Immigrants Camp-out in Protest After Evictions

New York, NY —

Some immigrants, mostly from Mexico, continue to camp outside the Long Island home they were evicted from more than a week ago. WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports.

REPORTER: The men, who are all day laborers, say they are victims of harassment and anti-immigrant sentiments but the town says they were living in a fire hazard. As many as 40 people were said to be living in the 6-bedroom home.

Officials say the evictions were a last resort tactic aimed at trying to get the landlord to fix egregious violations. Since January, the town has closed down 11 homes, displacing dozens of immigrants. This latest group is refusing to leave.

Day laborer advocate Irma Solis spent several nights with the men in the backyard of the house where they used to live. She says a few neighborhood residents have shown support:

SOLIS: They are allowing us to go into their bathrooms and go to bathe there and we have people come and donate food and water and things like that.

REPORTER: A judge recently refused to stop the evictions and denied a request to allow the men back in the house while violations are corrected. Advocates for the men plan to appeal those decisions today.