Thread: Activists to rally against laborers In Temecula, CA

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Activists to rally against laborers

TEMECULA: The group is also using the event to draw attention to illegal immigration issues.

10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, August 24, 2006

By RICK DAVIS
Special to The Press-Enterprise

TEMECULA - Arne Chandler calls his organization "just a bunch of peaceful, flag-waving folks who believe in enforcement of the country's immigration laws."

That's the point that Citizen Activists for a Secure America intends to make Saturday when it hosts a rally against the hiring of day laborers from 8 to 11 a.m. at a prime location for such hirings -- the northwest corner of the intersection of Old Town Front Street and First Street. He expects 25-30 members to attend.

In 2004, the group staged a similar event at another site and the city later posted "No Stopping" signs, said Chandler, a retiree. The group hopes to bring attention to the day-laborer site, where Chandler said many seeking work are "illegal aliens."

"It's not only a blight on the city," he said. "It's also not a good way to hire temporary workers, not the way it should be done."

Organizers will offer handouts on hiring temporary help and on immigration issues, Chandler said. The next step, Chandler added, will be to seek action from the Temecula City Council.

The city has received few complaints about the site, said City Councilman Chuck Washington, who added there's no proof that the laborers are primarily undocumented immigrants.

Temecula police have found that most are not undocumented workers, said Washington, who added that the Border Patrol is called when necessary.

"We don't tolerate illegal immigration," he said. "But we can't just assume these people looking for work are in that category."

Laborers causing problems such as public urination, traffic snarls and intimidation of others is a separate issue and citations would result, Washington said.

Temecula police officials couldn't be reached Thursday.

One employee of a business across First Street from the site, horse-barn construction enterprise M.D. Enterprises, said the situation has impacted them.

"But 90 percent of our customers are women and a lot of them get nervous when they pull into our parking lot," sales representative Shannon Casey said. "These people looking for work can swarm your vehicle quickly."

Many of the laborers live in a makeshift camp at a nearby Interstate 15 underpass and pass her business on the way to the hiring site, Casey said.

"At 5:30 or 6 in the morning, there are 50 to 100 people on the corner," she said.

Many of the laborers live in a makeshift camp at a nearby Interstate 15 underpass and pass her business on the way to the hiring site, Casey said

I'd like to point out there is a large Border Patrol checkpoint on I-15 close by Temecula that use to stop cars occasionally, check each one of us out before allowing cars through. Haven't seen them out doing that in months. I drive through there and wonder just what the agents inside are doing? And there is a camp closeby too. The agents probably even know about it. What a joke!
I wish the 'activists' well tomorrow. Another group of concerned involved citizens who care about their community. Such groups do seem to be growing.