AURORA, Colo. -- Aurora is ordering day laborers, most of them immigrants, to stop gathering in one area because the city said it's against the law.

For the past several years, between 50 to 60 men gather every day near Colfax Avenue and Dayton Street to offer their services to people who are looking to hire them for temporary jobs. They are usually hired by subcontractors, homeowners and movers.

On Tuesday, the city met with the property owner who allows the workers to gather on her lot. The city of Aurora is ordering her to stop, saying what she is doing is illegal.

"She may not allow people to congregate, to loiter on Colfax, to solicit employment. It's violating code laws, zoning laws," said Aurora Assistant City Attorney Tim Joyce.

The city told day laborers, who were also gathered at the meeting, that it's the wrong way and the wrong place to make a living.

But many of the workers didn't see how they were doing anyone harm.

"If you have the right to be in a public place and be peacefully assembled, why can't you do it on private property?" said Harold Lasso, with El Centro Humanitario.

"The employment agencies, they just pay me $6 an hour. While here, I can make between $10 and $12 an hour," said one worker.

"I understand that the law needs to be followed but I'm just asking for an opportunity to make a living for my children, for my family," said another worker.

Police say that there have been numerous complaints about the day laborers gathering on the lot. The city said that the time of warning is over.

The workers said that they've been hassled by police and asked for identification on the assumption that they are illegal immigrants.

"Temporary employment is permitted if you're complying with the law but she (the lot owner) is not running a temporary employment agency. Then what are you running?" Joyce asked.

The city said the simple solution is to set up a temporary employment agency at the lot with all of the legal permits and paperwork.

The city of Aurora has tried before to stop the gathering of laborers. Last summer, a city councilman proposed a measure to crack down on prospective employers by fining them but that bill was dropped in the fall.