Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis is the star of a public service announcement that is drawing some criticism because it advocates equal pay for all immigrants, even those here illegally.
The 30-second piece has Solis stating: “Every worker in America has the right to be paid fairly, whether documented or not.”
Despite the fact that the ad is simply stating the law, as many government messages do, it is sparking complaints.
Detroit News writer Manny Lopez: “Solis is not imploring legal workers who are beaten or denied access to water or suffer some other abuse at the hands of an unscrupulous employer to call. She's telling illegal immigrants in America -- criminals who have crossed the border without regard to our laws, often repeatedly -- that if they don't think they are being paid properly, they can get help from the federal government.”
Fox News, meanwhile, stated: “The initiative appears to contradict labor law -- cited on the Labor Department's own website -- which states that employers may hire only people who work legally in the United States. The Obama administration has vowed to crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants, employers that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has called 'evildoers.' But the Labor Department says protecting undocumented workers from exploitation benefits all U.S. workers by ensuring there's a level playing field when they seek employment.”
Media Matters did some in-depth research on the topic when the initial campaign was launched. Our researchers found: “Right-wing media have denounced Labor Secretary Hilda Solis' campaign informing vulnerable workers, including the undocumented, about the wage standards to which they are entitled. However, the Labor Department's policy of enforcing labor laws without regard to immigration status long predates the Obama administration; moreover, the enforcement of labor laws is widely seen -- even by those who advocate for greater restrictions on immigration -- as a key to discouraging employers from hiring unauthorized workers.
See the spot below: