Multiple Texas Farms Shut Down After ‘Almost 100%’ Of Workforce Vanishes Overnight

[Lord of Planar]

That's exactly what they should do. All those poor working-class people getting benefits who voted for Trump need to be sent to the fields to work.

If people are no working, able bodied, but are on social benefits....

They should be put to work where needed. Else lose their benefits.

 

[W_Heisenberg]

Before COVID, most were that way. We now have homeless who were once business owners, thanks to the draconian lock-down policies destroying people's livelihood.

This is a very poor argument. It defies common sense to think there is any appreciable number of business owners amongst the homeless population.

And of any class of people in the U.S., business owners had the biggest help from the federal government through PPP and EIDL and related programs.

I'm certain there are a handful of business owners who became homeless.

I'm also 100% certain there are tens of thousands more who declined good advice, put themselves in harm's way, and died from Covid before a vaccine was made available.

 

[W_Heisenberg]

Yes, I know. They are the modern thing, closest to slave labor we have been allowed. Shouldn't we need to raise the wages of such jobs until a regular citizen will work for it, instead of wanting lesser class people?

When I talk about how hard they work, I'm not only referencing what benefit we gain from their labor, I'm also acknowledging their contribution. They've earned my respect, yet you talk about them like they are garbage. And I just don't understand it.

 

[W_Heisenberg]

Yes, they are poor. But they are here illegally in most cases

The illegal action occurred once, it's called improper entry.

There is no crime called "unlawful presence."

Yet you treat them and talk about them as if the crime were ongoing, with zero respect, and great disdain. You and other Trump supporters talk about them and treat them as if they were the worst of the worst criminals. I believe this is the wrong way to view the situation.

and even those here awaiting asylum should have been required to wait outside.

There's no "shoulda" in the federal statute with respect to asylum claims. That's not how the law works, sorry.

 

[VanceMack]

Leftists: We need slaves to pick our cotton.

Also leftists: We need illegal immigrants to work for cheap labor and pick our cotton.

Nothing has changed.

The US has always had a guest worker program that provides for LEGAL immigration for seasonal employees. That should be the standard. It should be enforced. And maybe as an addition to that, the capable people on government assistance should have to work for their 'income'.

 

[Cosmo]

There is an actual amount.
Undocumented immigrants paid nearly $97 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022, according to a July 2024 report, opens new tab by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), which used data on taxpayers with ITINs to estimate tax revenue.

That's ITEP, which takes wild guesses based on demonstrably false assumptions:

Post in thread 'Multiple Texas Farms Shut Down After ‘Almost 100%’ Of Workforce Vanishes Overnight'

Jun 22, 2025

The document he referenced claimed $100 billion in federal, STATE AMD LOCAL taxes. That's perfectly plausible. The yearly estimates I've seen - and I gave you a link to some - of federal taxes are about $6 billion in FICA and $20 billion in payroll tax. It varies by year.

This site gives a breakdown of how the estimates are calculated.

Tax Payments by Undocumented Immigrants

Undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022. Providing access to work authorization for undocumented immigrants would increase their tax contributions both because their wages would rise and because their rates of tax compliance would increase.

itep.org

Did you look at the methodology? They just take percentages and reduce and increase figures arbitrarily:

We adjust for an expected undercount of 13 percent for those immigrants who...

• Cosmo

 

[Lursa]

They also pay federal, state and SS taxes

undocumented workers do? How?

 

[ClaraD]

undocumented workers do? How?

Via ITIN numbers

 

[ClaraD]

That's ITEP, which takes wild guesses based on demonstrably false assumptions:

Post in thread 'Multiple Texas Farms Shut Down After ‘Almost 100%’ Of Workforce Vanishes Overnight'

Jun 22, 2025

The document he referenced claimed $100 billion in federal, STATE AMD LOCAL taxes. That's perfectly plausible. The yearly estimates I've seen - and I gave you a link to some - of federal taxes are about $6 billion in FICA and $20 billion in payroll tax. It varies by year.

This site gives a breakdown of how the estimates are calculated.

Tax Payments by Undocumented Immigrants

Undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022. Providing access to work authorization for undocumented immigrants would increase their tax contributions both because their wages would rise and because their rates of tax compliance would increase.

itep.org

Did you look at the methodology? They just take percentages and reduce and increase figures arbitrarily:

We adjust for an expected undercount of 13 percent for those immigrants who...

• Cosmo

Nope ITIN tax payers amounts totals are available via FOIA

 

[Cosmo]

Nope ITIN tax payers amounts totals are available via FOIA

And what do you think "ITIN tax payers amounts" prove?

 

[ClaraD]

And what do you think "ITIN tax payers amounts" prove?

ITIN’s are issued just to undocumented immigrants

 

[Lursa]

Via ITIN numbers

Those sound like those numbers are "documented."

 

[ClaraD]

Those sound like those numbers are "documented."

They are undocumented immigrants because only someone unable to obtain a ssn qualifies for an ITIN

 

[Lursa]

They are undocumented immigrants because only someone unable to obtain a ssn qualifies for an ITIN

Undocumented workers are submitting federal tax returns? Those affect their employers who are then held accountable for payroll taxes, etc.

It's for people that need to file federal tax returns. Why do undocumented workers need to file federal tax returns?

 

[ClaraD]

Undocumented workers are submitting federal tax returns? Those affect their employers who are then held accountable for payroll taxes, etc.

It's for people that need to file federal tax returns. Why do undocumented workers need to file federal tax returns?

They submit them yes and most with ITIN numbers receive a 1099 not a W2

 

[Cosmo]

ITIN’s are issued just to undocumented immigrants

Even ITEP figured out that this is not the case!

ITIN Filer Data Gap: How Changing Laws, Lack of Data Disaggregation Limit Inclusive Tax Policy

Like U.S. citizens, noncitizens who live, work, or invest in the United States must file local, state and federal taxes. But in order to file personal income taxes, they must first be issued a processing number called an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) by the IRS. These numbers...

itep.org

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) by the IRS. These numbers are issued to both legal permanent residents and nonresidents who are not eligible for Social Security numbers (SSNs). ITINs do not imply immigration status

From the IRS:

Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) | Internal Revenue Service

An ITIN is a 9-digit number the IRS issues if you need a U.S. taxpayer identification number for federal tax purposes, but you aren’t eligible for a Social Security number (SSN). Find if you need one and how to apply.

www.irs.gov

You don't know what you're talking about, so just stop.

 

[Cosmo]

Undocumented workers are submitting federal tax returns? Those affect their employers who are then held accountable for payroll taxes, etc.

It's for people that need to file federal tax returns. Why do undocumented workers need to file federal tax returns?

Legally or practically? Legally, it's because anyone working in the US must pay taxes (in most cases).

Practically, they don't because they're already illegals/outlaws and get paid cash. Employers know they can't get Social Security Numbers/work authorization as those require legal status in the US, so there's really no fully valid way for both employer and employee to report and pay tax in the case of an illegal. I'm not saying it's impossible to get an ITIN, slap it on a tax return, and send the IRS money. I'm saying it's somewhere in the league of a Salvadoran MS-13 gangbanger reporting his US Fentanyl sales on a Schedule C.

 

[dairyair]

Clarify if you were talking about employees or employers.
Employees who have entered the U.S. illegally should be required to leave and reenter legally, properly documented and with work permission, etc.
Employers, should not be held liable for enforcing immigration laws. But who would provide the monetary means for their needs and wants if not those who employ them?

I found "skin color" to be offensive, implying racism to be a reason.

IT IS ILLEGAL, TO HIRE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

If they couldn't get jobs, they would NOT come here.
Hope that isn't too offensive.

 

[dairyair]

Government makes the laws, courts determine their constitutionality, often relative to the times in which we are living, not to mention political bias.

Same goes with enforcement of laws on the books for people.
It's illegal federally to have or use pot, but rarely enforced.

Gov't makes laws and also has to follow the laws they make.
Ever hear of Habeas Corpus? What happens if gov't doesn't follow that law?

You seem to think the gov't is above the laws. They are not. So, why do you defend the gov't or businesses breaking laws?

 

[dairyair]

Time to start offering the homeless jobs and shelter.

Why do you think they are not offered those jobs if they apply?

Or are you expecting employers scour the streets offering jobs to those who either don't want them or are mentally or physically incapable of doing them?

 

[dairyair]

Yep. they had more than ample time to find legal workers.

But they didn't. They illegally hired illegal workers.
Yet, the employers aren't being deported.

 

[dairyair]

Typical for the party of hate.

That is MAGA.
They are all about hate of those different from them.

 

[Lursa]

Legally or practically? Legally, it's because anyone working in the US must pay taxes (in most cases).

Practically, they don't because they're already illegals/outlaws and get paid cash. Employers know they can't get Social Security Numbers/work authorization as those require legal status in the US, so there's really no fully valid way for both employer and employee to report and pay tax in the case of an illegal. I'm not saying it's impossible to get an ITIN, slap it on a tax return, and send the IRS money. I'm saying it's somewhere in the league of a Salvadoran MS-13 gangbanger reporting his US Fentanyl sales on a Schedule C.

Well I wrote "undocumented" workers, so illegal. Or are you referring to the employers?

 

[ClaraD]

Even ITEP figured out that this is not the case!

ITIN Filer Data Gap: How Changing Laws, Lack of Data Disaggregation Limit Inclusive Tax Policy

Like U.S. citizens, noncitizens who live, work, or invest in the United States must file local, state and federal taxes. But in order to file personal income taxes, they must first be issued a processing number called an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) by the IRS. These numbers...

itep.org

From the IRS:
View attachment 67576550

Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) | Internal Revenue Service

An ITIN is a 9-digit number the IRS issues if you need a U.S. taxpayer identification number for federal tax purposes, but you aren’t eligible for a Social Security number (SSN). Find if you need one and how to apply.

www.irs.gov

You don't know what you're talking about, so just stop.

who are not eligible for Social Security numbers (SSNs).

Im guessing you don’t understand that anyone with a legal status is eligible for a social security number

 

[Cosmo]

who are not eligible for Social Security numbers (SSNs).

Im guessing you don’t understand that anyone with a legal status is eligible for a social security number

Stop guessing. Start making sense.