Tyson Trish

Living in the Shadows

Morristown Day Laborer Community

Lorenzo Jimenez, 20, originally from Puebla, Mexico helps other day workers raise an American flag attached to a piece of rebar at a Randolph construction site. Jimenez and other day workes spent the day preparing the frame for the cement foundation.
   
Moises Arieta, 20, a day worker from Hondurus works on a construction site in Radolph buidling a frame for the foundation after being picked up in the morning from the Dover at the corner of Dickerson and Warren St.
   
A native of Honduras, Wilfredo Mejia, the 50-year-old father of seven first came to the United States in 1995. He and a group of men were hidden in a gasoline tank for 38 hours during the crossing. In the U.S., he found permanent employment in landscaping while back home his wife stayed with their children until she grew apart and eventually left. His mother, now 84, became the primary caregiver for their children.Mejia sits with fellow workers while carpooling to his job.Mejia had a chance to legalize his status, but he had to leave the country abruptly after his mother got sick. Now, back in the U.S. for a year, Mejia dreams of one day obtaining legal papers so that he can continue supporting his family and, eventually, go back to visit his children.
     
  
Wilfredo Mejia shuts his the door of his third floor room in a Morristown home while preparing to go to an evening church service.
   
Mejia rides a friends bike to an evening church service down Speedwell Ave in Morristown.
   
Mejia prays prior to entering St. Margaret's church in Morristown for an evening service Easter week.
     
  
The 34-year-old Honduran native, Jose Maltez, moved to Morristown nearly three years ago hoping to make a better life for himself and his family.Maltez is still trying but during the winter he has a hard time getting work. Whenever he can, he wires money back to his native San Pedro Sula, where his wife and two daughters, ages 3 and 4, still live. He is one of many who said he would sign up for a temporary worker program that would allow him to work legally in the country and go back to visit his family. Maltez crosses Morris Ave. in Morristown hoping to be picked up for a days work as a Morristown business man passes Maltez.
   
Maltez does his best to impress a potential employer who is looking for two day workers. The potential employer was surrounded by dozens of day workers all anxious to be picked.
   
Maltez loses the attention of a potential employer as a fellow day worker tells the employer he has worked for the man before. Maltez did not get hired.
     
  
Maltez gets in line at the Morristown Soup Kitchen after not getting hired for day work.
   
Maltez prays during a Sunday church service of the Casa del Alfarero ministry at a local hotel.
   
Maltez gets ready to fall asleep in his room that he shares with a fellow day worker after a long day waiting for a job.
     
  
A native of El Salvador, Balmori Santos came the U.S. at 21 like many others, looking for a better future. He left behind his girlfriend, who at the time was pregnant with their daughter, Elisa. Borjas eventually joined Santos in the United States. Their families in El Salvador are raising little Elisa, now 11. Santos has never met her in person but he dreams of one day bringing her to this country. Like many others, he stands each day on Morris Street hoping to be hired for a day's work.
   
A native of El Salvador, Balmori Santos came the U.S. at 21 like many others, looking for a better future. He left behind his girlfriend, who at the time was pregnant with their daughter, Elisa. Borjas eventually joined Santos in the United States. Their families in El Salvador are raising little Elisa, now 11. Santos has never met her in person but he dreams of one day bringing her to this country. Like many others, he stands each day on Morris Street hoping to be hired for a day's work.
   
Adana Motoya, a day worker from Honduras, receives supporting prayers from members of his church during a Sunday service. Motoya is praying for the successful arrival of his wife.
     
  
Alberto Caseras, a day worker from Honduras, looks over portraits of immigrants on display at Ellis Island during a trip to learn more about the history of immigration sponsored by the Wind of the Spirit, a Morristown based immigrant advocacy group.