The Hope Depot finds itself stuck in the middle of a controversy over day laborers. Each day, dozens of laborers gather outside the stores looking for contractors who need help with jobs. The company has threatened day laborers with fines and arrest, drawing the ire of immigrants' rights groups. Other associations are angry with the company for what they see as aiding illegal immigrants.
See "Day Laborer Battle Runs Outside Home Depot", Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, October 9, 2005