Over the years, NACLA has received many letters in response to the Report. They have been im- portant contributions to the evaluation of our work, a source of new ideas and enthusiasm. We welcome your criticisms and sug- gestions about the Report. We would also like to hear how it is be- ing used, how it can become a more valuable resource. Let us know. Write to Readers Respond-NACLA, 151 W. 19th St., 9th floor, New York, NY 10011. (Letters may be excerpted due to space constraints.) UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS Bravo! Your last issue on un- documented labor was excellent, even though it covers only one segment of the "illegal" work- force. As a nurse in the Boston area, I came in contact with another sec- tion of this labor force while doing a private duty case for a rich fami- ly. The rich are indeed lazy, and fill their homes these days with cheap Latin American household help. These workers exist completely outside the industrial wage-labor arena. They are paid in cash, forced to work long and erratic hours, often in different homes, and without the option of unioniza- tion. Although several worked other jobs for wages, one got the impression that all the workers in this house were undocumented. Beneath the veneer of friendli- ness, a tension and uneasiness was present. One Haitian woman became extremely hostile when I mentioned that another one of the household workers thought she had been ill because she hadn't been seen in church on Sunday. The close-mouthed atmosphere and quiet servility were quite disturbing to me, especially when mixed with periodic outbursts. The trapped, hopeless feelings which drove the workers in your article to the U.S. were evi- dent among these people, too, as were the elaborate financial schemes necessary for them to get here. One man, still on a tourist visa although working for wages with this family, was taking a crash course in English at an exorbitant price, frantically hoping to in- crease his employability. He said he owed over $6,000 to various people. I also heard stories of im- migrants whose fare had been paid by rich Latins in the United States, mainly Cubans, and who, upon their arrival, are kept in in- dentured servitude. They have ab- solutely no recourse, and are literally trapped here. I feel, however, that there might be validity in the assumption that these workers might be preferred by industries like garment manu- facture over, say, U.S. blacks. Even though they join unions and are acutely aware of their position here, undocumented workers are still overwhelmingly a captive au- dience. U.S. black workers have a reputation for restiveness une- qualled by any other group, and it just might be a little easier not to hire us in large numbers. I just can't believe bosses aren't con- NACLA Reportupdate * update * update . update cerned with the legal status of their workers. They may not in- dicate their concern in their haste to get work done as cheaply as possible, but we must not be naive about this. Anyone studying the racist U.S. must know that because the bosses don't ask does not mean they have no wish to know. It means they've already assumed what position their workers are in. All this is not to say, of course, that immigrants, undocumented or "legal," are our enemies, but sole- ly to add a different perspective. Keep up the good work on this. More information is essential on this super-exploited sector of the working class. Valerie Adams Boston, Mass. As a paralegal for an immigra- tion law firm for the past 3 years, I was very interested in your November-December issue on un- documented aliens. However, I think your statement on page 11 is misleading, implying that perma- nent residence can be obtained for "exceptionally skilled profes- sionals" and that "the law leaves little berth for low-wage laborers." There are several job categories for which it is possible to obtain labor certification and 6th preference status. For example, foreign cuisine cook, pizza baker, bilingual receptionist or secretary, or live-in maid or child's nanny, or live-in attendant to the elderly. Usually, only 1 year experience is required, and this can be obtained in the United States, even through unauthorized employment. Working as a live-in maid for 2 or 3 years may not be the most Mar/Apr 1980 pleasant occupation, but it is often better than being an exploited fac- tory worker, and it can lead to per- manent residence. For certifica- tion, the Labor Department only requires minimum wage plus free room and board, a 44-hour week, 1-1/2 days off per week, and several hours off in the middle of each day. Since there are few ex- penses, the employee can save her wages. Your statement on page 11, "without a permanent residence 'green card', a foreigner is punishable by deportation for working in the United States," is also in error. There are many tem- porary non-immigrant visas which grant permission to work, although these are usually not available to the unskilled or uneducated.
