PG-Politics: Day laborers seen as a local issue

Friday, November 18, 2005

Day laborers seen as a local issue

(Updated December 10, 2005)

"Day laborers seen as a local issue"
Times, November 18, 2005 (by Keyonna Summers, The Washington Times)

Local government officials said yesterday they want to focus on resolving day-labor issues in their communities and that the federal government should deal with immigration enforcement.

"Local governments need to find solutions for local issues," said J. Walter Tejada, Arlington County Board member. "For those who want to talk about immigration, please run over to [Capitol] Hill and talk to the legislators there in Congress and the president. They're the ones who can make that type of legislation come through."

Prince George's County Council member Will Campos, a Democrat, agreed.

"A lot of day laborers are in fact undocumented, and even though immigration is a federal issue, that fact alone isn't going to get rid of this situation," he said. "So you can either choose to let it go or do something about it because if you leave it to the federal government, you may be waiting for quite a while."
[. . .]
"This is not a Hispanic issue. This is a social issue," Mr. Campos said, noting that U.S.-born Hispanics and immigrants and illegal aliens from Africa make up a small percentage of laborers.
[More]

"Rainbow/PUSH Opens Maryland Chapter in Prince George's County"
Sentinel, November 18, 2005 (by L. Reed Walton, Special to The Sentinel). . . Local coalition members are already working with County Councilman Will Campos (D-Hyattsville) on the rights of day laborers in the area. . . . [Full story]

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