Town offers illegal immigrants a sanctuary
By Catherine Elsworth in Maywood
Last Updated: 12:23am GMT 25/03/2006

A Californian town has declared itself a sanctuary for illegal immigrants, attracting fierce criticism from opponents who say it is encouraging lawlessness.

Maywood, a tiny urban pocket of Los Angeles county, has abolished its traffic police because of complaints that they were unfairly picking on Latino drivers.

Previously drivers without licences - almost all illegal immigrants - had their cars impounded. The city council has also passed a resolution opposing some of the toughest government measures against illegal immigration in recent times.

The proposed federal law would require local police to enforce immigration law.

An estimated 12 million illegal immigrants are living in America. However, as many cities are devising policies to crack down on the migrants, Maywood's stance has set it apart.

In nearby Orange County, for example, Costa Mesa recently became the first city in America to train police in immigration enforcement.

The changes in Maywood, which is 97 per cent Hispanic, take place against a background of an increasingly fractious debate on immigration in America, which is likely to dominate Washington next week as Republicans press for tighter border controls.

The recently elected Maywood council has accused the town's previous administration of presiding over "oppressive" and "racist" policies, including drink-driver checkpoints which they claimed were used to stop illegal immigrants and make money by impounding their cars.

Felipe Aguirre, 53, the deputy mayor of Maywood, said the new measures had "stopped the nonsense" and would "bring sanity back to the immigration debate in this country".

"I don't really see the legal and illegal distinction," he said. "We are all human beings. Immigrants are an integral part of our community and they are not going to go away. We are recognising the reality that we cannot go after these people and survive as a city."

The changes include helping residents in the 1.2 square mile district, which has the highest population density outside New York, to convert their garages into legal accommodation.

But the moves have drawn savage criticism, with conservatives describing Maywood as "occupied America" and "a magnet for illegal immigration". They say it is permitting offences that would be punished anywhere else.

The complexion of Maywood has changed dramatically from the 1970s when it was predominantly white. Today its official population is 29,000, or 45,000 when illegal immigrants are counted. Only 5,800 are registered to vote.

"I am surprised they still call it America," said Ted Bridges, 70, who is white and has lived in Maywood all his life. "You go to the city council and they all speak Spanish. I think what they are doing is criminal."

But Fr David Velazquez, of St. Rose of Lima Church in Maywood, called the changes "a miracle".

He denied it was "inviting people to come here to do anything they want".

He said: "That is not the idea at all. It is being called a sanctuary because people are not going to be persecuted in Maywood.

"My parishioners are very happy. They cannot believe how the city has changed."
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