One of our contributors recently undertook an effort to report a company in Charlotte hiring illegal immigrants. His journey revealed a concerning lack of accountability and action from local officials, despite reaching out to multiple departments, including the Mayor’s office, the CMPD, and the Sheriff’s department. This experience exposes the challenges legal American workers, particularly legal Hispanic residents, face when competing against illegal workers in the job market.
The contributor’s mother, a legal Hispanic resident working in a Charlotte warehouse, found herself surrounded by illegal workers. Of the 30 employees, 22 were undocumented immigrants, many of whom were hired with fake documents or using the IDs of relatives. The company not only knew of their illegal status but actively recruited more workers directly from Mexico and Honduras, ignoring the fact that 12% of Americans were unemployed at the time.
A Long Trail of Emails with Little Action
Our friend sent an email to the Mayor’s office, outlining the issue, providing the company’s name, and address, and even mentioning that some employees still had vehicles with Mexican plates. He reached out to various officials, including then-Mayor Pat McCrory, the CMPD, and news outlets. His concerns about how the company knowingly employed illegal immigrants during an economic downturn went unanswered for the most part.
Mayor McCrory responded politely, acknowledging the concern but emphasizing that his office had no jurisdiction over such matters. He forwarded the email to the police chief and sheriff’s offices but did not propose any tangible solutions or changes in policy.
The Sheriff’s Office, represented by Julia Rush, responded swiftly, but also redirected the issue to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), explaining that neither the sheriff nor CMPD dealt with immigration enforcement. The Deputy Chief of the CMPD, Rodney Monroe, took the matter seriously, asking federal partners at ICE to investigate any criminal activity related to the location, but ultimately, the matter seemed out of local hands.
A Problem Bigger Than Local Enforcement
Despite the fast responses from local officials, it became clear that no one could do much about the hiring of illegal immigrants unless there was gang activity or a serious crime involved. The officer handling the case said that local law enforcement’s ability to address these issues was limited, and even ICE was hard to reach for meaningful action.
The contributor’s mother, close to earning her legal U.S. citizenship, eventually grew uneasy with the attention and feared backlash from her illegal coworkers. After repeated attempts to engage local authorities, the issue fizzled out, leaving the family with no resolution.
The Aftermath: Job Loss and Missed Opportunities
Recently, the company in question closed its doors, laying off all staff, including the illegal workers. This outcome, while closing one chapter, highlights the ongoing struggle many legal Americans and immigrants face in competing for jobs against undocumented workers. The frustration is amplified when the local government appears powerless to address the problem.
As the city looks ahead to new leadership, this situation serves as a lesson for the next mayor. The future mayor must confront the reality that Charlotte risks becoming a sanctuary city where legal residents are left helpless while illegal workers take their jobs. With unemployment high and illegal hiring practices unchecked, it’s time for leadership that will fight for legal citizens and workers.
A Call for Action
We urge the residents of Charlotte to voice their concerns to the next mayoral candidates, John Lassiter and Anthony Fox, both of whom were copied on the original email. Let them know that the issue of illegal immigration and local job competition cannot be ignored. Charlotte cannot thrive if the city continues to turn a blind eye to illegal hiring practices that harm legal, hardworking residents. The next mayor must ensure that law-abiding, tax-paying citizens are not left behind in the fight for employment.
