Accepting Quote by Maria Echaveste
“I know firsthand that many employers who comply with other labor standards still hire the undocumented. Many businesses pay the minimum wage and have barely tolerable working conditions because there are sufficient undocumented workers willing to accept those terms. If we care about low-income workers in this country, we need to create pressure to improve their economic condition by reducing the supply of unauthorized workers.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks at the Economic Policy Forum, Washington D.C., 2022
Undocumented workers fill low‑wage jobs, keeping wages low; reducing their numbers could improve conditions for legal low‑income workers.
In simple terms: Undocumented labor depresses wages; cutting supply may help legal workers.
Key Takeaway
Address labor standards and immigration together.
Themes
labor
immigration
income inequality
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
policy
economic
When to use this quote
- minimum‑wage debates
- business compliance audits
- immigration reform discussions
Key Concepts
wage suppression
labor market dynamics
policy enforcement
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternative ways can raise wages without restricting labor supply?
- How to protect vulnerable workers regardless of status?
A Different Perspective
Reducing undocumented supply may harm essential industries and increase exploitation.
![“Over a period of time, they [undocumented workers] can have a legalized status that allows them to live a life of dignity but not necessarily a path to citizenship, so as to not create incentives for future people that aspire to come to our country to do so illegally when they could come legally.” quote by Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/145/jeb-bush-1082_aspire_over-a-period-of-time-they-undocumented_921928.jpg)
