I have been working since age 16 - At age 17, I was hired by a communications company responsible for wiring all of downtown Seattle and surrounding areas (at least in Western WA) for broadband, waaay before anyone had even heard of two-way fiber- optic systems. During my time there; during my time in the subsequent Co. that purchased it after a merger; I saw dozens of people come and go: I didn't take anyone's place. The job was available and I was willing to take it. I was a very hard worker and got promoted rapidly and was compensated accordingly.

They had a very clever compensation plan in addition to your regular salary as a way to separate the contenders from the pretenders. The pretenders saw themselves to the door - they couln't keep up and were unwilling to work harder when it warranted. I now work in healthcare, and when I started - granted, it was before the recession- the place was a revolving door. Again, the job was available and I work very hard in a place where most employees who aren't IT or MDs, got the job thru a family or acquaintance hook-up, not based on merit.

This question of whether "Illegal" immigrants take jobs away from the native born is bonkers and as more disclosure and research of data becomes published, the public will come to understand AND realize what it takes to survive and forge ahead as an illegal immigrant.

P.S. I have paid taxes for all employment I've ever held - I have to say that if E-verify becomes mandatory, I will loose my job for obvious reasons, but I bring up this point because working off the books is unthinkable to me. If you do, No. 1 you cannot prove income source or amount of taxes withheld for you and from you; No.2 the government has no idea what is it really that you do or the amount of your actual income.