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Photographic exposure
Day labor protesters in Laguna Beach post pictures of employers on Web site as a deterrent to hiring.

By JOHN GITTELSOHN
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LAGUNA BEACH - People who went to hire workers at the city's day labor site Saturday faced taunts of "traitor" and threats of having their picture posted on the Internet.

"It's like taking pictures of johns picking up prostitutes or people dealing drugs on the corner. They're breaking the law," said Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman Project, who joined the stakeout at the Laguna Canyon Road center.

It's the first time anti-illegal immigration protesters here highlighted their use of photos to target employers, a controversial tactic because not all day workers are illegal immigrants and not all employers are easily identified.

"Whoever's taking pictures, I don't know how they establish whether the people I'm hiring are legal or not," said Michael Amato, owner of a Christmas lights installation company whose photo, taken last November in Lake Forest, appears on the Web site used by the Laguna Beach protesters.

About 50 flag-waving, anti-illegal immigration protesters attended Saturday's three-hour rally, armed with American flags and cameras.

During their stakeout, four vehicles stopped at the labor site and gave jobs to seven of the 60 men who sought work.

It was the seventh recent protest here by activists who contend the labor site sanctions illegal immigration.

Proponents say the site provides a safe and orderly place to hire short-term workers.

Counter-protesters used hand-painted signs with such slogans as "A border is mostly just an illusion" to shield the employers' license plates from cameras.

"I support the day workers here," said Cliff May, 28, of Laguna Niguel, who joined a group of nine counter-protesters. "They have to eat."

None of the people who offered jobs to the laborers Saturday could be reached for comment.

Some of the drivers politely asked protesters and members of the media not to take their pictures. Others raised their middle finger at cameras.

"It deters a lot of illegal pickups," said Eileen Garcia, organizer of the rally.

The pictures will be posted at www.wehirealiens.com, a Web site that says it lists 1,977 employers from 46 states suspected of hiring illegal immigrants.

The site's "Hall of Shame" shows 14 photos or company logos. Five companies have 714 or 949 area codes.

"We try to vet them," Jason Mrochek of Menifee, founder of the year-old Web site, said of the postings.

Not all the information is accurate.

Edward Carter, owner of EC Construction in Mission Viejo, said a photo of a man wearing his company sweatshirt showed a total stranger.

"It seems like a total frame-up to me," Carter said. The photo was removed after Carter complained.

Garcia said she advocates background checks to ensure accuracy of the photos, such as looking up an employer's license and insurance records.

"But we aren't affiliated with the Web site, so we can't control what's on it," she said.