Hispanic push for reforms draws mixed reactions
By: David Campbell
On Monday, Hispanic workers across the nation including the Princeton area are expected to take part in a daylong job walkout and boycott of consumer activities to demonstrate immigrants’ importance to the economy and support U.S. immigration reform.
Monday’s "A Day Without an Immigrant" protest event has some employers anxious about how their businesses will fare, and members of the local Hispanic community weighing their job security against a desire for political action. It has also spurred dialogue and team effort among workers and employers.
Arthur Kukoda, executive chef and co-proprietor of The Alchemist & Barrister restaurant in Princeton, said 15 people on his 18-member culinary team are Hispanic, and that they, along with the restaurant’s Hispanic bus staff, plan to take part in Monday’s job action.
"They want to make it as painless as possible to me, but also want to make me understand what it means to them," Mr. Kukoda said. "The fact is, we’re all immigrants here."
The A&B intends to be open for business on Monday. Mr. Kukoda’s "contingency plan" is a cooperative effort among his current and former restaurant staff. Extra servers will be brought in for the restaurant floor, while the remaining kitchen staff have agreed to work double shifts.
In addition, Mr. Kukoda said, he has called in some favors with former colleagues who have agreed to help out for the day. "That’s the kind of people we have here at The Alchemist & Barrister," he said. "The employees have always rallied around."
The Coalition For the First of May, made up of dozens of advocacy groups statewide including the Princeton-based Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said it is planning events in communities across New Jersey to coincide with Monday’s boycotts.
Organizers support federal legislation that would create citizenship opportunities for undocumented aliens and a guest-worker program.
Supporters will gather at the West Windsor offices of Rep. Rush Holt (D-12) at 3 p.m. Monday to thank him for opposing a bill introduced by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) seeking tougher controls on immigration, and to encourage him to work for progressive immigration reform, LALDEF Chairwoman Maria Juega said.
She said it’s hard to estimate how many Hispanic workers in Princeton plan to take part in Monday’s action.
"People want to support it," she said. "Some are not finding a sympathetic ear with their employer, some are it depends on how the employers respond. We don’t want people to put their jobs at risk. We’re asking workers to talk with employers beforehand to work it out."
There are an estimated 12 million undocumented aliens in the United States. Princeton is home to a large immigrant Hispanic population who work in businesses locally and in the surrounding region.
In the days leading up to the job actions planned for Monday, rumors have circulated in the local Hispanic community of workplace raids by federal immigration enforcement officials. Mark Emann, acting chief of Princeton Township Police, said he’s heard the rumors but knows of no such raids, and said neither have other police departments he’s spoken to. Police in Princeton Borough and Montgomery also said they knew of no federal immigration raids.
Ms. Juega said the rumors are widespread and "contagious" among Princeton-area Hispanics. She attributed them to fears of backlash against recent immigration rallies and the job action planned for Monday, and concerns over recent news stories of renewed crackdowns on undocumented aliens by federal officials.
Carl Nordstrom, executive director of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, which has members in Princeton, said his organization fully supports immigration reform, but said members’ approaches to Monday’s action will depend on their individual situation.
"I think it’s pretty much even," Mr. Nordstrom said. "Some businesses are not closing but allowing workers to take the day off without closing. Others are saying it’s a difficult time of year in these businesses to shut down on a Monday."
David Wagner, manager of Lahiere’s restaurant on Witherspoon Street, said his business will be open on Monday. He said some workers plan to participate in the job action while others don’t.
"We’re sympathetic, but prefer it wouldn’t happen," he said.
Staff Writer Jake Uitti contributed to this story.

