What is the point in being an American Citizen when you can have all the same benefits without paying any tax?

[nissim42]

Luis Aragon, an illegal immigrant, worked for HDV Construction Systems in Tallahassee, FL. After a 30-foot fall, he required extensive medical treatment, including a spinal cord stimulator implant.

Doctors said his injuries are permanent, confining him to sedentary work for life. But his ability to get a job was severely hampered by his limited education and inability to speak English.

HDV said Aragon wasn’t entitled to workers’ compensation because of his “illegal” status.

Did a judge award Aragon workers’ comp?

The verdict

Yes. Aragon was awarded permanent total disability.

A workers’ comp judge (and later an appeals court) ruled that HDV should’ve known Aragon was an illegal immigrant, so that wasn’t a valid reason to deny him benefits.

In addition, Florida law defines “employee” as anyone receiving compensation from an employer.

A company that knowingly employs an illegal immigrant shouldn’t be able to shirk the cost of the injuries it creates, because that would put employers who operate lawfully at a disadvantage, the appeals court ruled.

Illegal aliens protected, too

http://www.hrmorning.com/is-illegal-immigrant-entitled-to-comp-benefits-court-decides/

[emek]

It's all about worker safety foghorn. If they didn't have to award him workmens comp. every company would start hiring illegals because it would not cost them if they were injured on the job. I personally think they should have to pay the fine for employing an illegal on top of the settlement. This would discourage the use of illegals even more. Make them pay back social security too.

[clem84]

So the employer should be able to hire illegals and get out of paying when they get hurt? I don't think this ruling hurt Americans citizens as much as helped us.

"A company that knowingly employs an illegal immigrant shouldn’t be able to shirk the cost of the injuries it creates, because that would put employers who operate lawfully at a disadvantage, the appeals court ruled."

[stephon14]

most Americans are not as heartless as you.

Of course an injured worker should receive disability - what century are you from???

[berwin]

The point is companies should be punished for hiring illegals in the first place. If they are coming here for our jobs and our businesses are offering them jobs no sensible person goes and bomb England right?

[caomh]

cant really answer, it would be deleted as "hate speech". What a shame.

[chason62]

Sounds like the destruction of a once great country to me.

[wilbart]

Illegals have taken over. It's time to take our country back. This sucks.

[kyledyr]

I am very sad for you that you resent this man who is permanently disabled because he was awarded compensation. He risked his life to create a better life for his family. Contrary to what most people think, the world is not just black and white. Besides being either a citizen or an illegal alien, a person can be here on a work visa, a student visa, as a temporary worker, have a worker's permit, be a resident, a temp resident or, have a permanent resident status. There are probably several other statuses a person could have that I don't know about. I would be willing to bet this man had a 'resident' or 'workers permit' status which gave him the right to receive workers comp as he was injured while working on his job. Furthermore, as an employee he DID have his tax withheld from his pay. If you really think about it, you would encourage our lawmakers to make these workers citizens to ensure that they are contributing to the payroll fund which provides retirement for you and your posterity. Without the addition of several million workers contributing to the payroll fund soon, that retirement program could very well be defunct within the next 20 yrs. In retrospect, we need THEM more than they need US.