Posted on 10/10/2005 4:45:33 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
AUSTIN - The Home Depot is facing a knotty problem figuring out where to put one important part of the home-improvement business: the dozens of day laborers who gather outside its stores here and across the nation. Morning after morning in city after city, contractors as well as homeowners needing an extra hand or two drive up to a Home Depot and hire laborers to paint walls, nail down roofing or trim branches, usually for $8 to $10 an hour. Not only has this caused friction between the stores and neighboring businesses and homeowners who do not want the men around, but it also has thrust the company into the nationwide debate about what to do about these workers.
The majority of them are illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America. In Illinois, several Hispanic groups are angry with the company because 40 day laborers have been arrested in recent months for criminal trespass at a Home Depot in Cicero. One Hispanic shopper was arrested by mistake. In California, a group called Save Our State has conducted protests at numerous Home Depots, asserting that the company has aided illegal immigration. But in Los Angeles, a city councilman has proposed requiring all new large home-improvement stores to build shelters that would provide day laborers with basic amenities such as toilets and drinking water.
'Upsets' the neighbors
In Austin, an immigrants' rights group is pressing Home Depot to stop threatening day laborers with fines and arrest and to allow a grassy lot behind one store to be used as a place for them to congregate. But the company is not eager to see its parking lots filled with day laborers. "The existence of this issue is one that's beyond the Home Depot's control," said David Sandor, a spokesman for the company, which has about 1,700 stores nationwide. An Austin police lieutenant who moonlights as a Home Depot security guard said: "They whistle at 12- and 13-year-old girls on the way to school. They urinate in back of the store. They throw trash on the sidewalk.
"Maybe it's just a few of the guys who do it, but it upsets a lot of the neighbors."
Limited opportunities
Steve Felgate, manager of the ABC Supply roofing store across the street, said he had lost customers because of the men. "They don't like these guys running up to them when they drive up to my store," Felgate said. Edwin Muguia, a 27-year-old immigrant from Nicaragua who stands outside the Home Depot six days a week, said all he wanted was to work. "They're violating our rights by kicking us away," he said. "In the United States, there aren't other opportunities for us but to be a day laborer."
We are allowing the tail to completely wag the dog.
Seems to be a one-stop shopping opportunity for the INS to do a little green-card checking. I mean, if our Federal gov't were interested in that sort of thing.
They don't care about 75 illegals bugging people, urinating in the bushes and leaving trash all over. But let 1 or 2 hookers stand on a corner and all hell breaks loose. They have "john" stings, federal task forces, and neighborhood townhall meetings to discuss the problem. How is a prostitute looking for work any different than an illegal out there begging for work?
. . . basic amenities such as toilets and drinking water.
And of course free health services when they fall ill while trespassing. And if they get hurt while trespassing, well, wouldn't want to violate their rights and not let them sue Home Depot.
This is pathetic.
No difference. They're both screwing Americans.
one thing they could do is to void warranties on products they sell to customers who hire less than qualified applicators / installers
about all warranty's require it
The City of Los Angeles already has "shelters that would provide day laborers with basic amenities such as toilets and drinking water".
They're called "jails". The "day laborers" can hang out in them whilst awaiting deportation.
We should let them be policemen, rocket scientists,politicians,lawyers and cowboys.
If the law prohibits the hiring of illegal aliens and Home Depot knowingly allows contractors to use its property to hire illegal aliens, then Home Depot is aiding and abetting criminal activity, which in itself is a crime.
My feeling is, if you want "rights", become a citizen. If you don't like what "rights" you get being here illegally, Castro is only 90 miles from Florida and is always "hiring".
Illegal is illegal is illegal is illegal is illegal. That used to mean something. We used to call ourselves a nation of laws. But now I guess we are just a nation of lawyers which would be the opposite of a nation of laws.
"They're violating our rights by kicking us away."
- Edwin Muguia, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT
WHAT THE... How on EARTH can he claim his rights are being violated when he is in this country illegally? If he is so worried about his rights he needs to do one of two things...Go back to where ever he came from, or become a citizen of the US; people who are willing to work hard are always welcome.
"In the United States, there aren't other opportunities for us but to be a day laborer."
-Edwin Muguia, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT
UHHH yes there is... Try becoming a citizen and oh my, get an education. There are classes for people JUST LIKE HIM. If he is so willing to work, why doesn't he do work that would TRUELY benefit him and, if he has one, his family.
There is nothing I despise more than an illegal immigrant demanding we foot the bill for them and who thinks they are ENTITLED to all the rights this country affords its citizens.
Yes, but they'll also paint my garage for a pittance -- and do a pretty good job of it.
Well, if it's anything like my local Home Depot, they should put a few of them to work right there and man the registers.
Amendment XXVIII - Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of criminals to loiter at Home Depot.
"In the United States, there aren't other opportunities for us but to be a day laborer."
Perhaps you'd be happier in a different country.
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