Migrant children who have been coming into the United States without their parents and record numbers are ending up in some of the most punishing jobs. The shadow workforce extends across industries in every state, flouting child labor laws that have been in place for nearly a century. Girls as young as 13 wash hotel sheets in Virginia. Minnesota Republicans introduced a bill that would have allowed 16 and 17 year olds to work in construction or building site projects but that was killed in committee. And New Jersey Governor Bill Murphy signed by partisan legislation that allows people 16 and up to work 50 hours a week during summer break.
In this public News Brief, we detail how uncritical acceptance by centrist––and even liberal––media that the US is seeing an unprecedented "labor shortage" is helping justify repealing child labor protections in roughly a dozen states.