Residents petition to change day laborer rules

Bergenfield is known as a hot spot for day laborers. Now, some residents are petitioning to change that.
Some feel the situation of day laborers waiting for work along Columbia Avenue is getting out of hand. They say they want police to be able to do something about the situation.
About 500 residents signed a petition supporting a program that trains and deputizes local police officers to enforce immigration laws.
If the Borough Council approves the program, which is run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the police officers would be able to begin deportation procedures on any illegal immigrant who commits a crime.
Some who signed the petition say they hope if the program is implemented, it would be used as a deterrent.
So far, the issue has not been voted on by the Borough Council. Supporters of the police immigration program plan to bring the petition back before the Borough Council after the new mayor takes office in January.