You can't deduct these payments.
The young man that you paid for his labor either had a work visa - in which case he has an ITIN for you to put on the 1099-NEC that you would be issuing him - or he did not have a work visa - in which case he isn't allowed to do a job a qualified American can do and you are not allowed to hire him to do it.
This is why you are supposed to fill out a form I-9 for all individuals that you hire on a contract basis.
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