Yeah, but they're "doing the jobs Americans won't do". We saw proof of this when a mere 300 American citizens applied for 20 or so jobs vacated at an Arizona grocery store when Immigration busted them and their illegal employees.
Here in MN, the Chipotle Restaurant franchises were populated almost exclusively with illegal immigrants, from store management on down. For whatever reason, they came onto ICE's radar a couple months back, and stores that were operating this way were forced to fire their entire workforces and rehire US citizens.
The transition happened over the course of a few days. So the claim that these illegals are doing what Americans won't do is put to the lie every time it's tested.
I will say this though, in the interest of fleshing out facets the discussion: There are three Chipotle stores equidistant from our home that we'll go to depending on where we are when we decide to eat there. When these three stores were operated and staffed with Mexicans, the food and service were consistent, fast, and the demeanor of the employees pleasant to the point of joviality. The employees moved quickly, worked hard, with smiles on their faces, enjoying friendly banter among themselves and with customers.
You generally don't get that from American workers in a fast food restaurant. Since the departure of the illegal aliens, the food at these three Chipotles is inconsistent and sloppily put together. The service is slower - the cooks frequently fall behind, and leave people waiting for ingredients to be cooked - the employees appear to be engaging in drudgery against their will with a sullen attitude.
I'm not making any blanket statements - just an observation for discussion, and this thought occurs to me based on this one anecdote: I wonder if the reality isn't that the illegals are doing what Americans WON'T do, but rather, doing what Americans feel they are ENTITLED not to HAVE to do if they don't want to - jobs they feel are beneath their station to which they resent feeling the need to resort. That's what I feel coming off these new Chipotle workers, and frankly, many workers in many different industries not considered to be "fulfilling" career-wise.
The Mexicans seem joyful to have a job. That in and of itself is explicable, considering the hellhole they came from and the open arms into which they've been received. But it also has a value in the marketplace, and it is a value that will now go unprovided to the customers of Chipotle in MN. We receive less for our money at Chipotle now, because the right and legal thing has been done.
