelic football match in the Cuckoos Nest pub in Queens openly admitted to being undocumented.

“It’s the kind of thing you leave people alone with,” said George, Sean’s 26-year-old friend from Dublin

“They like us, so they tolerate us. And we try to avoid rocking the boat. It has a lot to do with people in the right places turning a blind eye.”

Despite the seemingly easy task of getting work, and the insular, protective nature of the Irish community, Sean predicted that he wouldn’t stay in New York for long.

“I don’t think making more money than other undocumented groups makes us successful,” said Sean.

“We’ve no representation and I’ve yet to meet an Irishman who’s not in construction or bar work. And it’s unfortunate how a lot of Irish in these communities like Queens still only eat Kerrygold butter.”

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Eamonn12 | Oct 06, 2011, 11:50 PM EDT

Something I think a majority of the website readers are unaware of is the Irish Voice is newstand newspaper for the Irish immigrant community of NY (of which I am a part of). The only "thick" ones are the Americans slagging the people who actually stop by and pay for this periodical.

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Dunkelly1 | Oct 06, 2011, 02:31 PM EDT

Joycean and Mcchevy, I can see your point of view regarding laws and taxes etc. However, as long as America has jobs and opportunities for people to make a living, then people from countries that do not afford the same will always come here. This has been going on for decades. I came here on a student visa, went to college in Fordham and when my student visa ran out, I found myself as an undocuemnted alien, despite the fact that my grandmother was an American (and was living in NYC at the time) Our families roots in this country predate the revolution, yet I was unable to become legal. Also try to have some empathy for the thousands of exiles who have had to leave their homes and families and cannot return to Ireland for holidays etc for fear of deportation. Irishmen have fought valiantly in the civil war and every succeeding conflict, gallantly for the USA. I know what its like to try and live without a social security card, a bank account, a credit card and how hard it is to find work without same. Despite my college degree, I had to work as a chauffeur for many years, as that was the only work I could find off the books. While these Irish illegals may not contribute income taxes, they do contribute to the social and cultural fabric of this country in a big way.

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GeorgeDillon | Oct 06, 2011, 02:22 PM EDT

ellenfromcork: What you wrote is utter drivel. Native Americans were overpowered by foreign immigration. Don't they teach you any history over there? Clown.

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GeorgeDillon | Oct 06, 2011, 02:20 PM EDT

Eamonn12: Sounds like you are what the Irish call a "thick". Most of us on this site--apart from a few Irish hangers-on who seem to hate America--are Americans, many of Irish ancestry. I won't purport to speak for anyone else, but I'm against illegal aliens from Ireland trying to settle in our country, especially at a time when Ireland is overflowing with foreign migrants. The Irish who come here illegally should stay in their own country, not let it be taken over by foreigners.

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joycean | Oct 06, 2011, 02:07 PM EDT

Eamonn12, I think the majority of readers are Americans of Irish descent, a generation or two removed from Ireland.

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Eamonn12 | Oct 06, 2011, 01:15 PM EDT

I understand the sentiment behind anger at illegal immigration. However, I am confused how someone who is against this is reading a newspaper for the Irish immigrant community? If you are against Irish immigration why are you in this site in the first place?

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Yardleypa | Oct 06, 2011, 01:11 PM EDT

I have no problem with the irish look at queens in nyc its pretty rough except for woodside.Woodside looks like a town in Ireland with bustling bars & restaurants these bars and restaurants are supported by the irish illegals thus generating jobs these jobs feed of each other we need more Irish in here.

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joycean | Oct 06, 2011, 09:51 AM EDT

Not Terrorists? Actually the 9/11 highjackers were overstaying visas just like these Irish. These illegal Irish and the Irish who hire them are breaking our laws and need to be deported/imprisoned. I am appalled to think people living in our country would have such little respect for our laws. Coming here with the INTENTION of overstaying a visa is unscupulous.This is a nation of laws: we rely upon the basic honesty of our citizens.

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michaelidaho | Oct 06, 2011, 08:44 AM EDT

Good post rpmschevy. To Sean in the article. You did not get your job because you have white skin. You got your job because you are Irish. There are plenty of legal, white Americans that would gladly work at your hourly rate off the books at $25/hr. They can not get your job because they are not Irish. You and the person you work for should be thrown in jail for tax evasion, fraud and immigration violations.

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rpmschevy | Oct 06, 2011, 02:45 AM EDT

The problem simplesandy is that your condoning breaking the law. So if I come to your house, take your possessions, but sell them and give the money to the food bank, my violating your property is still illegal. Second, they broke multiple laws here. Overstayed tourist visa. Forged paperwork, since we all have to prove were allowed to work. Fail to pay all taxes. Yes they may be paying sales taxes, but what about property and income taxes. Additionally they are taking jobs from citizens, or those who came here legally.

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simplesandy | Oct 05, 2011, 08:15 PM EDT

I am sorry most of you will not like my opinion. But I feel as long as they work and speak the language let’s welcome them in. the Irish are not the terrorists. Also let them claim their hard earned money and pay taxes. I am sure they would welcome to be part of our country. Their forefathers are one of many who came to America to help build it. It is a shame that because of 911 it is almost next to impossible for the Irish people to come into America and live.

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Magdaleno | Oct 05, 2011, 06:24 PM EDT

If a person has no legal papers to be in America, that person cannot be hired...the worst offenders are Latinos. Real simple no legal papers-- no work-- and no welfare. All paper work has to be verifiable, once we get tough then we can solve this undocumented problem and deport those who are here illegal. Once the work- force dries up[ no verifiable papers] many will return to their country on their own.

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ellenfromcork | Oct 05, 2011, 04:12 PM EDT

It's too bad the native Americans didn't have Nicomax's idea when the Pilgrims came over. I believe they were undocumented too.

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bunbegdonegal | Oct 05, 2011, 02:51 PM EDT

At least Irish Immigrants speak English, arrive after going through some legitimate process, are well educated and probably spend most, if not all of their income here.

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Nicomax | Oct 05, 2011, 12:35 PM EDT

Should an actual fence be constructed around New York Harbor, or a virtual electronic fence of some type be set up? New York should get a copy of the recently-approved Alabama law addressing illegal immigration to see if its provisions can help them with this growing problem.

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