For nearly three decades, Volovecky Masonry has performed high-quality residential and light-commercial work throughout Baldwin County. But now the business is at risk of closing due to an influx of illegal immigrants.
"I don't have any jobs right now," business owner Johnnie Volovecky told 1819 News. "We can't compete with the illegals."
Homeland Security, Border Patrol and the FBI have performed numerous operations in Baldwin County, removing suspected illegal immigrants from construction sites and detaining them for deportation. Some of the high-profile operations have occurred at the site of the new Gulf Shores High School and the new Loxley Elementary School.
Volovecky does not believe these operations have had much impact.
"They haven't even begun to detain people and round them up in Baldwin County. I think that was just all for show. They rounded up a few, but the next day, they're right back out there again," he said. "They haven't made a dent yet. It will take years to make a dent in it. There are so many of them here."
Unwilling to hire illegal workers, Volovecky said he is paying the price.
"The numbers don't work, especially being a legitimate contractor where we have employees, and we have to have payroll taxes," he said. "I know a lot of those guys are subbing the work out where they don't have that, which is not legitimate. And then they'll get these ghost policies where they don't have anybody on their workman's comp, you know, because they're paying them under the table. They're not having to show it, and it's just impossible to compete with them. So, it's more expensive for a legitimate business to operate, obviously, because you have all these other expenses."
He added, "As far as hiring them, that goes against everything I'm for. I will not hire them. So, when my competitors hire them, that puts me in a situation where we're not on the same playing field."
While he isn't sure what the future holds, Volovecky said he is hoping for the best. But without income, his family is struggling not only financially but also emotionally.
"Oh, it has a tremendous impact because this is, you know, my livelihood," Volovecky said. "It was great for 25 years. You know, it was. We made a really good living doing it. But I've been adamant about not hiring undocumented workers for 25 years, and I'm not going to start now."
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