Thread: McGONIGLE CANYON : UPDATE

Evicting migrants not a solution

By: North County Times Opinion Staff

November 26, 2006

Our view: As leaders do nothing, immigration debate gets more heated

The rousting last weekend of migrant workers from a Carmel Valley canyon served no purpose other than to grab some headlines for the Minutemen and to fuel growing anger in our communities about illegal immigration.

About 200 people gathered on the edge of McGonigle Canyon on Nov. 18 to protest the presence of migrant workers living there. Organized by the Minutemen, the protesters had planned to camp in the canyon, but landowners refused to let them on their property.


The landowners also had removed the workers during the week before, worried that the two camps would collide violently.

It's no secret that day laborers live in shantytowns in many of North County's canyons. They trek out during the day to find work at one of the many area farms, at construction sites or in yards of nearby homes.

The camps in McGonigle Canyon have been there for at least 20 years, and we have to wonder why there's a sudden push to evict those workers now. Could it be because it generates publicity? The city was already working with landowners to clear the canyon, and efforts to find the workers shelter ---- though continually stalled ---- are ongoing.

That folks are living in squalid conditions in canyons is a problem, but the eviction rally didn't solve it. The evicted workers aren't going to suddenly have viable shelter because the Minutemen pushed them out of the canyon. No doubt many simply moved to a different canyon ---- and some have already returned to McGonigle.

What's more, by going after the workers in McGonigle Canyon, the Minutemen weaken their repeated statements that their efforts to stem illegal immigration have nothing to do with race and everything to do with the rule of law. There is no way of knowing whether the workers are illegal. In fact, the San Diego Police Department tells us that many are in the United States legally.

The message here is that if you are homeless and happen to be Latino, you will automatically be dubbed "illegal." It's doubtful the rally would have taken place if the homeless workers had been white.

It's worrisome that this is where the illegal immigration debate is heading. Even more worrisome are the elected leaders who align themselves with such actions. Assemblyman and state Sen.-elect Mark Wyland of Vista was at the rally, saying he supports "every single one of these people who came out here." Congressman Brian Bilbray, who keeps an office in Escondido, has headlined other Minutemen rallies.

That's just poor leadership. Instead of offering a real solution to the problem, our politicians are encouraging folks to roust the homeless out of their makeshift shelters.

To be sure, the Minutemen have every right to protest, but the protests are coming dangerously close to harassment, especially when their aim is to target folks who are Latino and poor. They've taken the civil disobedience model of Martin Luther King Jr. to an ugly level.

This all underscores the need for real immigration reform. The level of anger surrounding immigration has grown with lack of action in Washington. It's a symptom of the larger problem.

We do need to gain more control of our borders. And we do need a way for the workers in the U.S. illegally to come out of the shadows and gain legal status.

Last weekend's protest ---- and politicians supporting it ---- didn't get us any closer to a solution.


Add Your Comments or Letter to the Editor

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/11 ... _25_06.txt

Anytime there is a protest against illegal immigrants the media assumes the Minutemen are behind it. And we know how the media portray the Minutemen. No, I am not a member but I support what they do. And from what I could tell the Minutemen were not the main reason for this demonstration. I first heard about it on Rick Robert's talk radio show along with his interview of Julie Adams, a resident of Rancho Penasquitos, who has for months (maybe yrs) been trying to get that camp cleared. So from what I understand the idea of citizens going to camp there too came about on the radio show. Well, at the last minute the owners of the land decided to clear out the workers, put up no trespassing signs so no one could camp. So then a celebration was done instead.
For those of you who do not know the area it is close to San Diego, a sanctuary city. And as is with most border towns, there is a lot of sympathy and acceptance of illegal laborers.
Until legislators want to seriously address illegal immigration the cycle will continue. I wouldn't be surprised if quite a few 'campers' are back.

Originally Posted by Skip

Evicting migrants not a solution

By: North County Times Opinion Staff

November 26, 2006


Last weekend's protest ---- and politicians supporting it ---- didn't get us any closer to a solution.

Says who?

Originally Posted by MountainDog

Originally Posted by 2ndamendsis

"It will continue to go in cycles, until we have the immigration situation resolved," he said.

I find this very difficult to understand.

It's NOT an immigration problem! It's an ILLEGAL alien / invasion problem. There is a big difference.

Those that are legal residents or Americans should be taken care of one way or the other. Homeless shelters, etc.

Those that are ILLEGAL should simply be sent back and this wouldn't exist.

What am I missing

I think you are missing the liberal gene 2ndsis

Hadn't thought of that, MD

I would think the fact that the lack of bathroom facilities would be a violation of the law in itself. With the quantity of people in these "towns", aren't they contaminating the land? And loitering is an offense isn't it?

Hadn't thought of that, MD

Originally Posted by Skip

Hadn't thought of that, MD

Ya lost me, SKIP
better explain, lol

.

Originally Posted by 2ndamendsis

Originally Posted by Skip

Hadn't thought of that, MD

Ya lost me, SKIP
better explain, lol

.

I thought you caught me.......

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/11 ... _24_06.txt

R/ Skip

----- Original Message -----
From: Skip
To: socal@wri-online.com Weyerhaeuser Realty Investors (WRI).
Cc: corporate@wri-online.com
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 4:10 PM
Subject: Fw: PUBLIC COMMENTS OVER D.R. HORTON / PARDEE HOMES & McGONGILE CANYON

----- Original Message -----
From: Skip
To: sdwyer@drhorton.com
Cc: sbfarrell@drhorton.com ; jlhansen@drhorton.com ; mslapper@drhorton.com
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 3:59 PM
Subject: PUBLIC COMMENTS OVER DR HORTON & McGONGILE CANYON

----- Original Message -----
From: Skip
To: PARDEE HOMES ... http://www.pardeehomes.com/

Saturday's restless crowd of protesters was confined to a small piece of county-owned land next to the canyon. The property owner, developer D.R. Horton, refused to allow access, said officials had taken steps to remove the illegal encampments, and he did not want protesters on the property.


A view of the canyon from the protest site revealed the tops of several shacks, but a closer look was prohibited by mounted police officers and private security guards hired by D.R. Horton.

Evicting migrants not a solution

By: North County Times Opinion Staff

November 25, 2006

Our view: As leaders do nothing, immigration debate gets more heated

The rousting last weekend of migrant workers from a Carmel Valley canyon served no purpose other than to grab some headlines for the Minutemen and to fuel growing anger in our communities about illegal immigration.

About 200 people gathered on the edge of McGonigle Canyon on Nov. 18 to protest the presence of migrant workers living there. Organized by the Minutemen, the protesters had planned to camp in the canyon, but landowners refused to let them on their property.


The landowners also had removed the workers during the week before, worried that the two camps would collide violently.

It's no secret that day laborers live in shantytowns in many of North County's canyons. They trek out during the day to find work at one of the many area farms, at construction sites or in yards of nearby homes.

The camps in McGonigle Canyon have been there for at least 20 years, and we have to wonder why there's a sudden push to evict those workers now. Could it be because it generates publicity? The city was already working with landowners to clear the canyon, and efforts to find the workers shelter ---- though continually stalled ---- are ongoing.

That folks are living in squalid conditions in canyons is a problem, but the eviction rally didn't solve it. The evicted workers aren't going to suddenly have viable shelter because the Minutemen pushed them out of the canyon. No doubt many simply moved to a different canyon ---- and some have already returned to McGonigle.

What's more, by going after the workers in McGonigle Canyon, the Minutemen weaken their repeated statements that their efforts to stem illegal immigration have nothing to do with race and everything to do with the rule of law. There is no way of knowing whether the workers are illegal. In fact, the San Diego Police Department tells us that many are in the United States legally.

The message here is that if you are homeless and happen to be Latino, you will automatically be dubbed "illegal." It's doubtful the rally would have taken place if the homeless workers had been white.

It's worrisome that this is where the illegal immigration debate is heading. Even more worrisome are the elected leaders who align themselves with such actions. Assemblyman and state Sen.-elect Mark Wyland of Vista was at the rally, saying he supports "every single one of these people who came out here." Congressman Brian Bilbray, who keeps an office in Escondido, has headlined other Minutemen rallies.

That's just poor leadership. Instead of offering a real solution to the problem, our politicians are encouraging folks to roust the homeless out of their makeshift shelters.

To be sure, the Minutemen have every right to protest, but the protests are coming dangerously close to harassment, especially when their aim is to target folks who are Latino and poor. They've taken the civil disobedience model of Martin Luther King Jr. to an ugly level.

This all underscores the need for real immigration reform. The level of anger surrounding immigration has grown with lack of action in Washington. It's a symptom of the larger problem.

We do need to gain more control of our borders. And we do need a way for the workers in the U.S. illegally to come out of the shadows and gain legal status.

Last weekend's protest ---- and politicians supporting it ---- didn't get us any closer to a solution.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/11 ... _25_06.txt