ABC 7 Project Immigration: Woodbridge Day Labor posted 5:58 pm Wed January 30, 2008 - Woodbridge, Va. tags: project immigration • day labor • woodbridge-WJLA Script-



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Anchor:
TONIGHT, THERE'S A RENEWED CALL TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE DAY LABORERS IN ONE NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY.

THE WORKERS WANT JOBS. AND POLICE WANT TO KEEP THE PEACE IN THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.

GAIL PENNYBACKER JOINS US LIVE FROM WOODBRIDGE WITH MORE.

Story:
AS PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY POLICE SHOO DAY LABORERS FROM THIS SEVEN ELEVEN PARKING LOT, THE SITUATION IS SEEN IN TWO WAYS.

WORKERS LIKE THIS MAN WHO PREFER NOT TO REVEAL HIS IDENTITY SAY THIS TAKES AWAY HIS CHANCE TO FIND A PAINTING JOB WITH A CONTRACTOR.

Day laborer: "We have the need to come to 7-11 to find work, to save money and sent it back home to give our families a better life. The police will not allow us here too long."

BUT OTHERS, INCLUDING NEWLY ELECTED COUNTY BOARD MEMBER FRANK PRINCIP WANT POLICE TO DO MORE BY CRACKING DOWN ON loitering. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS FROM BUSINESSES AND THE PUBLIC.

Vanessa Johnson, resident: Sometimes they are standing across the front of the store and you have to go around them just to get in the door."

FOR YEARS NOW, PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY POLICE HAVE TRIED TO COME UP WITH A WORKABLE SOLUTION FOR EVERYONE.

SEVEN ELEVEN ALLOWS THE WORKERS TO BE HERE UNTIL TEN AM BUT THEY ARE HERE THROUGH OUT THE DAY. THE CHURCH NEXT DOOR ALSO ALLOWS THE GROUP TO GATHER ANYTIME, SO LOITERING IS TOUGH TO ENFORCE.

Captain Tim Rudy, Prince William County Police: "We do however address the other community maintenance issues which are the littering, the disorderly conduct, urinating in public."

WORKER ADVOCATES SAY THE COUNTY'S NEW POLICIES ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION HAVE RE-IGNITED CONTROVERSY HERE.

Nancy Lydall, worker advocate: "What are they doing that is so bothersome to people? It's just the fact that they are there and I'm sorry, but that's not against the law. Latest Comment on ABC 7 Project Immigration: Woodbridge Day Labor
semicharmed
8:23 am on 01/31/08 Nancy Lydall, worker advocate: What they are doing IS bothersome to people or else they wouldn't be doing this story you mental giant. The fact that they are there loitering, tresspassing, littering, urinating, harrassing people in some cases IS against the law.
So Nancy, riddle me this, if this is such the honorable way to make a living and they are doing nothing wrong then why is this statement always present when the media talks to these "workers" - "WORKERS LIKE THIS MAN WHO PREFER NOT TO REVEAL HIS IDENTITY..." Hmm?? IF and if is a strong word, he was legitimately looking for a painting job, why not go to the unemployment office? why not apply at a painting business? why is he afraid to reveal his name??

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0108/492227.html
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