Calif island lands in storm of immigration debate
By ELLIOT SPAGAT



An island off the Los Angeles coast reluctantly finds itself in the middle of an international tussle over illegal immigration.

And some leaders are blaming their own congressman for putting them there.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher earlier this month confronted a Mexican official who was distributing identity cards that nationals use in the U.S. to cash checks. The GOP congressman said the IDs only help illegal immigrants get a foothold in the U.S.

Many island residents saw his visit as grandstanding, portraying their community as a haven for illegal immigrants and unnecessarily drawing them into a raging immigration debate that could harm their tourist-dependent economy.

They say they've received e-mails with people threatening to take their business elsewhere.

Published: Saturday, June 12, 2010 09:00 PDT

http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/US ... 300C.shtml