Some of the most challenging issues faced by immigrants – documented, undocumented, asylees, and refugees alike – are related to finding employment. The key to a successful integration of newcomers into society rests upon their ability to find employment and support themselves and their families, yet many barriers can stand in the way of a steady income in America.  In many cases, the job market in Massachusetts may vary from the immigrant’s previous one, and skills may not always be transferable. Language barriers and illiteracy can also pose serious challenges for immigrants seeking self-sufficiency.  Furthermore, immigrants must navigate an unfamiliar legal system in order to obtain the right to work.  While employment is clearly the cornerstone of success in America, an immigrant’s path to employment is often a major challenge.
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Unfortunately under federal law, no person can hold a paid job in the United States without authorized work documents. As an undocumented immigrant without a Social Security Number and an Employment Authorization Document, your options for legal employment are few. That being said, there are still ways to go about earning an income to support yourself and your family. 

Employment Opportunities for Undocumented Students

As a DACA beneficiary, you have an EAD and social security number, both of which allow you to work! However, it is important that you stay within the legal bounds of this immigration status and pay income taxes. 
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 With DACA status you can:

• Find a job on or off-campus. Check with your school’s employment office to see if it has any positions open outside of work-study. Otherwise, explore the neighboring area. What restaurants, offices, hotels, and stores are nearby?
• ​Hold a paid internship. Zero in on your career goals by getting experience in your field.
• Become an independent contractor. An independent contractor is a person or business that provides services to another operation as specified in a verbal agreement or written contract. 

 REMEMBER Renew your DACA so that you can work in the United States after graduation too. Your DACA is a temporary solution to your absence of legal immigration papers, and your EAD will expire two years after the date of issue.

• The USCIS recommends that you submit your DACA renewal request between 120 and 150 days before the expiration date of your EAD. For more information about renewing your DACA, consult a lawyer or the USCIS official website

                 http://studentcaffe.com/prepare/students-without-documents/employment-opportunities

Work Permits and Eligibility for Employment

Just as B-1 visa (or tourist visa) holders are not permitted to work in the US, neither are undocumented immigrants. Working as an undocumented immigrant, or employing one, is illegal. This not only forces immigrants who could be contributing, active members of the community and economy into the shadows and creates a culture of mistrust and fear, but also causes serious hardship for families of undocumented immigrants.

Labor Rights and Unemployment Benefits

If you are an undocumented worker, certain labor rights such as wage laws and workers compensation benefits if you are injured or become ill because of your job may still apply to you. For example, an employer cannot refuse to pay you by saying that you should not have been working in the first place because you have no “papers.”

Visit MassLegalHelp.org for frequently asked questions and in order to seek legal representation. If you think your employer is not following workplace laws, you can call the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465, or for hearing-impaired individuals at (617) 727-4765.

Only individuals who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. are eligible for unemployment benefits in Massachusetts. In order to apply for unemployment, you have to prove you have been working legally in their last job, and have the ability to work legally in the future.
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Social Security Numbers and ITINsAlthough undocumented immigrants cannot apply for a social security number, they can still pay taxes by obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). you can read more about ITINs via the Internal Revenue Service and Immihelp, and apply for one here. ITINs are only for tax purposes and are not valid as a work permit.

Legal assistance and relevant resources

If you need legal representation, you can use the following tools to find an immigration lawyer in Massachusetts who can help you.
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Use MassLegalServices’ Legal Resource Finder to locate lawyers who specialize in employment, taxes or other specific fields.

The Immigration Advocates Networks lets you search for legal aid by state.
MassLegalHelp has also created a helpful list of trustworthy immigration specialists, as well as a list of self-help and informational manuals on immigration law.​

Undochustle offers online courses to help undocumented refugees start earning income: by either working as an independent contractor or starting your own business. Which of these methods is right for you depends on where you are in life, what you want to do, and how you’d like to grow. Here you can learn how to leverage your skills, knowledge, and experience to generate income through contracting or business start-up opportunities.