Herndon (VA) to Shut Down Center for Day Laborers

The Washington Post ^ | Sept 6, 2007 | Bill Turque

[RDTF]

The Town of Herndon announced yesterday that it would close its 21-month-old day-laborer center next week instead of complying with a judge's ruling that the site must be open to all residents, including those who might be illegal immigrants.

The decision to close the site, which became a flash point in the national debate over immigration, was reached late Tuesday by Mayor Stephen J. DeBenedittis and the six-member Town Council after a 2 1/2 -hour closed-door session. It brings the western Fairfax community virtually full circle in its attempts to regulate -- critics say drive out -- its large population of Latino day laborers. The center was established in late 2005 as an alternative to the streets for laborers and prospective employers to come to terms.

Herndon's experience with the day-laborer center was a bellwether for towns across the country wrestling with national immigration issues. As other jurisdictions try to pass measures targeting illegal immigrants, yesterday's actions in Herndon indicate that courts, and not legislators, might have the ultimate say.

-snip-

[relee]

Good.

[DeaconBenjamin]

instead of complying with a judge's ruling that the site must be open to all residents, including those who might be illegal immigrants.

A successful equal protection argument made by criminals? If so, there's a precedent!

[ChildOfThe60s]

courts, and not legislators, might have the ultimate say

And therein lies the major obstacle in dealing with this severe problem. Activist jurists that make law instead of ruling on the constitutionality of law(s). The courts should not have the ultimate say. At that point we become ruled rather than represented.

[mriguy67]

I remember as a teen , filling out job applications and the one question about whether I was a US citizen. Why did they ever ask that question if it doesnt matter anymore?

[ClaireSolt]

It usually does matter.

[AmericanInTokyo]

This young country overturned judicial tyranny once before in its history, adopting certain measures and tactics.

It will come to that AGAIN if they do not BACK OFF and stopping destroying our country, taking it right down the toilet with their sham, dictatorial rulings.

[AmericanInTokyo]

How convenient, but the auto exerpt function cut off, and THIS little gem was left out:

Paraphrashing here: "They mayor said that Herndon can launch other tactics that it has in its arsenal, such as zoning and vehicular laws and regulations, to get to the same goals".

So take THAT! ACLU and liberal judges trying to thwart the will of the people in that little town and in towns and cities across the land.

And if the illegal aliens take to the streets again, the people of HERNDON should rise up and take matters in their own hands, and take back their community.

[tgslTakoma]

At issue was an ordinance the council approved in 2005 as a legal companion to the day-laborer center, barring workers and motorists from striking deals for employment on the streets. The courts have generally required that communities barring public solicitation for work -- a form of speech -- must provide an alternative venue for that speech, such as a hiring site.

I have to wonder if these activist judges also demand an alternate location for prostitutes to do their soliciting, since it's also a form of speech.

Maybe the Herndon Mayor and council should set up a "free speech zone" for the day laborers (oh, heck! make it for the prostitutes, too) to solicit work - on the right-of-way in front of the activist judge's house.

She shouldn't mind. Too much.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

I can understand first amendment concerns about private conversations between people (i.e. how do you enforce a law about “hiring on the street” without the police butting in on conversations about everything?), but how in hell did this judge justify the assertion that Equal Protections means that illegals have a right to work?

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

It should have never been built in the first place. Taxpayers money flushed right down the toilet.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

>>Maybe the Herndon Mayor and council should set up a “free speech zone” for the day laborers (oh, heck! make it for the prostitutes, too) to solicit work - on the right-of-way in front of the activist judge’s house.<<

Good idea, but unfortunately the judge’s house is probably outside the city. That would be typical of judges and legislators who want to be “generous” without suffering the consequences themselves.

[Wage Slave]

But it would make a grand field office for ICE. Might as well get our money’s worth.

[ChildOfThe60s]

When I was in HS, every time I got a job in food service I had to get a TB test. That is no longer the case. Hence there is a serious problem with restaurant workers [illegals] in South Florida carrying TB, syphilis, aids and other 3rd world variations of nasty diseases. I suspect the same thing holds true in any area that has a high number of illegals working in the restaurants.

Food for thought folks. Every Mexican restaurant in this country has illegals in the kitchen. Guaranteed.

[Convert from ECUSA]

Well, its about high damn time! Long overdue!

[gubamyster]

ping

[janetgreen]

Food for thought folks. Every Mexican restaurant in this country has illegals in the kitchen. Guaranteed.

The reason I like to cook at home.

[mbraynard]

Do any legal residents use these facilities?

[PGalt]

GRRRRRRRREAT news! Thanks for posting.