Day Workers

As the debates about sanctuary cities continue, it's worthwhile to revisit the context for immigration over time to the United States. An article in the New York Times illustrates how immigrants crossed over the border in greater numbers around the years 2000 and 2001. This perspective makes a series of photos from that timeframe more relevant. These photos show how safety-in-numbers and potential work opportunities awaited would-be immigrants. National and international economics and socio-political situations have changed, meaning the arguments for and against sanctuary city policy must evolve, as well.

The spring of 2001 was filled with hope for workers from Mexico, and other countries of Central America, in Seattle, Washington, USA. The workers found jobs via the Casa Latina organization from a vacated parking lot in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle. On many days, the workers strayed from the center on explorations around town, to a job site or the library, and for soccer games in the town of White Center.