Fairfax seeks funds for day labor centers

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Fairfax County is looking to grant $400,000 in taxpayer funds to groups that would set up at least three formal centers for day laborers.

Community leaders in Culmore, Annandale and Herndon have applied for the grants, which aim to help day laborers organize and regulate themselves.

The communities have large groups of laborers -- some of them illegal aliens -- who loiter and cause traffic problems while seeking work.

Fairfax has set aside up to $400,000 of its $3 billion budget for grants for centers to address the "challenges presented by day laborers," county government spokeswoman Merni Fitzgerald said.

"Day laborers are a part of our community and the self-management strategy would help reduce the public complaints," Miss Fitzgerald said. "We want to help day laborers become part of the solution."

The county does not check the immigration status of day laborers, she said. "Looking for work is a legal activity."

State Sen. Kenneth Thomas Cuccinelli II said he has a "major problem" with the grant proposal.

"It is completely wrong, not just bad policy, but wrong to spend tax money for the benefit of illegal aliens," the Fairfax County Republican said. "It's not fair for people who really are outside of the tax system to get these benefits while regular taxpayers are being milked for it."

But immigrant advocacy groups say most of the day laborers are not illegal aliens and those who are illegal pay taxes but can't receive Social Security benefits.

Mr. Cuccinelli said the grant money encourages more people to come into the country illegally and will lead to a flood of day labor centers.