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Last modified Saturday, July 29, 2006 2:21 PM PDT

Activists, workers square off at day-labor hiring spot in Vista

By: CRAIG TENBROECK - Staff Writer

VISTA ---- Activists on both sides of the immigration debate gathered near a central Vista shopping center Saturday to hold placards, wave U.S. flags and voice conflicting views about a new city law regulating people who hire day laborers.

Throughout the morning, people moved in and out of the parking lot near Escondido and Santa Fe avenues, with the crowd peaking at about 100. Some were Latino day laborers, waiting for job offers that did not come. But the majority were activists or advocates --- several identified themselves as members of the anti-illegal immigration Minuteman movement; others said they were human rights activists there to support workers.

Aside from the occasional bout of verbal sparring, there appeared to be few confrontations. Vista sheriff's Capt. Ed Prendergast said about two dozen deputies were on scene to make sure everybody behaved at the intersection, which has become the site of regular, sometimes confrontational weekend protests between day-laborer supporters and opponents.


Saturday's demonstrations, which were larger than usual, marked the second day of enforcement for a controversial city ordinance that requires people who hire day laborers off the street to register with the city. Under the new law, those who hire laborers must also display certificates in their car windows and present workers with written terms of employment.

City officials have said the ordinance was designed to protect the predominantly Latino workers from employer abuse. But critics have said it was put into place to discourage day-laborer hiring.

Anti-illegal immigration activists such as Jeff Schwilk said they expect a drop in hiring rates ---- in fact, they're rooting for it.

"Ever since the ordinance was talked about and passed, we've seen a huge drop in hirings, and we think it will continue to decrease," Schwilk said. "It's just a matter of time before this isn't a hiring site any more."

For years, day laborers have come to the parking lot, where employers hire them for gardening, construction and other forms of manual labor. City Council members have said the shopping center, which is along one of the Vista's busiest thoroughfares, is not an appropriate hiring site.

Since the law took effect Friday, few employers have appeared willing to test out the new process. Only four have registered with the city.

"Would you, as a potential employer, come out and get in the middle of all this?" said anti-illegal immigration activist Mike Spencer, as car horns honked in the background. Sheriff's deputies reported no major confrontations, but did warn motorists about excessive honking.

Only one employer was seen picking up a day laborer Saturday, and he was subsequently stopped by a city code compliance officer and handed a flier outlining the new rules.

This weekend, city officials are simply informing people about the law. Next week, code compliance officers will give warnings to first-time offenders. After that, violators can be hit with citations.

Day-labor supporter Fredi Avalos said she has not registered as an employer because the application form, which requires an address and phone number, becomes a public record, and she fears harassment from the anti-illegal immigration crowd.

"I need my privacy," she said.

The handful of laborers at the site had differing opinions on the city's new ordinance.

Norberto Paez, a day laborer from Veracruz, Mexico, said Vista's new law was discriminatory.

Others, such as Ramon Flores-Lopez, said the ordinance controversy is only a small piece of a bigger political problem.

"The president of Mexico needs to make a change and give people jobs, that is the solution to all of this," he said in Spanish.

Several shoppers emerging from the Von's grocery store nearby said the hubbub at the shopping center was irritating.

Vista resident Lynette Allen, who stopped by the shopping center, said seeing the Minutemen made her cry.

"I get so emotional," said Allen who was teary-eyed. "I think if there was more love and compassion in this world these people wouldn't be here right now."

Two organizations are seeking to block enforcement of the ordinance. The American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties and California Rural Legal Assistance Inc. have filed a federal lawsuit against the city, alleging that the law is unconstitutional.

Contact staff writer Craig TenBroeck at (760) 631-6621 or ctenbroeck@nctimes.com. To comment, go to nctimes.com.