Migrant Workers in The United States: Connecting Domestic Law with International Labor Standards

Industry and trade associations say that the United States needs more immigrant workers to meet labor shortages and keep the economy growing. Labor advocates counter that the alleged labor shortage is a myth, and that employers’ real goal is to replace American workers and put downward pressure on wages of U.S. workers. The United States needs a new immigration policy that balances the needs of companies and the overall economy with needs for high labor standards and protection of workers’ rights. International labor and human rights instruments address several migrant labor issues, but U.S. law and practice fall short of meeting international standards in several key respects. A human rights argument creates space for advocacy on behalf of migrant workers. International human rights and labor standards should inform policy makers and advocacy groups’ work in crafting immigration law and policy changes