> WHY are they able to survive on the minimum
> wage job?

> "They are able to survive on a minimum
> wage job because they... (insert thing
> here)"

... have no debt and stay out of debt?

Assuming they aren't caught up in one of those scams where they end up working in sweatshops to pay of someone who smuggled them into the country...

When they enter their new home, they (presumably) have no debts. And, assuming they aren't coming from another capitalist society, it probably hasn't been ingrained in them that they "have" to go into debt (i.e., for cars, homes, higher education, business start-up, etc.).

Am I close? Do I have a clue? 8^}