Thread: Hispanic Activists To Hold Candlelight Vigil in Escondido

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Escondido, CA Focus Campaign
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Hispanic Activists To Hold Candlelight Vigil
Event Will Be Held In Grape Day Park

POSTED: 8:25 am PDT October 3, 2006
UPDATED: 8:59 am PDT October 3, 2006

ESCONDIDO, Calif. -- Hispanic activists will hold a candlelight vigil in Grape Day Park Tuesday on the eve of an Escondido City Council vote on a proposal to prohibit landlords from renting to illegal immigrants.

The 7 p.m. vigil, organized by El Grupo Sin Nombre, a pro-immigrant civil rights coalition, will be followed by a demonstration Wednesday evening at City Hall, just before the vote, the North County Times reported.

El Grupo Sin Nombre, or the Group without a Name, opposes the proposed law, which it says has divided Escondido's neighborhoods, the Times reported.

Bill Flores, a retired assistant sheriff and the group's spokesman, said that "it's appropriate that all families that are against and could be affected by this ordinance join us in a silent vigil," the newspaper reported.

Jeff Schwilk, founder of the San Diego Minutemen, said members of his group and other anti-illegal immigration activists who support the proposal before the City Council plan to gather outside City Hall to celebrate the "historic vote," the Times reported.

Under the proposed ordinance, landlords would be required to submit documentation of their tenants' immigration status to the city, which would then pass the information along to the federal government for verification, the Times reported.

Landlords whose tenants are not legal residents would have five days to remove the renters or face penalties, including a suspension of their business license and misdemeanor charges for repeat offenders.

City officials say the ordinance is consistent with federal law that prohibits harboring illegal immigrants and say the proposed enforcement measures are completely defensible to any legal challenges, according to the Times.

Escondido Police Department Lt. David Mankin said the EPD is preparing for the demonstrations for and against the ban, and doesn't expect any problems, the Times reported.

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Last modified Tuesday, October 3, 2006 12:07 AM PDT

Groups on both sides gird for Escondido rental ban debate

By: DAVID FRIED - Staff Writer

ESCONDIDO -- A proposal to prohibit landlords from renting to illegal immigrants has galvanized supporters and opponents, who plan several demonstrations this week.


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Illegal Immigration Ordinance - Download The Report


Local Latino activists said they will hold a silent candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. today in Grape Day Park. They plan to follow that event with a demonstration Wednesday evening at City Hall, just before the City Council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance.

"We think it's appropriate that all families that are against and could be affected by this ordinance join us in a silent vigil," said Bill Flores, a retired assistant sheriff and spokesman of El Grupo Sin Nombre, which is organizing the event.

El Grupo, or the Group without a Name, is a coalition of civil rights, educational and other North County organizations.

Claudia Smith of the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation said that she believes the ban, if passed, could have devastating effects on families where some members are illegal immigrants and others are United States citizens.

"What purpose is served throwing ... U.S. child citizens out on the street?" Smith asked.

A majority of council members have expressed their support for the measure, and their supporters say they intend to demonstrate before Wednesday's meeting, too.

Jeff Schwilk, founder of the San Diego Minutemen, said members of his group and other anti-illegal immigration activists plan to gather outside City Hall to celebrate what he described as a "historic vote."

"All they're doing is reinforcing a federal law that's already on the books," Schwilk said. "It's not that drastic. It's just making it local."

Under the proposed law, landlords would be required to submit documentation of their tenants' immigration status to the city, which would then pass along the information to the federal government for verification.

Landlords whose tenants are not legal residents or citizens would have five days to remove the renters or face penalties, including a suspension of their business license and misdemeanor charges for repeat offenders.

The city would only investigate cases based on written complaints from residents, officials and businesses. Complaints based primarily on a tenant's race, ethnicity or national origin would be discarded, the ordinance says.

Danny Perez, a local activist and member of El Grupo, said the proposed system has already divided Escondido's neighborhoods.

"In the past, there were people who were able to see their neighbors not by color, but just as neighbors," Perez said, adding that the ordinance was already beginning to create an atmosphere of suspicion and "constant friction" among the community.

El Grupo members called the ordinance "a shame and indecent," and a decision that would result in numerous legal challenges and hefty financial costs for the city.

Already, civil rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union have said they plan to fight Escondido's ordinance in court, if it is passed.

City officials say the ordinance is consistent with federal law that prohibits harboring illegal immigrants and say the proposed enforcement measures are completely defensible to any legal challenges.

Lt. David Mankin said the Escondido Police Department is preparing for the demonstrations for and against the ban, and doesn't expect any problems.

"We are aware there will be representatives from all factions and are planning (for) a peaceful meeting or demonstration at the council meeting that night," Mankin said.

-- Contact staff writer David Fried at (760) 740-5416 or dfried@nctimes.com. Comment at nctimes.com.

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