College Republican Federation of Virginia

Last night, the Herndon town council voted to keep their controversial Day-Labor Center open, but will find a new manager who will check the immigration statuses of workers. To read more about the vote, follow this link to an article from The Washington Post. Herndon to Keep Day-Labor Center.

The voters have spoken this time. After the town council opened the Day-Labor Center, the voters elected a new mayor as well as two new council members who opposed the center. This issue has ended up being a centerpiece in the debate over immigration policy, with evidence being the feature segment it received on the O’Reilly Factor last night. I believe that the decision of the council is the best possible solution to this issue.

Instead of closing down the center altogether, the council compromised to find a new manager. The center is not a failed idea in itself. The idea of connecting workers to prospective employers is a fantastic idea. Not only does the center connect workers to employers, but it plays a role in the culture of immigration. English classes are offered as well as updates about current events and labor law information. It also solved the problem of day-laborers clogging intersections in Herndon while they were looking for work.

The single problem is the fact that illegal immigrants are getting jobs. There are no statistics on the Herndon Day-Labor Center, but a survey of day-laborers across Fairfax found that about 85 percent of workers lack proper immigration papers. In my opinion, and in the opinion of the council, the rule of law trumps workers’ needs.

Now, why do I believe that the decision is the best possible solution? Legal immigrants struggle with finding work, learning the English language, integrating into our society, and many other issues. The Herndon Day-Labor Center is a great asset for legal immigrants who are looking to get a start living in America. Day-Labor Centers such as the one in Herndon, with new mandates to check papers, is one necessary aspect of Immigration Reform. Centers like this, when operated under the rule of law, can assist hard-working, legal immigrants to better assimilate into the American culture.

What do you think about the council’s decision? How about the effectiveness of Day-Labor Centers?