Labor Standards Enforcement and Low-Wage Immigrants: Creating an Effective Enforcement System

The Migration Policy Institute report, which was written by Donald M. Kerwin and Kristen McCabe, analyzes the labor standards enforcement record of the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations and argues that enforcement of labor laws should become a higher priority, particularly amid high rates of unemployment and underemployment. The report, which also examines states’ activity, concludes that labor standards enforcement should become a pillar of immigration policymaking and asks whether enforcement could play a role in reducing unauthorized employment and illegal immigration. It details the elements necessary for an effective labor standards enforcement system and proposes a way forward.