New Report: Undocumented Women Are The Lowest Paid Workers

Not surprisingly, a new report found evidence that undocumented women are the lowest paid workers. The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) found that undocumented women make an average of $17,000 per year, compared to $34,000 for documented women. The wage gap is even wider for undocumented women of color. Key findings of the NILC study include:

• Undocumented women are among the lowest paid workers in the United States.
• The wage gap between undocumented women and their documented counterparts is widest in states with lower minimum wages.
• In New York, undocumented women make $22,000 more per year than in Texas and $21,000 more than in Florida.
• The report’s authors say state policies can lower poverty rates among undocumented people.

The report’s authors say that the wage gap is due to several factors, including discrimination, lack of access to education and training, and limited job opportunities. They also say that state policies can play a role in widening the gap. For example, states with lower minimum wages tend to have wider wage gaps between undocumented and documented workers.

The minimum wage is:

• As of July 1, 2023, the minimum wage in Chicago is $15.80 per hour (outside of Chicago the Illinois minimum wage is $13 an hour)
• $15.50 an hour in California
• $14.20 in New York (outside New York City, Long Island and Westchester, where it is $15)
• $11 in Florida
• $7.25 in Texas

Are You An Undocumented Immigrant?

Are you living in the United States without legal status? Have you been told you need to leave the U.S. to get legal status? You need work authorization, identification and a social security number to thrive in the U.S. Don’t spend another day living in the shadows. The immigration process is complicated, but we can help. Contact an immigration attorney today. Please call 630-912-0322 or reach out to us online today to schedule your initial consultation.

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