Latino Day Laborers Share Views on Bush’s Ideas

It was several hours before President Bush touched down last week at Davis-Monthan

Air Force Base in Tucson to talk up his immigration reform plan. On a South Side street

corner, several day laborers were already talking about Bush's immigration ideas.

"He should give us work permits so we can work and return home to be with our families," said Carlos, a 31-year-old Honduran.

The morning air was still cold from the overnight freeze, but the three men know the political winds are burning hot with debate about illegal immigration. Nearly everyone has been talking about how to deal with people who cross the border illegally.

Undocumented immigrants have something to say, too.

"We just ask for the opportunity to work," said César, a 32-year-old Mexican worker from Cancún.

The workers were unaware of the president's visit that day, but they know they are the subject of divisive debate across the country. Various bills have been proposed in Congress, which range from sealing the border with increased enforcement to allowing undocumented immigrants to work legally in the country.

Bush, in his speech to Customs and Border Patrol agents, touted his administration's get-tough response to illegal immigration. He cited the spending of millions of dollars for new agents and physical barriers and technology, which he claimed is denting the flow of illegal immigrants.

Bush said he wants undocumented immigrants to understand that if they violate immigration laws, they will be repatriated to their home countries.

"And they need to stay at home," the president said.

The workers I spoke with agreed with the president. They want to stay home, too.

"I have not seen my family," said Carlos, who crossed the border more than a year ago and has not returned to Honduras to see his wife and child. César, too, has not seen his two children and wife for more than a year.

Crossing the border illegally has become more difficult and expensive. Going home and returning to this country is too risky, they said.

But the jobs are north of the border and that's why they are here, they ...