Thread: Protest planned in Laguna Beach over immigration checks

Published: June 24, 2010
Updated: 12:46 p.m.

Protest planned in Laguna Beach over immigration checks

By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LAGUNA BEACH – Citing recent immigration checks and rumors that more checks might occur this week, some local residents said they will be handing out information packets Thursday so that people are aware of their rights if they are stopped by border patrol agents.

Police and residents said border patrol agents have been spotted at the city's bus depot checking the immigration status of passengers on at least three different occasions, with the most recent reported June 4. Some local residents said they've heard rumors that an immigration checkpoint may be set up in the city Friday, and they are planning a morning demonstration to protest the presence of border patrol officers in Laguna Beach.

Workers at the city's day laborer site, located along Laguna Canyon Road, said four men who regularly look for work at the site were detained and deported while they were on their way to the site, and the incident has frightened some workers away.

While roughly 50 workers regularly show up at the site looking for work at about 6 a.m., about 20 fewer men have been showing up at the site since the immigrations checks were first reported, site manager Irma Ronses said.

Workers are not required to prove their residency status at the site, and many of the men there admit to being in the country illegally. The center has been a hot point of contention in the city, with anti-illegal-immigration activists asking city officials to shut down the site.

Meanwhile, some residents are planning a demonstration at the city's bus depot Friday morning to protest the recent immigration checks, using word of mouth and Facebook as means to inform people about the event.
Gilberto Salgado, a 34-year-old man who regularly goes to the site to look for work, said many workers rely on bus service to get to the site. Those who drive their own vehicles are also afraid of being stopped, he said.

With rumors that Border Patrol agents will be in the city Friday morning, most day laborers are deciding to stay home that day, Salgado said, just in case.

"You can't take it just as rumor, because it already happened," said Alfonso Martinez, a 28-year-old regular at the site.
Both Salgado and Martinez said they are in the country illegally and they won't be at the center Friday.

Mary Dolphin, a resident of Laguna Beach, said she and several other people will be at the bus depot at 3:30 p.m. Thursday handing out information to passengers, letting them know what to do if they are stopped by border patrol agents, she said. For example, people don't have to answer whether they are citizens or not if they are questioned, Dolphin said, citing information from the National Immigration Law Center.

"The whole thing is very disturbing," Dolphin said. "It breeds fear."
Jean Raun, a member of the League of Women Voters, said she and others plan to protest the immigration checks at the bus depot, 375 Broadway.

"This is a town that cares about people," Raun said.

Because of the recent checks, Salgado said several workers have avoided waiting for the bus near the depot. Instead, people are waiting at businesses nearby and approach the depot only when their bus nears.
Michael Jimenez, a Border Patrol public affairs officer, said U.S. Customs and Border Protection doesn't announce ahead of time when agents will be conducting immigration checks.

Because of an increase of maritime smuggling in California, where immigrants make their way to the U.S. by sea, border patrol agents have been, and will be, more present in beach cities along the coast, Jimenez said.

In California, border patrol agents monitor about 90 miles of coastline, he said. Laguna Beach is located about 85 miles from the U.S. Mexico Border.

'Agents are going to find where (immigrants) are being unloaded," Jimenez said.

During the 2008-09 fiscal year, border patrol logged 49 maritime incidents with 400 apprehensions, Jimenez said. So far this year, the agency has reported 64 incidents and 568 apprehensions.

Raun said the demonstration is scheduled for Friday morning, whether a check takes place or not.

"I'll be there with a sign anyway," she said.

Contact the writer: shernandez@ocregister.com or 949-454-7361

http://www.ocregister.com/news/border-2 ... atrol.html

good, this is pretty close to me, maybe I will go down and make sure they have cold water and such, wouldnt want them dehydrated while arresting illegal invaders

"The whole thing is very disturbing," Dolphin said. "It breeds fear."

Being in the United States illegally should breed fear.

While roughly 50 workers regularly show up at the site looking for work at about 6 a.m., about 20 fewer men have been showing up at the site since the immigrations checks were first reported, site manager Irma Ronses said.

GOOD! ITS WORKING ALREADY.