 CITY COUNCIL IN NEW YORK DEFEATS PLAN FOR DAY LABORER CENTER
For nearly a year, undocumented immigrants in Farmingville, New York, about 50 miles east of New York City on Long Island, have been at the center of a local controversy. Area residents have also lodged numerous complaints about men standing on street corners waiting to be hired. Furthermore, there are accusations that the workers harass children and are driving down property values. Also, last fall, two undocumented immigrants were severely beaten by two young men.
There are several hiring centers in towns near Farmingville, but many Farmingville residents are strongly opposed to the creation of such a center in their town. They are represented by the Sachem Quality of Life Organization, which not only opposes such a center, it is calling on the federal government to crackdown on undocumented immigrants in the area. So when the Suffolk County Legislature proposed providing ,000 for a hiring center to be run by Catholic Charities, groups opposed to such a plan became even more vocal in their opposition.
The proposed hiring center, which would also offer English classes and assistance with social services, has split the community in two. The presiding officer of the Legislature, a Republican, supports the proposal, which passed last month by a 12 to 2 vote. However, the chief executive of the county, who is also a Republican, vetoed the proposal, saying, “it is a crime to assist an alien who lacks employment authorization.” New York State Attorney General Elliot Spitzer said a center would not violate any federal law. Despite this reassurance, this week the legislature voted to uphold the veto, with three legislators who originally voted in favor of the center switching their votes. They expressed concern that the center would be a haven for the hiring of undocumented workers.
Supporters of the center worry that the vote will give new impetus to violence against immigrants. During the vote many people were gathered outside, some carrying signs with slogans such as “What Part of Illegal Don't You Understand?” and “They Are Invaders.” Things like this cause some to worry that the issue is no longer about quality of life concerns, but has become fueled by racism. Indeed, the Sachem Quality of Life organization has developed ties to a California group, American Patrol, which has been labeled a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
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