On a late February morning, about 15 men, on both sides of 15th Street in Newhall, wait.

Day laborers hoping that a car will stop and ask them for work.

They stand in front of the Santa Clarita Animal Hospital where the business’ owner has his own hope. “Sure, I sympathize with them,” said Dr. John Burkhartsmeyer. “I just wish they’d stand somewhere else.”

For decades, day laborers have congregated on 15th Street, seeking work. They do the same in Canyon Country near Home Depot and do the same in other parts of Newhall.

Recently, day laborers have been put under the microscope because of the biggest issue that has gripped the Santa Clarita Valley in early 2010. The issue of illegal immigration has sparked rallies, heated public discussions and what some would consider a gaffe by long-serving City Councilman Bob Kellar.

Kellar declared at a Minuteman Rally on Jan. 16, where many voiced opposition to giving amnesty to illegal immigrants, that he stood behind one flag and one language, like Theodore Roosevelt.

He said people accused him of being a racist for his view.

Then he stated: “If that’s what you think I am because I happen to believe in America, then I’m a proud racist.”

The comment garnered national attention. Politicians distanced themselves from Kellar. Other people supported him. Nonetheless, debate has sparked.

And people have tied day laborers, justly or unjustly, with illegal immigration. There’s no legal way to quantify how many day laborers are illegal. Additionally, there is no legal way to stop day laborers locally.

The city of Santa Clarita passed an ordinance in 1997 that prohibited soliciting employment and business in the public right-of-way. That ordinance was repealed because “in general, the solicitation of labor is free speech that is protected by the First Amendment, and the city may only impose reasonable time, place and manner restrictions in limited circumstances,” according to Carl Newton, attorney for the city of Santa Clarita.

Yet day laborers have been a nuisance, Burkhartsmeyer said, to his business.The veterinarian said they have whistled at female customers, thus making the location less desirable for them to come to. Burhartsmeyer said they slept on his property in the past.

Thus, he put up iron gates.

“It’s hard to quantify how much it affects my business, but it does,” he said.

But take the other side of the coin. Day laborers have a First Amendment right to solicit employment. Some are not breaking laws, such as littering, trespassing or harassing people. A day laborer who solicited employment on 15th Street in late February, who requested anonymity, said he doesn’t bother anybody and respects the hospital’s customers. In fact, he pointed out that many of the day laborers help out with the local economy by renting apartments nearby and shopping at the local stores. He added that many people in this country are just like him. They came here for opportunity.

“We’re here because it’s a necessity. We’re looking for work,” the 44-year-old man said. “The whole country of America is composed of immigrants, right? The whole world, right? Everyone that comes (to America) comes with the mentality of prosperity. … We don’t bother anybody. We don’t steal. We don’t sell drugs. We’re not drinking alcohol.”

Yet Burkhartsmeyer found a bottle of vodka under a plant on his property recently. Burkhartsmeyer has sought help from the City of Santa Clarita, but has been told there is nothing that can be done. He understands that these people are seeking out work. Burhartsmeyer suggests they do it elsewhere.

“If (the City) could move these guys a half-mile down the street where there are no businesses, it wouldn’t affect anybody. They could set up a drinking fountain and a port-a-potty,” he said.

At this point, the only thing that can be done is existing laws can more aggressively be enforced. That would include traffic laws for people who employ day laborers.

“The answer’s not to do nothing,” Burkhartsmeyer said.