Labor Lost in Morristown

In exchange for a cup of coffee, Morristown Patrolman Vito Filomeno put up with my company early one morning last week as he monitored day laborers assembled along Morris Street, opposite Morristown's train station.

Contrary to what the previous week's news stories had implied, there were no arrests. Essentially, Filomeno's job was twofold: 1) keep the workers curbside, rather than allowing them to block the sidewalk or lean against the façades of Morris Street businesses, and 2) ensure that anyone stopping to pick them up was in a parking space, not blocking a street or driveway.

Morristown Patrolman Vito Filomeno put up with my company early one morning last week as he monitored day laborers assembled along Morris Street...there were no arrests. Essentially, Filomeno's job was twofold: 1) keep the workers curbside, rather than allowing them to block the sidewalk or lean against the façades of Morris Street businesses, and 2) ensure that anyone stopping to pick them up was in a parking space, not blocking a street or driveway.

A Hopatcong teacher on spring break needed four workers, presumably for spring cleanup. A gray-haired, bespectacled lady needed one.

Dover, after years of trying, seems to have worked out an accommodation suitable to laborers, contractors, merchants and residents. They meet near the train station

"In the process led by Morristown One Community, we are the presumptive lead agency for the creation of a workers' center...that would be open to day laborers and anyone else interested in looking for work."

ATTENTION PRESIDENT BUSH...NUMEROUS ONGOING FEDERAL FELONIES IN PROGRESS...President Bush?....Hello?...Is there anyone there?...Hello?...Is anyone out there?

The Minutemen are vigilantes...no...I think I will wait for my government to take care of this as the NY Times and others suggest. I know that my government is coming to take care of this...after all, the law is the law:

"Any person who . . . encourages or induces an alien to . . . reside . . . knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such . . . residence is . . . in violation of law, shall be punished as provided . . . for each alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs . . . fined under title 18 . . . imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both."

Section 274 felonies under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A):

A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:

* assists an alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or

* encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or

* knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.

Federal Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii)

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.