Nearly all job seekers are aware of how these employment agencies operate: first pay a fee and employment comes afterwards. However, Mexican organizations in the city are seeking to change this practice and hope that authorities will establish regulations that allow for greater transparency in the way these agencies function.

"In our experience, we have witnessed job seekers waiting for days and sometimes weeks to be sent out on a job opening. They finally go and then return, without the job or their money," said Joel Magallán, executive director of the Tepeyac Association of New York. Immigrants show up daily at the Tepeyac Association with complaints that employment agencies have failed to refund them the money that they paid with the hope of returning to the nation's labor force.

Magallán said that the organization is asking employment agencies to change the way they operate and first provide work and then charge the fee for the service provided.

Other options

Magallán points to a developing network for job seekers that sidestep the employment agency. According to him, many immigrants rely on a bulletin board at the Association tacked with job announcements. Starting in the middle of this year, the number of announcements began to increase. Immigrants themselves often post the ads.

 "A network of jobs developed, and nobody has charged anyone anything. People come and put up their announcements, and many find work without having to pay a cent," said Magallán. He added that the economic crisis has compelled more Mexicans to establish their own networks of contacts in order to find work.