The Hidden Evil Behind Illegal Immigration: Exploitation, Trafficking, and the Collapse of Justice

By Chaz Evanson, Candidate for Governor of Colorado

A recent raid in Florida revealed a disturbing reality: over 100 illegal immigrants were arrested at a construction site where they were reportedly working on student housing for Florida State University. The contractor, Hedrick Brothers Construction, has since claimed they may not meet project deadlines without that “affordable labor.” But let’s be honest, this isn’t a labor shortage issue. It’s a human rights issue. What’s being called “affordable labor” is actually exploitation, and it’s time we stop pretending otherwise.

Modern-Day Slavery, Hidden Behind the Fence Line. What’s happening on these job sites is nothing short of modern-day slavery. Many illegal immigrants live under the constant threat of exposure, unable to speak up about unsafe conditions, withheld wages, or abuse. Employers hold power over them, not with contracts, but with fear. If they complain, they’re reported. If they resist, they’re replaced. Investigations have revealed shocking abuses: workers crammed into sheds without plumbing, forced to work long hours with no protections, and paid far below minimum wage. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, over 10,000 labor trafficking victims were identified in the U.S. in 2022 alone, many of them undocumented and powerless.

Illegal Immigration Hurts Everyone. This isn’t just an immigrant issue, it’s an American issue. Illegal immigration, and the exploitation that often accompanies it, hurts everyone. It hurts the worker who is paid pennies and forced into silence. It hurts the American laborer whose job opportunities are undermined by a black-market workforce. It hurts the legal immigrant who waited in line and respected our laws, only to watch others bypass the system and be rewarded. It erodes the rule of law, and it sends a dangerous message: that in America, you can profit from breaking the rules, as long as you’re on the employer side of the equation.

A Moral Nation Cannot Endorse Immorality. We must confront this truth: a moral nation cannot turn a blind eye to abuse and still claim to be just. The Founders understood that lawlessness invites tyranny. Alexander Hamilton once warned, “A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one.” If we ignore the exploitation of illegal immigrants, we don’t just lose control of our borders, we lose our soul. It is not compassionate to enable systems of abuse. It is not moral to excuse trafficking for the sake of cheap labor. And it is not just to let this continue in the shadows.

This Is Not About Hate, It’s About Justice. Let me be clear: I believe in immigration. I believe America is a beacon of hope, and who wouldn’t want to come here? But what makes America worth coming to isn’t just our opportunity—it’s our order. It’s our commitment to the rule of law, to fairness, to human dignity. Illegal immigration, particularly when it results in labor trafficking, abuse, and exploitation, is not immigration. It’s injustice. And we must not confuse the two.

We Must Fight for Real Reform. It’s time to stop the political games and fix the system. That means cracking down on unethical employers who exploit human lives for profit. It means fully enforcing anti-trafficking laws and punishing those who violate them. It means securing our borders while also expanding access to legal immigration pathways for those who want to contribute to this great nation. We must protect the dignity of every human being while preserving the sovereignty of our nation. This is not a partisan issue, it is a moral one.

We Are Either a Nation of Laws, Or We Are Not. The bottom line is simple: we are either a nation of laws, or we are not. We cannot selectively enforce the law when it is convenient and ignore it when it is profitable. Every illegal worker represents a life, often manipulated, often abused. Every trafficked child is a soul in bondage. Every unethical employer is a threat to our justice system. As your next Governor, I will not turn away. I will not remain silent. I will protect the rule of law, defend the dignity of the vulnerable, and work tirelessly to restore justice and honor in this state and across this nation.

America can and must do better. Together, we will.

Chaz Evanson

Candidate for Governor of Colorado

Restore. Reform. Protect.