The Challenges Faced by Undocumented Immigrants in Dallas

The life of undocumented immigrants in Dallas is challenging on a daily basis. Many of them have crossed the border and evaded border patrols in their home countries to escape poverty and a desperate existence. They have come to the U.S. seeking a better future, escaping poverty and a desperate existence.

In the United States, they encounter new and unique challenges, some of which put them at risk. For instance, every time undocumented immigrants apply for a job, they risk being discovered, detained, and deported. To secure employment, many undocumented immigrants falsify documents and Social Security numbers. Additionally, undocumented immigrants are exploited by some businesses for their cheap labor because of their vulnerability.

What Are Some of the Most Common Challenges Facing Immigrants?

Immigrants face a multitude of challenges when entering a new country. Common challenges include the following:

Employment opportunities
Language barriers
Transportation
Raising children
Housing
Access to local services
Prejudice
Cultural differences

Because most undocumented immigrants lack access to finances, their first priority is to find a way to earn money so they can survive and address some of their challenges. Since they have no right to work, finding work that pays well can be one of the most challenging aspects of their lives.

What Challenges Do Immigrant Students Face?

Immigrant students face numerous obstacles as students, such as anti-immigrant sentiments, learning in the medium of a new language, economic obstacles, acculturative challenges, family separations, under-resourced neighborhoods, and overburdened schools.

However, it is also true that some immigrant youth educationally outperform their native-born peers due to their high aspirations, ability to consider other perspectives, optimism, dedicated hard work, positive attitudes toward school, and ethic of family support for advanced learning.

Is It Illegal to Hire Undocumented Workers in Texas?

It is illegal for employers to knowingly hire undocumented workers in Texas.

However, employers are responsible for verifying employees’ work authorization status using Form I-9 Employment Eligibility and Verification. It requires employees to submit documentation proving their right to work in the US and employers to verify it.

A consequence of this is that many migrants forge the required documentation so that they can work.

As a result, many migrants forge the necessary documents so that they can work. In the event that an employer knowingly hires an undocumented migrant with false documentation, both the employer and the employee are in violation of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA).

Undocumented Workers’ Rights in Texas

Although it is illegal for employers to hire undocumented immigrants in Texas, undocumented workers have a number of rights, and their status cannot generally be used against them.

Undocumented workers’ rights and protections are guaranteed by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA), and relevant Texas labor laws. They consequently have the rights to:

Minimum wages
Overtime pay
Union organization and collective bargaining
Freedom from unfair labor practices and discrimination
Sue and recover damages for both tort and contract liability
Designated and ensured paydays, bonuses, and commissions
Payment in US currency in proper form
Freedom from wage deductions
Workers’ compensation
Freedom from immigration proceedings and discovery brought against them during a labor dispute

Even though this may seem promising to an outsider, for undocumented immigrants, enforcing those rights can be very difficult due to the vulnerability of their immigration status, as well as the fear of being apprehended by the United States Customs and Border Protection for immigration enforcement and deportation proceedings – something unauthorized immigrants are terrified about.

A qualified and experienced immigration law firm can assess your case if you are an immigrant who feels your worker’s rights have been violated, regardless of whether you are documented or undocumented.

How Can an Undocumented Immigrant Become a Citizen?

There are several possible paths for undocumented immigrants to follow to become U.S. citizens.

The four main options are:

Green card through marriage to a US citizen or legal permanent resident
DREAMers’ green card or permanent residence through employment with LIFE Act Protection
Asylum
U Visa for victims of crime

Although the procedures are beyond the scope of this blog, you can read more about Green Card Categories here.

Can Undocumented Immigrants Get a Real ID?

A REAL ID is a driver’s license or identification card that the government also accepts as a form of identification. REAL ID Act establishes minimum standards for state-issued identification cards and driver’s licenses. A REAL ID-compliant license or identification card will be required to gain access to federal facilities and fly in the country under this legislation.

Since REAL IDs can only be issued to non-US citizens with a legal presence in the U.S., they may not be available to immigrants with limited or no documentation. Certain states offer standard driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, but these states cannot issue REAL IDs.

However, the REAL ID Act does provide that undocumented individuals whose identities or current legal status cannot be verified may also be issued non-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards. The regulation specifies that the license or identification card may have a unique design or color and should explicitly state the driver failed to meet the REAL ID requirements, rendering the license unacceptable for federal government purposes.

Organizations That Help Undocumented Immigrants

There are several resources for immigrants and vulnerable populations on the City of Dallas website. Some of these are listed below.

Catholic Charities of Dallas

Services offered by Catholic Charities of Dallas include education, senior services, housing, pregnancy and adoption assistance, financial stability and career assistance, disaster relief, and preparedness services, refugee services, immigration legal services, feeding programs, and programs for children.

International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The IRC assists immigrants with resettlement (including rent, furniture, and food), economic empowerment (English classes, financial literacy skills, and computer skills), job placement, community integration and development, health and wellness, and legal services toward residency and citizenship.

Refugee Services of Texas, Inc.

From the Refugee Services of Texas, undocumented immigrants receive services such as resettlement, job readiness and placement, social adjustment services, medical case management, English language training, immigration assistance, and refugee cash assistance.

North Texas Dream Team

The North Texas Dream Team provides resources and support for undocumented youth, free immigration workshops and classes, educational counseling, and networking opportunities.

Equal Justice Center

The Equal Justice Center provides legal assistance to undocumented students and graduates seeking Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Mosaic Family Services

The Mosaic Family Services program offers free legal representation, counseling, advocacy, and community education for victims of human rights abuses.

Heart House Dallas

Students in the Vickery Meadow neighborhood can take advantage of Heart House Dallas’ After-School program, which includes a nutritious meal, homework help, computer literacy activities, and outdoor play.

How an Attorney Can Help

If you are facing immigration challenges, consider seeing an attorney experienced in immigration laws in Texas. Immigration law is relatively complex and unstable due to its political nature.

At Andrew T. Thomas, Attorney at Law, we know that honesty and experience equal results. We offer a broad range of immigration services to immigrant families, so whether you need to adjust your immigration status, apply for a green card, face challenges as an undocumented immigrant, or face deportation, we are here to help.