Minutemen Take Campaign to Md. Centers

Supporters of the day-laborer centers criticize what they call the extreme tactics of the Minutemen. They argue that the group's dispute should be with the federal government, which enforces immigration laws.

"They ought to get on the Red Line, get off at Union Station, walk to Capitol Hill and engage in a dialogue about immigration reform," Perez said. "Their beef is with people in Congress."

Immigration advocates have attempted to turn the tables on the Minutemen.

Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA of Maryland, said his organization is training people to observe and take photos of the Minutemen's members. "If they keep harassing our community, we are going to demonstrate in front of their houses and in front of their workplaces to let the neighborhood know how anti-immigrant they are," he said. "It's going to be a shame for their family."

Schreiman said he was attacked with a laser pointer earlier this month when he went to the parking lot next to Grace United Methodist by himself to photograph workers and employers. He said he filed a report with the police after experiencing a headache for 10 hours.

In Maryland, as in Arizona, Virginia and a number of other states, illegal immigration has become a hot-button political issue.

Several immigration-related bills have been introduced in Annapolis this legislative session, including one that would require Marylanders to prove they are in the country legally to get a driver's license. Another bill seeks to make English the official language of Baltimore County.

The issue has crept into the race for Montgomery county executive. On Friday, Chuck Floyd, 56, a former State Department employee, announced his bid for the Republican nomination, promising to keep day-laborer centers from serving undocumented workers.

"It's time for the public officials elected to stand up and say enough is enough and enforce the law," he said.

Day-laborer center supporters say a national wave of anti-immigration sentiment is fueling the opposition.

"What I'm hearing now is that it's okay to speak in common circles against the immigrant," said Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez (D), a Salvadoran immigrant who represents Montgomery. "The tone, the acceptance, is what I've never seen here, and I've lived in the U.S. close to 60 years."