Catherwood LibraryILR School

In the past, day laborers would congregate outside in the fiery heat of summer or the frigid cold of winter, but increasingly, cities are taking a friendlier approach to dealing with these workers, most of whom are illegal immigrants. Cities such as Houston and Austin in Texas and Silver Spring in Maryland are creating and maintaining Worker Centers, complete with air conditioning and English classes, to serve as a place where employers can meet day laborers. Critics say the Worker Centers encourage illegal immigration and bring down wages for skilled US workers while supporters praise the cities’ willingness to deal with the situation in a realist and humane way.