Comments are being left at the source link.
~~~

No crackdown in Lake Elsinore area, says Border Patrol


10:00 PM PDT on Friday, August 15, 2008

By SARAH BURGE
The Press-Enterprise

U.S. Border Patrol agents made a few arrests of "criminal aliens" over the past two days around Lake Elsinore during routine patrols, but there is no targeted crackdown in the area, authorities said.

The agents have been more visible on the roads, including Highway 74 and Interstate 15, because of recent staff increases.

It is part of the overall expansion of the Border Patrol under way since 2006, Border Patrol agent Alex Renteria said.

"That's apparently gotten people riled up," Renteria said. "They believe they're in a comfort zone. Some people don't believe we should enforce immigration laws."

Rumors that agents are targeting locations such as churches and schools are unfounded, Renteria said.

About 40 protesters, upset over recent Border Patrol arrests in the Lake Elsinore area, picketed Friday morning along Main Street and in front of Elsinore Elementary School.

The protesters carried signs with messages such as "Border Patrol Get Out of Lake Elsinore," said Charlene Gonzalez, who lives near the school and watched the demonstration.

"I woke up and I had Telemundo standing outside my front door," Gonzalez said.

"They were peaceful, just like yesterday," said Lake Elsinore police Sgt. Ken Chaffin.

Chaffin said Friday was the third day the group of men, women and children has demonstrated around the city.

Chaffin said the protesters told him they were upset because some of their loved ones had been arrested by immigration agents.

Renteria did not know the exact number of arrests in the area nor could he provide details about the locations or the reasons those arrested were contacted by agents.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Lori Haley said ICE agents have not conducted any recent operations in the Lake Elsinore area.

Resident Charlene Gonzalez said she has noticed more marked Border Patrol vehicles around Lake Elsinore in recent weeks, including near the school.

She wondered if the nearby day-laborer gathering spot had anything to do with it.

Residents of Lake Elsinore might be less accustomed to seeing Border Patrol agents, Renteria said, because until recently the agency did not have enough agents for frequent patrols of the area.

"They may have been not so routine in the past," he said, "but it's going to be more routine."

Renteria said the Border Patrol is undeterred by the protests.

"We have a job to do and we're going to do it," he said.

www.pe.com