In a recent development, three Republican senators have raised concerns about the potential exploitation of food delivery platforms by illegal immigrants.
Senators Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Braun of Indiana, and Ted Budd of North Carolina have issued letters to Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub, seeking information on the measures they are implementing to prevent unlawful employment.
The New York Post reported in September that newly arrived immigrants in New York were allegedly exploiting these platforms. They were said to be paying existing delivery workers to use their accounts, thereby bypassing the required 180-day waiting period for a work permit stipulated by federal law.
In their letters to the heads of the three companies, the senators expressed their concerns, stating, "We write to express our concern regarding reporting from the New York Post that food delivery services are being hijacked by illegal immigrants intent on gaming the system." They further warned that such illegal employment could lead to exploitation, abuse, and even modern-day slavery.
The senators criticized the lack of screening measures in place to prevent illegal immigrants from profiting from these platforms, leading to a "black-market economy riddled with abuse and danger for your users." They pointed out that these illegal immigrants were delivering food directly to consumers' doors without undergoing a background check and often without using their real names.
The senators are seeking details about the steps these companies are taking to enhance security, the consequences for users selling access to their accounts, the number of users suspended for such actions, and any consumer complaints related to this issue.
Responding to the inquiry, a Grubhub spokesperson stated, "Account sharing is completely unacceptable on Grubhub and will result in immediate termination." The spokesperson further emphasized that delivery partners on their platform must pass an extensive background check and agree to maintain the confidentiality and security of their accounts.
The online food delivery sector is a booming industry, with revenues expected to surpass $350 billion this year, according to Statista. However, the influx of migrants at the Mexican and Canadian borders, which totaled 1,733,496 between October 1 and March 31, according to Customs and Border Protection data, has raised concerns.
The senators attributed this influx to the Biden administration's open border policies, stating, "As a result of the Biden administrations open border policies, millions of illegal immigrants have flooded across our southern border since he took office." They criticized President Biden for allowing these individuals to remain in the communities and even using taxpayer funds to transport them to their desired locations.
While the senators acknowledged the positive impact of these services on the lives of many Americans, they emphasized the need to "inspire consumer confidence and crack down on this underground system of illegal work."
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