The issue of local illegal immigration enforcement has been controversial, to say the least. Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor has angered (among other phrases) many with his, and his Costa Mesa Council majority, support and enactment of an agreement with the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. In fact many have called his actions racist because they feel that he is targeting the Hispanic population with this and some of his other actions. Mission Viejo Mayor JP Ledesma has taken a similar tract going after Illegal Immigration in his City, creating "an ordinance requiring its (the City's) employees and contractors to participate in a federal program verifying legal employment." And as far as Orange County cities are concerned, these two are the only ones "willing" to go out on that limb to take on the battle against Illegal Immigrants.
A while back, Congressman Rohrabacher told me that we should make Illegal Immigration an issue in the City of Newport and try to enact similar ordinances. In candid (drinks and cigars) discussions with current and former Newport Beach Councilmembers, they indicated that they wouldn't touch Illegal Immigration with a ten foot pole, since it was too controversial of an issue and they wouldn't want to be labeled as racist (as Mayor Mansoor and former NB Councilman Dick Nichols were).
But now...Congressman Campbell, in the Daily Pilot's Pol Position commentary, has requested just that, saying,
"...let's just let local law enforcement officers check immigration status as part of routine police work. They are already out there every day in big numbers across the entire country. If a police officer stops you for speeding and sees you have illegal drugs in the car, that officer will charge you for the drugs as well as the speeding. If that same officer on that same stop finds you are here illegally, why should you not be charged for that too?"
Bravo Congressman Campbell. Bravo.
But Congressman Campbell is safer about it (like he always is) saying that the Illegal Immigration problem isn't just about Hispanics,
"Of the estimated 12 million people illegally in the United States today, approximately half did not get here by running across a border or otherwise being smuggled in. They came here legally on a visa. Then they overstayed that visa. All the border fences in the world won't stop that."
And he is correct. All you would have to do, a few years ago, was to go to the International Youth Hostel in Huntington Beach to find about a dozen European kids who had done just that. Go to the Japanese market in Costa Mesa, the Chinese Market in Irvine, Big Corona Beach in Corona Del Mar, and the Little Saigon area in Westminster/Garden Grove and you will see many Illegal Immigrants, but only a small few might be Hispanic.
Why is these comments by Congressman Campbell especially important for Newport Beach? Councilman Keith Curry said it on this blog, "...on any given weekend, 100,000 visitors flock to our city, (7.5 million annually)." We have lots of people coming to this City and our very well paid Police need to enforce all the laws, even the Federal ones, to keep the people coming and the residents safe.
What Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor has done is controversial, but it is a model which, as Congressman Campbell is suggesting, "is a necessary part of any immigration reform if it is to ultimately be successful." And while Newport Beach has it's hands full figuring out how to borrow more money and hire more City Employees (Building a New City Hall...for those who don't know), the rest of the Country and State are fighting a losing battle against Illegal Immigration and the Millions and Millions of bucks which are spent on their education and healthcare.
Maybe it should be time for Newport Beach to step off the "Safe" perch and step up to take a stand, like Congressman John Campbell has.
Again, thank you Congressman Campbell (and Congressman Rohrabacher) for your efforts against Illegal Immigration.
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