Hotline to Take Reports of Abuse of Day Laborers

Police in Santa Cruz this week opened a hotline for illegal immigrants to report alleged abuses by people who hire them as day laborers.

The unusual measure was called “an effective education tool” Tuesday by the city councilman behind the idea, who acknowledged that complaints lodged anonymously could be difficult to prosecute.

Even so, Councilman Ryan Coonerty said official scrutiny may be enough to keep employers from shortchanging undocumented workers, threatening them with deportation, and denying them breaks.

“Having a police officer at your doorstep asking questions may be a signal to stop whatever it is you’re doing,” he said.

What it signals about the community’s tolerance of illegal immigration is less clear, according to a group advocating tougher U.S. policies.

“There’s never an excuse for exploitation,” said Ira Melman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

“But you have people who use the fact that some workers have been exploited as a reason to turn a blind eye to the illegal activity the immigrants themselves are guilty of.”

Santa Cruz officials said they know of no other city or county in California, Arizona or Texas offering a similar hotline. In Illinois, a hotline run by the state labor department started taking calls in January.

Hotline callers who do leave their names will not be asked about their immigration status, officials said.

“It’s not of any interest to us,” said Zach Friend, an analyst for the Santa Cruz Police Department.

“If there’s a labor law violation, it doesn’t matter whether they’re [legal] residents or not. If someone has something stolen out of their car, they’re not asked for proof of citizenship when they file a report,” he said.

Employers who have accusations made against them are likely to receive a warning letter, Friend said.

If complaints persist, an investigation will be started, possibly in conjunction with state and federal labor agencies.

Abuse of day laborers is widespread, according to a nationwide study released in January.

Nearly half the 2,660 laborers in the study said they had been underpaid in the previous two months; about a fifth said they had been injured on the job.

In Santa Cruz, about 150 laborers gather outside a lumberyard each morning, hoping to snag off-the-books work from contractors and homeowners.

Over the years, some have complained of not getting paid what they were promised and sometimes not getting paid at all, said Yolanda Henry, the head of a local immigrant-advocacy organization called the Familia Center.

In the past, many workers, fearful of deportation, have been afraid to contact authorities, said Henry, whose group is helping police spread the word about the hotline.

In some cases, the Familia Center calls employers on behalf of the aggrieved workers and reaches quick settlements.

“A lot of times, they’re happy to cooperate,” said Henry, adding that employers are eager not to draw the attention of government agencies.